silly things americans believe...

gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
edited September 2010 in A Moving Train
from newsweek, based on polls over the years....pretty interesting...
http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/2 ... lieve.html
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
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  • Chances are that by now you've heard about the August 19, 2010 Pew poll that found that nearly one fifth of Americans (mistakenly) believe that President Obama is a Muslim. Perhaps you think that a terrifying outlier; or perhaps you're a believer, and then you are in good company. Either way, you're wrong: in fact, a remarkably high numbers of Americans believe the most unusual things. Although the portion of poll respondents who believe Obama is a Muslim has risen recently, some of these oddball opinions contain more consistent numbers of believers.

    again,

    whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim.

    Is there something wrong with being a muslim in the US?

    anyone?
  • Dirtie_FrankDirtie_Frank Posts: 1,348
    Chances are that by now you've heard about the August 19, 2010 Pew poll that found that nearly one fifth of Americans (mistakenly) believe that President Obama is a Muslim. Perhaps you think that a terrifying outlier; or perhaps you're a believer, and then you are in good company. Either way, you're wrong: in fact, a remarkably high numbers of Americans believe the most unusual things. Although the portion of poll respondents who believe Obama is a Muslim has risen recently, some of these oddball opinions contain more consistent numbers of believers.

    again,

    whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim.

    Is there something wrong with being a muslim in the US?

    anyone?

    maybe you are just reading into it too much. I think has a lot to do with his name. Is it right? No, but I think that is the reason.
    96 Randall's Island II
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  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    my favorite, and perhaps the most worrisome of them all...

    "What a bunch of knuckleheads: according to Zogby, the majority of Americans—three in four—can correctly identify Larry, Curly and Moe as the Three Stooges. Only two out of five respondents, however, can correctly identify the executive, legislative, and judicial branches as the three wings of government."
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Chances are that by now you've heard about the August 19, 2010 Pew poll that found that nearly one fifth of Americans (mistakenly) believe that President Obama is a Muslim. Perhaps you think that a terrifying outlier; or perhaps you're a believer, and then you are in good company. Either way, you're wrong: in fact, a remarkably high numbers of Americans believe the most unusual things. Although the portion of poll respondents who believe Obama is a Muslim has risen recently, some of these oddball opinions contain more consistent numbers of believers.

    again,

    whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim.

    Is there something wrong with being a muslim in the US?

    anyone?

    maybe you are just reading into it too much. I think has a lot to do with his name. Is it right? No, but I think that is the reason.

    no, i'm not reading into it too much. the implication is that there is something wrong with with being Arab American or Muslim.

    why continually bring it up otherwise?
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    or this.....

    "Didn't we clear this one up in the 16th century? Copernicus be damned, 20 percent
    of Americans were still sure that the sun revolved around the Earth in 1999. Gallup, the pollster who conducted the study, gamely tried to dress it up by celebrating the fact that
    "four out of five Americans know Earth revolves around the sun," but we're not buying."

    lol.....
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    Chances are that by now you've heard about the August 19, 2010 Pew poll that found that nearly one fifth of Americans (mistakenly) believe that President Obama is a Muslim. Perhaps you think that a terrifying outlier; or perhaps you're a believer, and then you are in good company. Either way, you're wrong: in fact, a remarkably high numbers of Americans believe the most unusual things. Although the portion of poll respondents who believe Obama is a Muslim has risen recently, some of these oddball opinions contain more consistent numbers of believers.

    again,

    whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim.

    Is there something wrong with being a muslim in the US?

    anyone?

    maybe you are just reading into it too much. I think has a lot to do with his name. Is it right? No, but I think that is the reason.
    why would this have become the firestorm issue it has become, especially when he came out in support of the right to build the cultural center and mosque 2 blocks away from ground zero??? if there was nothing "wrong" with being arab american or muslim it would not be an issue at all.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    One of the silliest things I think... that a 'Back to School' speech from the current president was going to be some sort of brain-washing indoctrination into Socialism... or Fascism... or Communism... or all three.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
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  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    Didn't we clear this one up in the 16th century? Copernicus be damned, 20 percent of Americans were still sure in 1999 that the sun revolved around the Earth. Gallup, the pollster that conducted the study, gamely tried to dress it up by celebrating the fact that "four out of five Americans know Earth revolves around the sun," but we're not buying.

