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Donald Trump prides himself on not backing down from any fight or controversial position. Hours after the Orlando nightclub mass shooting on June 12, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee doubled down on his plan to ban Muslim immigrants from entering the United States. He also renewed his call for U.S. law enforcement agencies to use greater racial profiling, especially of Muslim Americans.
"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump said in a June 19 interview on the CBS news program "Face the Nation." He later added, "I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense It's not the worst thing to do."
In December, Trump shocked the world when he called for the ban on all Muslim travelers entering the United States - until American leaders "can figure out what the hell is going on." Throughout the campaign, Trump has advocated increased surveillance of Muslim American communities and mosques. He also said he would consider registering Muslim Americans in a database, or requiring Muslims to carry special identification cards.
Trump is persisting with his attack on Muslims because it has proven be his strongest issue, according to exit polls in many Republican primaries. In the pivotal March 15 contests, exit polls of voters in the five states that held elections revealed a remarkable fact: two-thirds of Republican voters support Trump's proposal to ban Muslim immigrants and tourists. In some states that held early primary elections - South Carolina and Missouri - nearly 75 percent of Republican voters support the ban.
Since he became the presumptive Republican nominee last month, there's been much discussion of how Trump would adjust his views to appeal to a broader American public in the general election. But even if other Republican leaders denounce his views, don't expect Trump to curtail his attacks on Islam or his overt Islamophobia - he has little incentive to do so, as long as it wins him votes.
The polling shows that while Trump is fanning the flames of anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, he did not create this phenomenon. He's a demagogue who is taking advantage of deep-seated fears of Muslims among Americans, especially Republican voters. Trump is winning votes because he is willing to go further than any other candidate in tarnishing all Muslims.
In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper in March, Trump declared flatly: "I think Islam hates us." When Cooper asked him whether the religion is at war with the West, Trump added, "There's a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. There's an unbelievable hatred of us."
One day after his CNN interview, the moderator of a Republican presidential debate asked Trump to clarify his comments: "Did you mean all 1.6 billion Muslims?"
"I mean a lot of them," Trump responded, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "And I will stick with exactly what I said to Anderson Cooper."
Given several chances by his interviewers to distinguish between Islamic militants and the majority of the world's Muslims, Trump refused to make that distinction and instead continued to tarnish an entire religion.
Similarly, Trump has not wavered from his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, saying it would not apply to American citizens and would be a "temporary measure" in response to the threat of attacks from jihadist groups like Islamic State. He invoked one of America's darkest periods: President Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision during World War Two to classify more than 100,000 Japanese, German and Italian immigrants as "enemy aliens." That decision paved the way for the internment of tens of thousands of noncitizens and U.S. citizens of Japanese descent.
Trump's proposal and rhetoric are part of a growing undercurrent of Islamophobia that is making life difficult for the estimated three million Muslims in the United States. Hate crimes against Muslim Americans have surged since the November terrorist attacks in Paris and the December massacre in San Bernardino, California, which were both claimed by Islamic State.
In 2015, civil rights groups recorded nearly 80 bias incidents at mosques throughout the United States. It was the highest number logged since two organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, began tracking such cases in 2009. In a report released this week, the groups noted a four-fold increase in bias incidents - which include vandalism, harassment, property damage and intimidation - from 2014, when 20 cases were recorded nationwide. By contrast, the groups tracked 17 incidents at U.S. mosques in both November and December 2015 - the highest single-month totals ever recorded.
The stereotypes and xenophobia perpetuated by Trump and other demagogues have more subtle effects than outright violence. They shape a social climate in which many Muslims and Arabs are treated as potential terrorists. Four days after the Paris attacks in November, a community meeting over plans for a new mosque in the state of Virginia turned into a frightening example of the anti-Muslim sentiment sweeping parts of America. Samer Shalaby, an engineer and mosque trustee who was trying to explain the building plans, was heckled and shouted down by audience members.
"Nobody, nobody, nobody wants your evil cult in this county," one man shouted while pointing his finger at Shalaby, as others in the audience cheered. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that this does not happen," the heckler, who identified himself as a former U.S. Marine, continued. "Because you are terrorists. Every one of you are terrorists. I don't care what you say. I don't care what you think."
One U.S. poll released in September found that more than half of Americans - and 83 percent of Republicans - believe that Muslims should be barred from seeking the presidency. Another poll in November found that 56 percent of Americans view Islam as at "odds with American values and way of life."
One irony is that many Muslims around the world want to foster a better relationship with the United States and the West. In a long-term Gallup poll, conducted from 2006 to 2010, residents of 39 majority-Muslim countries were asked whether they supported greater interaction with the West. A majority of people in 38 of the countries surveyed (all except Afghanistan) viewed closer relationships as a benefit, rather than a harm.
But this research carries little weight with many Republicans in the United States, especially Trump's supporters. In January, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 65 percent of Republicans want politicians to express "blunt talk" about Islam, even if such discussion includes blanket criticism of the faith.
