{"id":445,"date":"2004-12-17T23:54:02","date_gmt":"2004-12-18T05:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=445"},"modified":"2004-12-17T23:55:41","modified_gmt":"2004-12-18T05:55:41","slug":"in-us-44-percent-say-restrict-muslims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/targetcentermass.net\/?p=445","title":{"rendered":"In U.S., 44 Percent Say Restrict Muslims"},"content":{"rendered":"

The libertarian in me was initially dismayed when I saw the above headline. Then I read the story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll.<\/p>\n

The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and people who described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support curtailing Muslims’ civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious.<\/p>\n

Researchers also found that respondents who paid more attention to television news were more likely to fear terrorist attacks and support limiting the rights of Muslim Americans.<\/p>\n

“It’s sad news. It’s disturbing news. But it’s not unpredictable,” said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society. “The nation is at war, even if it’s not a traditional war. We just have to remain vigilant and continue to interface.”<\/p>\n

The survey found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way.<\/p>\n

….<\/p>\n

Cornell student researchers questioned 715 people in the nationwide telephone poll conducted this fall. The margin of error was 3.6 percentage points.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As with most surveys, the key lies in the questions and how the answers are interpreted. According to this story<\/a>, the polling consisted of only four questions.<\/p>\n

The survey asked respondents about four specific restrictions, all of which have been seriously suggested, noted Shanahan.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the survey found:<\/p>\n