Even in our post-Civil Rights era, racism and intolerance play a significant role in determining whether or not the United States goes to war. After the destruction of the World Trade Center, anti-Arab and Muslim sentiment had notably grown leading to discrimination, unconstitutional surveillance, and, ultimately, war. The media, a primary dispenser of such stereotypes, is also responsible for instilling a cynical view of other people within the American masses.
September 11, 2001, marked a drastic change in the attitudes of many Americans towards Arabs and Muslims. In his article, “When You Look Like the Enemy”, sociologist Cliff Akiyama notes the disturbing parallels between the racism of Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the racism towards Arabs after the World Trade Center fell (210). And, with the Patriot Act in effect, the US government has little to no restraint when it comes to infringing on the civil rights of Americans that the government deems to be a threat. And, of course, citizens of Arab origin are most likely to be singled out for surveillance. The Patriot Act is significantly harsher on foreign suspects that are not America citizens as it can give way to the use of detention, torture, and deportation if some arbitrarily determined definition of a terrorist threat is met (211). The passage of this act only served to further aggravate the tensions between the US and the Arab community, factoring into the poorly planned assault of Iraq. Furthermore, the Patriot Act allowed for additional civil rights infringements such as the Abu Griab prison scandal and the Guantanamo Bay torture controversy.
A Gallup poll published on August 10, 2006, seems to indicate that a lingering minority of US citizens still hold alarmingly racist sentiments towards their Muslim neighbors. Thirty-four percent of US adults polled made the hasty generalization of assuming that most American Muslims were “sympathetic to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization” (Gallup). Additionally, thirty-nine percent of US adults polled favored requiring “Muslims to carry a special ID” (Gallup). These results, obtained by 1,007 adults selected at random across the nation, would seem to indicate that Islamophobia and racism towards Arabs inspired by the tragic event of 9/11 still linger (Gallup). Addressing this issue is important if America has a true desire to help restore peace and stability to the Middle East.
The extensive coverage of the nationality of the 9/11 terrorists has had a significant effect in promoting American aggression against Arabs. Research conducted by George Gerbner, a communications professor, indicates that the media is a significant source of the stereotypical views of most Americans. After having witnessed countless acts of violence, betrayal, and hate on television, most heavy television watchers naturally view the actions of other people with suspicion (Pratkanis 82). Since conflict and war naturally feed upon such suspicion, the media-addicted masses are much more prone to war propaganda stressing how foreign nations cannot be trusted. And, as Cliff Akiyama’s analysis has shown, this suspicion extends to those who are ethnically similar to the enemy.
Resolving these negative stereotypes is largely dependent upon the intelligence and open-mindedness of the masses, especially in times of crisis. The assumption that other people cannot be trusted, which is heavily promoted by the media, is partially responsible for the belief that war is inevitable. Such a view runs counter to the multicultural solution of effectively dispelling racially charged propaganda and viewing issues with an open and tolerant mind.
Works Cited
Cliff, Akiyama. “When you look like the enemy.” Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention. 8.2 (2008): 209-213. Print.
Saad, Lydia. “Anti-Muslim Sentiments.” Gallup.com. Gallup. 10 Aug. 2006. Web. 5 Oct. 2009.
Pratkanis, Anthonoy and Elliot Aronson. Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion. New York: Henry Holt, 2001.
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