c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) I can hardly believe it has been five years since the devastating attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. That day was doubly hurtful for me as an American Muslim. That anyone would willfully and murder almost 3,000 Americans was painful enough. To learn, however, that those responsible for the death and destruction claimed their deed in the name of my faith hurt just as much. The memories _ as well as the pain _ of that terrible September morning will be with me for the rest of my life.

In the weeks following the attacks, our nation witnessed a tremendous unity that had not occurred in quite a long time. Americans of all colors, creeds, and walks of life came together to comfort one another. What was most heartening was the response of non-Muslim Americans toward their American Muslim neighbors.

While there were scattered acts of violence and discrimination directed toward Muslims (or those who “looked” Muslim), for the most part, non-Muslim Americans reached out and comforted Muslims. The widespread backlash that many American Muslims _ including this writer _ feared would occur failed to materialize. In fact, a Pew Research Center poll found that the number of Americans with a favorable view of Islam rose _ from 45 percent in May 2001 to 59 percent two months after 9/11.

A 2004 Cornell University poll had more disturbing results: 44 percent of Americans favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslims (although more _ 48 percent _ said there should be no restrictions whatsoever). Approximately one-quarter of Americans said Muslims should have to register with the government and that law enforcement personnel should engage in racial profiling and undercover monitoring of Muslims.

Earlier this year, an ABC News/Washington Post poll showed even worse results: 46 percent of Americans had a negative view of Islam. Twenty-five percent admitted harboring prejudice against Muslims. The number of Americans who believe mainstream Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims more than doubled, to 33 percent.

What happened? Why did Americans’ attitudes toward Islam and Muslims become so unfavorable? For one thing, ever since President Bush declared Islam to be a “religion of peace” (a far cry from his recent statement about “Islamic fascists”) many comments about Islam made by prominent Americans have been extremely negative. The Rev. Jerry Falwell called the Prophet Muhammad a “terrorist.” Franklin Graham _ son of evangelist Billy Graham _ called Islam a “very evil and wicked religion.”

With the invasion of Iraq and the resultant insurgency, which brought out the most brutal Muslim extremists, Americans have witnessed the beheading of hostages, the kidnapping and murdering of journalists, aid workers and private contractors, and near daily suicide bombings. Many of these acts have been committed in the name of Islam.

The recent report that Palestinians forced two Fox News journalists to convert to Islam at gunpoint did not help things. It seems that the only news reported about Islam and Muslims involves violence and terror, thus it is not unexpected that Americans would view Islam in a negative light.

Yet, amid this doom and gloom there is a glimmer of hope. There is opportunity among the smoke of “Islamic terror.” It is quite easy to explain that the near constant bad news about Islam does not accurately reflect the entire faith, just as the alleged rape and murder of an Iraqi girl _ or the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib _ does not accurately reflect the U.S. military. Second, I believe much of the negative attitude toward Muslims reported in the numerous polls conducted since 9/11 stems from ignorance about the faith.

Consistently, 60 percent to 70 percent of Americans admit to having little or no knowledge of Islam. Reverse this ignorance with education and outreach, and I am confident the negative attitudes toward Islam will decrease. People fear the unknown and out of this fear comes hatred and prejudice. Once Americans get to know their Muslim neighbors _ at cookouts, PTA meetings and sporting events _ they will realize that they have more things in common than in contrast. Then the prejudice that one in four Americans admits to harboring against Muslims will melt away.

Such outreach and education are hard work, and countering the near constant negative imagery associated with Islam is a daunting task. But it helps to bring Americans together when there are many who wish to tear us apart. We can again achieve the heart-warming unity that abounded after Sept. 11, even if it is five years later.

DSB/JL END HASSABALLA

(Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and columnist for Beliefnet. His book, the “Beliefnet Guide to Islam,” was published by Doubleday. You can read his blog at http://www.drhassaballa.com)

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