    WHAT?
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  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    haffajappa wrote:
    Didn't we clear this one up in the 16th century? Copernicus be damned, 20 percent of Americans were still sure in 1999 that the sun revolved around the Earth. Gallup, the pollster that conducted the study, gamely tried to dress it up by celebrating the fact that "four out of five Americans know Earth revolves around the sun," but we're not buying.

    WHAT?
    I have not met anybody or heard of anybody ever support this claim.

    For most of the other stuff, I could see those percentages working out. It is a combination of stupidity and exposure. You are exposed to the three major branches of government in for the first time in junior high school while the 3 stooges and the seven dwarfs are exposed to you in your infancy.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • mikepegg44mikepegg44 Posts: 3,353
    Chances are that by now you've heard about the August 19, 2010 Pew poll that found that nearly one fifth of Americans (mistakenly) believe that President Obama is a Muslim. Perhaps you think that a terrifying outlier; or perhaps you're a believer, and then you are in good company. Either way, you're wrong: in fact, a remarkably high numbers of Americans believe the most unusual things. Although the portion of poll respondents who believe Obama is a Muslim has risen recently, some of these oddball opinions contain more consistent numbers of believers.

    again,

    whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim.

    Is there something wrong with being a muslim in the US?

    anyone?


    maybe you are just reading into it too much. I think has a lot to do with his name. Is it right? No, but I think that is the reason.

    no, i'm not reading into it too much. the implication is that there is something wrong with with being Arab American or Muslim.

    why continually bring it up otherwise?

    People were talking about religion and the presidency for a long time before Obama. JFK being catholic was an issue for a lot of people...it is always brought up as a question of alligences(jfk's was supposedly the pope and not the US) and unfortunately the people who are not willing to understand seperation of church and state are also unable to understand that a person can lead a government without letting their religion cloud everything they do in office. I don't think it is the idea that all muslims are awful or anything like that.
    I think it speaks more to how people get their information in the internet age than it does about the american people themselves.
    Typically and contrary to what you may see or read in the media, the US is a pretty accepting place.
    that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
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  • fifefife Posts: 3,327
    I don't have stats for this but one thing i find silly that American believe is that driving around in a great oval is a sport. :D
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    mikepegg44 wrote:
    Typically and contrary to what you may see or read in the media, the US is a pretty accepting place.
    Except at sporting events in Philladelphia :mrgreen:
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    fife wrote:
    I don't have stats for this but one thing i find silly that American believe is that driving around in a great oval is a sport. :D
    This coming from someone who lives in a country that likes to skate around in an oval and call it a sport. ;):lol::lol:
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    Jason P wrote:
    skate around in an oval and call it a sport. ;):lol::lol:

    we aren't so passionate about speedskating ... ;)
  • fifefife Posts: 3,327
    Jason P wrote:
    fife wrote:
    I don't have stats for this but one thing i find silly that American believe is that driving around in a great oval is a sport. :D
    This coming from someone who lives in a country that likes to skate around in an oval and call it a sport. ;):lol::lol:

    don't make me hit the squirrel with my car. now that a sport i think everyone can get around. ;)
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    mikepegg44 wrote:

    People were talking about religion and the presidency for a long time before Obama. JFK being catholic was an issue for a lot of people...it is always brought up as a question of alligences(jfk's was supposedly the pope and not the US) and unfortunately the people who are not willing to understand seperation of church and state are also unable to understand that a person can lead a government without letting their religion cloud everything they do in office. I don't think it is the idea that all muslims are awful or anything like that.
    I think it speaks more to how people get their information in the internet age than it does about the american people themselves.
    Typically and contrary to what you may see or read in the media, the US is a pretty accepting place.


    as an american i can say that "muslim" carries a negative connotation for many here.



    and apparently you didn't see the video of the 'mosque' opponents at their rally.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    maybe we can add that "a large number of americans view the religion of islam in an unfavorable light"...

    on cbs world news tonight they released a poll that said 42% of those surveyed viewed islam in an unfavorable light, 30 something percent had "no opinion" and the small remaining number viewed it in a favorable light. i tried to find a link but i could not find one. either way, if this is a good sample of the population, then it would certainly apply as a "silly thing americans believe"...
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • AELARAAELARA Posts: 803
    Many people here consider american people naive.. I have never been to the U.S.A so I can't have my own opinion. But I've found a pic which shows what is the idea americans have for the world. Or at least what other people believe on how americans see the world...

    http://www.funnyflash.com/img/funnies/submissions/19/american_view.jpg
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  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    maybe we can add that "a large number of americans view the religion of islam in an unfavorable light"...

    on cbs world news tonight they released a poll that said 42% of those surveyed viewed islam in an unfavorable light, 30 something percent had "no opinion" and the small remaining number viewed it in a favorable light. i tried to find a link but i could not find one. either way, if this is a good sample of the population, then it would certainly apply as a "silly thing americans believe"...


