Discuss the results of the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project on how Muslims and Westerners regard each other.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The war on terrorism has never been accepted as legitimate by Muslims. It has been seen as the United States picking on Muslim countries, protecting Israel, and attempting to control the world. There has been substantial support for terrorism and terrorists among Muslim publics. Sizable minorities in many Muslim countries have said that suicide bombings that target civilians can often or sometimes be justified in defense of Islam. Each side has mostly negative image of the other people. Westerners see Muslims as fanatical, violent, and not tolerant. Muslims see Westerners as selfish, immoral, and greedy, as well as violent and fanatical. Western publics do not think of Muslims as respectful of women. But half or more in four of the five Muslim publics surveyed say the same thing about people in the West. Both Muslims and Westerners are convinced that relations between the peoples are generally bad. Large majorities of Muslims blame Westerners for the problem. Many Europeans and Americans point their fingers at the Muslims, but many in the West also accept some responsibility for the problem.