Let’s curtail Muslims’ freedom - next: liberals?

Fear factor: 44 percent of Americans queried in Cornell national poll favor curtailing some liberties for Muslim Americans

ITHACA, N.Y. -- In a study to determine how much the public fears terrorism, almost half of respondents polled nationally said they believe the U.S. government should -- in some way -- curtail civil liberties for Muslim Americans, according to a new survey released today (Dec. 17) by Cornell University.

About 27 percent of respondents said that all Muslim Americans should be required to register their location with the federal government, and 26 percent said they think that mosques should be closely monitored by U.S. law enforcement agencies. Twenty-nine percent agreed that undercover law enforcement agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations, in order to keep tabs on their activities and fund raising. About 22 percent said the federal government should profile citizens as potential threats based on the fact that they are Muslim or have Middle Eastern heritage. In all, about 44 percent said they believe that some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for Muslim Americans.

Whoa, this is fairly frightening. There’s a lot more here. Remember the Newsweek poll? The one where 40% of AmeriKans thought that creationism should be taught in schools instead of evolution? One can only hope that the 44% who think that that Muslims need “special handling” are the same bible banging, intellectual Neanderthals who want to America to become, from a science education standpoint, a third world nation - offense intended. Oh well, they’ve got that 51% mandate.