    What about the large number of people here that view Christianity in a negative light?
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  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    AELARA wrote:
    Many people here consider american people naive.. I have never been to the U.S.A so I can't have my own opinion. But I've found a pic which shows what is the idea americans have for the world. Or at least what other people believe on how americans see the world...

    http://www.funnyflash.com/img/funnies/submissions/19/american_view.jpg
    lol that link is hilarious...unfortunately there are people in our country that see it like that...
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    maybe we can add that "a large number of americans view the religion of islam in an unfavorable light"...

    on cbs world news tonight they released a poll that said 42% of those surveyed viewed islam in an unfavorable light, 30 something percent had "no opinion" and the small remaining number viewed it in a favorable light. i tried to find a link but i could not find one. either way, if this is a good sample of the population, then it would certainly apply as a "silly thing americans believe"...


    What about the large number of people here that view Christianity in a negative light?
    what about them? i must be missing something....what is your point?
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • cajunkiwicajunkiwi Posts: 984
    maybe we can add that "a large number of americans view the religion of islam in an unfavorable light"...

    on cbs world news tonight they released a poll that said 42% of those surveyed viewed islam in an unfavorable light, 30 something percent had "no opinion" and the small remaining number viewed it in a favorable light. i tried to find a link but i could not find one. either way, if this is a good sample of the population, then it would certainly apply as a "silly thing americans believe"...


    What about the large number of people here that view Christianity in a negative light?

    I believe those people are a tiny minority when compared to the people who view Islam in an unfavorable light.

    Unless of course you believe the drivel coming from that moron Glenn Beck's mouth when he tries to convince you that everyone is after your freedoms and everyone hates you.

    (Seriously? A rich white dude is going to reclaim the Civil Rights movement? A black guy is voted president and suddenly rich conservative white guys are running around deciding their rights are being trampled? lol)
    And I listen for the voice inside my head... nothing. I'll do this one myself.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    cajunkiwi wrote:
    I believe those people are a tiny minority when compared to the people who view Islam in an unfavorable light.

    Unless of course you believe the drivel coming from that moron Glenn Beck's mouth when he tries to convince you that everyone is after your freedoms and everyone hates you.

    (Seriously? A rich white dude is going to reclaim the Civil Rights movement? A black guy is voted president and suddenly rich conservative white guys are running around deciding their rights are being trampled? lol)
    yeah, dripping with irony, isn't it? :lol::lol:
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    Before anyone gets there pitchforks and torches out, please note that my following opinion is subjective based on my personal experiences . . . and I just made it up on the fly over lunch . . . SO BACK OFF! ;)

    I think the statistic of Americans that view Islam in an “unfavorable light” is probably right. The reason a good number of Americans view Islam in an "unfavorable light" has a lot to do with the exposure that most Americans had with Islam prior to and after 9/11. From my own personal experience of growing up in a small town in the Midwest, I really didn't know anything about Muslims or Islam until 9/11. Islam was brought up as much as Hinduism, which was basically never. It was out of sight, and out of mind.

    9/11, unfortunately, was the first time most Americans were acquainted with Islam. Even though the hi-jackers were fanatics that don’t fairly represent the religion, the attacks were the first impression and association of Islam for a majority of Americans, myself included.

    Luckily, I’m smart enough to educate myself and realize that the terrorists are hard-line fanatics and are not a fair representation of Muslims. But my Catholic grandmother in Wisconsin, who is in her 80's, views Islam very suspiciously. She is not full of hatred . . . more fear and misunderstanding then anything. If I told her I was bringing a Muslim friend over for diner, she wouldn’t say no or be rude. But I’m sure she would be watching them closely and suspiciously. Is there anyway to change her feelings on this? At this point in her life, probably not.

    She doesn’t know how the internet works so most of her current exposure to Islam is through the local newspaper or the evening news. And I ask you this: What percentage of stories involving Muslims or Islam is associated with negative events? 80%? 90%? 100%? Why wouldn’t she be suspicious?

    I think my grandmother’s outlook is typical to a sizable demographic. The average farmer in a small town is indoctrinated with the same negative new articles. There are not any local Muslims that can offer insight because they don’t exist in a majority of small towns.

