The Myth Of Anti-Muslim Backlash
Jonathan S. Tobin whips out the hate crime stats at Commentary:
As I wrote in the October issue of COMMENTARY, FBI hate-crime statistics for the years 2000 to 2008 showed that not only were anti-Muslim bias crimes rare but that they were also far less numerous throughout this supposed period of a backlash than anti-Semitic bias crimes.The release of the latest FBI report on hate crimes this week adds more weight to the doubts raised about the mythical backlash against Muslims. The new statistics published on the U.S. Department of Justice website show that there were only 107 reported incidents of anti-Islamic hate crimes in the country during 2009. While each incident (not only actual crimes are reported, as the total published by the FBI includes all those reported or alleged without respect to whether or not the crime was proved to have occurred) is deplorable, this represents only 8 percent of all religious-based bias crimes and less than 2 percent of hate crimes tabulated last year.
Even more to the point, the number of anti-Jewish hate crimes dwarfed again the number of anti-Islamic attacks, as they have every year since such statistics were first kept: 931 anti-Semitic incidents, compared with 107 anti-Islamic incidents, a ratio of better than 8 to 1. The same was true in 2008, when the figures were 1,013 anti-Jewish incidents to 105 anti-Muslim incidents. Indeed, even in 2001, the worst year for anti-Muslim hate crimes, there were still more than twice as many anti-Jewish incidents as those with anti-Islamic motivations. Throughout this period, the vast majority of hate crimes motivated by religion have been directed against Jews, not Muslims.
Want to see some persecution? Be a Christian living in a Muslim majority.
Sad post, but it does remind me of Tom Lehrer...
...
Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Muslims,
And everybody hates the Jews.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!
jerry at March 30, 2011 12:16 AM
If you want to see bigotry, maiming and death, check out "The Religion of Peace":
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
Weekly Jihad death toll to the middle left.
I think religion (and astrology, etc.) are silly, but if you don't want to slaughter apostates, gays, women who have sex without your permission, and me, for not believing in your god, hey, have at it.
Amy Alkon at March 30, 2011 12:19 AM
Amy, I respect you. I respect observant Jews too. My step-son is a Messianic Rabbi. I am a Presbyterian. I understand your point of view. I hope you can understand mine.
ken in sc at March 30, 2011 5:10 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/30/the_myth_of_ant.html#comment-1982007">comment from ken in scI don't respect the belief, sans evidence, in god, but I respect your right to believe in unfounded things, so long as you don't use them as an excuse to advocate violence.
Amy Alkon
at March 30, 2011 5:11 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/30/the_myth_of_ant.html#comment-1982027">comment from Amy AlkonHere's a quote from Walter Benn Michaels on the difference between prejudice and disagreement (per what I commented above), from my entry "It Isn't Bigoted To Criticize Religion":
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/08/19/it_isnt_bigoted.html
Amy Alkon
at March 30, 2011 5:16 PM
I understand your point of view. I hope you can understand mine.
And what is your point of view?
Amy Alkon at March 30, 2011 5:17 PM
I don't advocate violence or excuse violence on religious grounds. I have evidence, but it's only good for me. Nobody else was there. I don't blame anyone else for not believing it. You will know if it happens to you.
ken in sc at March 30, 2011 5:18 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/30/the_myth_of_ant.html#comment-1982047">comment from ken in scThere's a saying in science, the plural of anecdote is not data. You could be hallucinating and think you saw god -- that's not the same as having evidence there is a god. I think it's utterly nitwitty to believe in god, astrology, numerology, and other stuff there's no evidence for, but again, if you don't want to legislate or murder people based on the moon being in Capricorn, have at it.
Amy Alkon
at March 30, 2011 5:23 PM
Thank you, that's very kind of you.
ken in sc at March 30, 2011 5:28 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/30/the_myth_of_ant.html#comment-1982074">comment from ken in scIt's neither kind nor unkind; it's just how I think. I make myself look for evidence before I believe something, and if there's no evidence -- real evidence for it -- why would I believe in it?
If you told me you just KNEW there was a giant gorilla flying over your car, and others would just have to take your word for it (which is essentially what you're saying) I'd say the same thing.
People don't like to be challenged on unfounded beliefs, but if you lay them out as if they're founded, yet with no evidence you can provide, you're likely to find yourself being challenged.
Amy Alkon
at March 30, 2011 5:32 PM
I think you are a kind person. I have been reading your blog for quite some time. I understand that you are not a believer, Jewish or Christian. I think you are offended by superstition and unfounded beliefs. I share your point of view on Islam. However, I am a Christian believer and ask that you do not denigrate me for that. I think it helps me be a better person.
ken in sc at March 30, 2011 5:44 PM
Thank you for this exchange of thoughts. I have to do something else now.
ken in sc at March 30, 2011 6:03 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/30/the_myth_of_ant.html#comment-1982283">comment from ken in scWell, I'm glad it helps you be a better person. It would be ridiculous to say that religion provides no benefits to society, but I think people know how to be good people and need only think of it and act accordingly.
Amy Alkon
at March 30, 2011 6:34 PM
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