While the rest of the world is shocked by Trump's declaration that "Islam hates us," his blunt talk resonates with many Republican voters. And it is a major reason that Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination - a victory partly built on the demonization of Islam.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.
24 Comments
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kurisupisu
Mohamad Bazzi's analysis is based on Trump's opinion only ? No, there are many other factors at work here. The irony is that the US keeps on killing a Muslims in far off countries while Muslims take revenge by committing acts of revenge around the world. Mr Bazzi's article fails to take these points into account. Where does Isil recruit followers from? The answer is anyone where there are Muslims! Many acts of violence have been carried by British born Muslims. Why is that? Britain respects the religion of Islam but at the same time is responsible for the slaughter of Muslims as is the US! So, easy to explain the why here! Of then 1.3 billion Muslims in the world what is the test for determination of good or bad? Violent or non violent? How can we know and trust not to act against us? We cannot and Trump knows this because there are not safeguards in place to protect Americans!
There are many Muslims aiding Islamic terror in non combat roles:drivers,cooks,web designers,doctors etc Trump understands that there is a war going on and would have those safeguards where Obama has not realized this. Trump has also stated that he is anti interventionist as policy goes in the ME
The shocking thing is not Trump's opinion but the amount of killing that is going on by all sides Perhaps there will be peace but not without change first......Trump for Potus!
FizzBit
Mr. Mohamad Bazzi, I dare you to go to Idaho and explain this to the family of the 5 year old girl who was stripped, urinated on and photographed by three immigrant Muslims who were between the ages of 14 and 7. Trump is talking about what the people are talking about, not what the corporate MSM wants us to talk about.
nath
Ahh it must be nice to be white and not be a representative of your entire race (religion).
White person rapes a girl, that white person is bad.
Muslim does [x], all Muslims are evil.
No double standard there.
kurisupisu
Fizzbit is not calling all Muslims evil, Strangerland is making an inaccurate conclusion.
Aly Rustom
Hitler's vote-winning strategy - attack Jews
History repeats itself. We never learn, do we?
nath
Did you not read the article? The article is talking about profiling Muslims. Fizzbit posted that the parents of the girl should be told not to profile Muslims by the author of the article. The perpetrators of the attack against the girl were Muslim.
Follow the logic Kurisupissu.
pointofview
So a guy named Mohammad Bazzi writes a hit piece on Trump. Go figure. By the way Mr. Bazzi, profiling is, as stated by the Supreme Court last week, legal. So no more complaining about how profiling is racist etc.
iamme
This seems to be the definition of bigotry. A one sided hate not based on reason, but on emotion alone. And he even admits so.
I have heard/read Trump stating his belief on racial profiling, but when has he said these? If, in fact, he has said these, this is much bigger and more important than his support of racial profiling, as these go way beyond that. If these are a extrapolation of his words, these do not belong in a news article.
badsey3
https://youtu.be/IrXc05jpB9s
Huge issue in Canada with unvetted 22yr old "Syrian" Muslims going to High School with 14-15yr olds. I agree with Trump that something needs to be done since it seems to be very damaging to youth and society.
rainyday
So from the comments we can deduce that people who have obviously never been subject to racial profiliing think racial profiling is great. Because they heard that Muslims in Idaho peed on kids once and Muslims in Canada go to high school even though they are like totally 22 years old, OMG.
You guys are brilliant.
Nemrut Dagi
This is what's frightening about the US and many Americans in general - especially military personnel stationed in Japan.
They can be seemingly upstanding citizens yet will not hesitate to spew nor act on hateful rhetoric and engage in violence with little provocation.
pointofview
@rainyday,
Universities conduct racial profiling for enrollment and it is apparently ok.
nath
Trump gives to charity. Or does he?
"Trump promised millions to charity. We found less than $10,000 over 7 years." Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-promised-millions-to-charity-we-found-less-than-10000-over-7-years/2016/06/28/cbab5d1a-37dd-11e6-8f7c-d4c723a2becb_story.html?tid=sm_fb
rainyday
Oh brilliant. So we can add the fact that somebody heard that some university just lets in anyone who is Muslim (I assume this is what you mean?) to the list of reasons why racial profiling is totally OK? Wow, what a rational and relevant argument! In terms of importance, would you rank this higher than the story someone heard about the Muslim kids in Idaho who peed on another kid that one time as a rationale for instituting racial profiling? Or that 22 year old who went to high school in Canada? Or somewhere in between perhaps?
The amount of evidence in favor of racial profiling is just piling up here, to the point that I think we can conclude a rock solid case in favor of racial profiling has been clearly demonstrated by the in favor commenters. Well done everyone.
bass4funk
That's the problem with the Left, they don't and never will get it! The GOP had to learn the hard way and the left will soon enough find out as well. But at least Teump is not shying away from PC. Opposing radical Jihadism and calling it out for what is, is NOT racist, contrary what the left choose to believe and from how it looks, the people are getting tired of all the out of control liberal PC police.
