Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

We Once Feared Catholics, Jews, Too

It also fed campaigns against Catholics, Germans, and Jews

By Emily Rauhala, Newser User

Posted Sep 5, 2010 6:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Islamophobic sentiment shaking America is rooted in fear, not bigotry, writes Nick Kristof for the New York Times. The "well-meaning worriers" of the "Not-at-Ground-Zero Mosque" movement genuinely believe Muslims "don’t share their values, don’t believe in democracy, and may harm innocent Americans." Of course, some Americans once felt the same way about the Irish, Germans, Catholics, Jews, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, and Mormons.

"But we have a more glorious tradition intertwined in American history as well, one of tolerance, amity, and religious freedom." Previous waves of intolerance were calmed only when ordinary people stood up against "the Know Nothing impulse," Kristoff writes. "Americans have called on moderates in Muslim countries to speak out against extremists, to stand up for the tolerance they say they believe in. We should all have the guts do the same at home."

A group of bikers park near the site of the proposed mosque and Islamic community center. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People rally against the 'Ground Zero Mosque.' (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

75%

15%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 161 comments

major7

Sep 6, 2010 7:12 AM CDT

I'd say "speak for yourself". Too many unfounded extrapolations here. Putting people into arbitrary groups and ascribing the same behaviors to all of them is just plain wrong.

Cat-Lover

Sep 5, 2010 3:36 PM CDT

Kristof's point is wrong, wrong, wrong! Americans historically hate the new guy on the block. Each immigrant group entering this country was discriminated against by all previous groups that entered and faced earlier discrimination. As for back as the Dutch following the English this American characteristic prevailed. Today, however, America faces a new situation; It has two separate groups to hate: Muslims and Mexicans. There aren't too many other groups of potential immigrants left, but America will find someone. "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion," "Klu Klux Klan," "Separate but Equal," and ridiculous claims of Jews having all the money, drunk redskins, anti-Christ Mormans: Will this ever stop? Unfortunately, it's being fanned by 21st centure religious-rightwing fanatics and an end seems far distant which is America's shame.

Molotov

Sep 5, 2010 2:41 PM CDT

Principle not perception. Catholics and Jews don't use suicide bombers, burkhas or honor killings, people. Muslims do.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Cops Shoot Naked Guy Eating Man's Face on Highway

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Islam • xenophobia • Ground Zero • America • Muslim • bigotry • Islamophobia • Ground Zero mosque

More Newser Stories

More Than 1K NYPD Cops Trained With Anti-Muslim Film

FOIA request reveals that film was used more often than officials claimed

(NEWSER) - Not one, not two, but at least 1,489 NYPD officers viewed an anti-Muslim film during their training, the New York Times reports in a disturbing look at The Third Jihad . The film, funded by a nonprofit group, features images including Muslim terrorists shooting Christians and a doctored photo of the White House flying an Islamic flag, as a narrator says that Islam's "true agenda" in America is to "infiltrate and dominate" the country. Reports first came out a year ago that the department had used it during training; at that time, a top police official said it had only been screened by a few officers. A FOIA request, however, shows otherwise. More»

Stewart: TLC's Muslim Show 'Most Boring' Ever

There's nothing controversial about 'All-American Muslim'

(NEWSER) - A completely baffled Jon Stewart took to the airwaves last night to weigh in on the controversy over TLC's All American Muslim. It appears the Florida Family Association—which pushed Lowe's to pull its ads from the program —is unhappy with the show because it doesn't show radicalism. "The problem is the televising of Muslims without the terrorist element," an incredulous Stewart explained. The "most boring reality show imaginable" just features "Muslims living their lives, like the rest of us f***ing idiots." More»

FBI Training Materials: Muslims Are Dangerous

Training materials are playing into terrorists' hands, say former agents

(NEWSER) - A shocking Wired exposé reveals that FBI counterterrorism agents are taught that "mainstream" American Muslims are likely to sympathize with terrorists, and that more "devout" Muslims are more likely to be "violent." The magazine acquired FBI training materials, some from as recently as March, which also say that the Prophet Mohammed is a "cult leader," that Muslims give to charity as a means of "funding ... combat," and that pious Muslims have remained aggressive from 610 AD onward, while Jews and Christians gradually became "non-violent." More»

US Declares: Islam Is a Religion

Battle over Tennessee mosque gets more heated

(NEWSER) - In case you weren’t sure: Islam is a religion, not a political movement. The US Department of Justice officially pronounced it so in a Tennessee courtroom, the latest move in the uproar over a proposed Islamic center in that state. The worshipers of a mosque near Murfreesboro have been attending services there for years , but this controversy started when they proposed a 52,000-square-foot Islamic center. Opponents, in an attempt to block its construction, questioned whether Islam is recognized as a legitimate religion in the US, the Tennessean reports. More»

Dear Muslims: 'I’m Sorry'

American should be ashamed of anti-Muslim extremism

(NEWSER) - America has learned better than to make sweeping statements about Jewish people, Japanese Americans, and African Americans, so why, asks Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times , in the 21ist century is it OK to equate Muslims with terrorism? It's not, he says. Those who follow Islam are not a violent "undifferentiated mass," and he is "sickened" to hear "gentle souls lumped in with Qaeda terrorists." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

We Once Feared Catholics, Jews, Too

It also fed campaigns against Catholics, Germans, and Jews

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Islam • xenophobia • Ground Zero • America • Muslim • bigotry • Islamophobia • Ground Zero mosque

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

More Than 1K NYPD Cops Trained With Anti-Muslim Film

FOIA request reveals that film was used more often than officials claimed

Stewart: TLC's Muslim Show 'Most Boring' Ever

There's nothing controversial about 'All-American Muslim'

FBI Training Materials: Muslims Are Dangerous

Training materials are playing into terrorists' hands, say former agents

US Declares: Islam Is a Religion

Battle over Tennessee mosque gets more heated

Dear Muslims: 'I’m Sorry'

American should be ashamed of anti-Muslim extremism

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?