    The next question is, does “unfavorable light” = “Islamaphobia”. My grandmother looks at hippies in tie-dye shirts the same way she would a Muslim dressed in traditional garments. Maybe they should conduct a poll to see what percentage of Americans view Islam with great contempt. That would be a much better gauge of the American public’s tolerance.

    I think the builders of the NY mosque understand this attitude and they had hopes that they could help people understand the positive side of Islam . . . it just back-fired horribly. I think the root causes of the back-fire are rabble-rousing politicians and pundits. If the readers of AMT remember, the mosque issue came up as a topic at least three weeks before it became a media firestorm. It started to pick up some media slowly, but it wasn’t until Obama was dumb enough to comment on the issue that news pundits and politicians jumped at the chance for exposure.

    I’m not going to doubt that there are people that suffer “Islamaphobia”. Every society has their fair share of idiots and people filled with hate and anger for no good reason. Unfortunately, those people are always going to exist and the media will be sure to capitalize off their antics.

    Anywho, those are my thoughts … for now.

    Onward and upward.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • AELARAAELARA Posts: 803
    You're right, but in my opinion 80 year old people are not representative of a whole nation. What matters most, in my view, is what younger people do. They do have the choice to inform themselves but do they?
    If yes, like you do then they can be more objective and tolerant of other people's beliefs and ways of life.
    If not, they are suspicious of the different, or even worse they hate the "others", the "strangers", you name it. And what is more they believe whatever the media or politicians tell them (for their own reasons). That, in my opinion, is pathetic.
    I am mine!
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    AELARA wrote:
    You're right, but in my opinion 80 year old people are not representative of a whole nation. What matters most, in my view, is what younger people do. They do have the choice to inform themselves but do they?
    If yes, like you do then they can be more objective and tolerant of other people's beliefs and ways of life.
    If not, they are suspicious of the different, or even worse they hate the "others", the "strangers", you name it. And what is more they believe whatever the media or politicians tell them (for their own reasons). That, in my opinion, is pathetic.
    The demographic I was thinking about is the 55 - 80 range. My parents look at an iPhone as if it was an Ouija board. They can barely surf the internet and trying to teach them how to download information is like a flight tower trying to get a passenger to land a 747 . . . it can be done, just not easily.

    Younger people should be better educated but there are quite a few uneducated people in America. Just visit your local Walmart. Think of all your classmates that quit school before graduating. Or check to see how many Nickleback and Hell Yeah albums have been sold. And we are one of the most educated nations! Yikes.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • AELARAAELARA Posts: 803
    The demographic I was thinking about is the 55 - 80 range. My parents look at an iPhone as if it was an Ouija board. They can barely surf the internet and trying to teach them how to download information is like a flight tower trying to get a passenger to land a 747 . . . it can be done, just not easily.

    Younger people should be better educated but there are quite a few uneducated people in America. Just visit your local Walmart. Think of all your classmates that quit school before graduating. Or check to see how many Nickleback and Hell Yeah albums have been sold. And we are one of the most educated nations! Yikes.[/quote]

    Well, I'm not american but the same thing happens here, more or less. My parents know little about technology and so do most of the people of their age. But technology is something different from information. I mean, it's not just the internet through which you can learn things. How did people get information and knowledge in older times? Through different sources like books, newspapers, magazines etc. Right? However some of us find it too old-fashioned. I believe that's what we (younger people) should do.
    Of course uneducated and naive people exist everywhere in the world but being the majority, that is the problem. And I'm afraid that is the case in Greece, at least (I can't talk about the States).
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  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    What about the large number of people here that view Christianity in a negative light?
    ...
    Maybe... could it be that a large number of Christians compose the large number of Americans that view Islam in a negative light?
    I don't know... maybe that is one of the silly things I believe.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • OnTheEdgeOnTheEdge Posts: 1,300
    fife wrote:
    I don't have stats for this but one thing i find silly that American believe is that driving around in a great oval is a sport. :D
    :lol:
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    that there are flying saucers
    Elvis is still alive
    Bigfoot is real
    yeti is real
    there is a monster in my closet
    obama knows what he's doing
    locness monster is real
    pot is harmless
    space aliens built the great pyramids
    and last but not least....people that work for their wealth should share it with those that
    do not want to work and earn their own wealth.

    :lol::lol::lol::lol:

    Godfather.
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