John Constantine
Source - Reuters (or many other pages)....Migrants in Germany committed or tried to commit some 69,000 crimes in the first quarter of 2016, according to a police report that could raise unease.
Germany: Muslim migrants defecate in pool, invade girls’ changing rooms
A group of migrant men and women were caught on security camera at the Johannisbad baths in Zwickau, Saxony engaging in unacceptable behaviour, including masturbating into the jacuzzi. In separate incidents other groups of migrants were caught “contaminating” the children’t [sic] training pool by “emptying their bowels in the water”, and sexually assaulting other bathers, reports Bild.
Source Express.co.uk The shocking incident at a leisure centre in Munich was said to have involved three Syrian boys who allegedly touched a 17-year-old girl underneath her swimming costume.
They were then alleged to have groped the girl's 14-year-old sister after she came to her sibling's defence.
The girls managed the flee the pool and call for the lifeguard, who then contacted police.
In a first, male migrants were banned from a leisure center in a German town for sexually harassing female visitors, while authorities in a different German town chose to step up security at a center for similar reasons.
Male asylum-seekers currently living in a hostel in Bornheim, a town on the outskirts of Bonn, were banned from visiting a local swimming pool after the number of complaints of sexual harassment from female bathers became alarmingly high, the town’s authorities said on Friday.
The measures come in the wake of the recent mass sexual assaults that took place on New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Bielefeld, where migrants attacked, groped, and robbed women. Similar cases were reported in other EU cities including Helsinki, Stockholm, Vienna, Zurich, among others
Wikipedia: During the 2016 New Year's Eve celebrations, hundreds of sexual assaults (including groping), numerous thefts, and at least five rapes were reported in Germany, mainly in Cologne city centre. Similar incidents were reported in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart,[23] and Bielefeld.[9][24][25]
All of the incidents involved women being surrounded and assaulted by groups of men on the street.[26][27] There are more than 1,900 victims and it is reported that up to 1,000 men may have been involved in Cologne,[19] acting in groups of several dozen. Police reported that the perpetrators were men of "Arab or North African appearance" and said that Germany had never experienced such mass sexual assaults before.
They types of incidents go on and on.......So is Trump correct to suggest profiling....given the current situation...yes. I have no problem with being cautious. They can have access to my phone...I have nothing to hide. If you want into a country....said country has every right to go over your past with a fine tooth comb. Many Muslims are not going to cause any problems however some of those coming from the Middle East are use to a different culture. Women are often considered property. Many people on here just thumbs down anything about Trump....then please, for those of you in Japan you need to demonstrate to your government that they need to take in as many refugees as possible. Have them put in you your neighborhood. Until things change profiling, unfortunately, will be the way of things.
smithinjapan
bass4funk: "Opposing radical Jihadism and calling it out for what is, is NOT racist"
Putting all Muslims in the same boat as radical Jihadism IS racist, and that's what profiling of all Muslims would accomplish. So, yes, he is racist, as are those who support such actions. Period.
Laguna
Oh, the irony!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/30/briton-charged-in-us-after-assassination-attempt-on-donald-trump
I suppose that, after this, white English males should be profiled. (Seriously, though: imagine the national panic if he had been anything except a white male. As it was, most nobody noticed.)
Andrew Barker
Trump or Hillary? Tough choice. A blowhard that has said ridiculous and contradictory things and lunatic, psychopath that has supported or voted for every single military action the US has engaged in since she's been in the public realm. Don't vote Trump and try Hillary for war crimes. Take in Bush while you're at it. Just don't give me the "Hillary is the lesser of two EVULZ". She's actually got the blood of innocents on her hands and nothing is more evil than that.
pointofview
@Laguna,
White students are profiled on a daily basis. That`s ok though, eh?
kcjapan
Trump is persisting with his attack on Muslims because it has proven be his strongest issue, according to exit polls in many Republican primaries. - article
Hatred and prejudice prove the only commodities Trump can sell that are American made, by Donald J. Trump.
Hatred and prejudice is Trump's voter base.
Don't look to the GOP-tea to care, it's part of their long war on America.
bass4funk
I don't think even Trump believes that. Sure, he may not have said it in the most appropriate or sensitive way, I am sure, the average thinking person gets what he is implying. If liberals won't do that, that in itself is looking down on the average voter as saying, "you are stupid and WE the politicians and the media are telling you this." The people see and understand that Trump is talking about radical Jihadists. Did it come out wrong what he was trying to say, Yes. Could he have chosen his words more carefully, Yes, but is it flat out racist what he is advocating, if you take the emotion out of the argument and at least take the Israeli approach, it's actually not racist as much as being overly cautious.
Christopher Glen
Discriminatory, yes. But not racist. Muslims themselves are made up of people from various ethnic backgrounds.
kcjapan
Trump supporters have a simple message.
'Trump let's us hate for religion, color and gender, Freedom!'
Since hate and prejudice is all Trump has to offer there is little surprise his voters are as racist and bigoted as Trump.
Obviously Trump entire Campaign is based on Hate. No debate, just hate.