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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Dec-04
Americans support additional restrictions on Muslim-Americans

Web Log - December, 2004

Americans support additional restrictions on Muslim-Americans

48% of Americans want restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslims, according to a poll conducted by Cornell University.

Over 700 people were interviewed for the survey, which gauged their support for different kinds of restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. The results show that Americans are increasingly willing to restrict Muslim Americans, even those who are ordinary citizens with jobs and families and no suspicion of crime.

And the feelings are mutual. As we discussed in July, Arab views around the world are becoming increasingly hostile to America.

This is the kind of thing that happens in every nation and society during generational crisis periods. America's last generational crisis period was World War II, and at that time we locked up innocent Japanese-American citizens in camps. The feeling was mutual then too, as Japanese and Americans increasingly hated each other in the 1930s, leading up to WW II.

Furthermore, this is the kind of dynamic we've been seeing in the Netherlands, where they're talking about deporting Muslims who can't pass a citizenship exam.

We've also described some other major changes in American public attitudes on this web site, including:

"Moral values" surged as an important issue in the recent presidential election.

Women are abandoning "women's lib" and feminism, returning to gender-specific roles, including staying home with the kids, as they did in the 1950s.

People are becoming more intolerant of open sexuality, as shown by the public reaction when Janet Jackson bared her breast at the last Superbowl half-time show.

There has been no antiwar movement, despite the fact that we've been in two wars since 9/11. There were brief antiwar demonstrations tied to the election, but they were anti-Bush demonstrations, not anti-war demonstrations.

All of these trends point in the same direction: The American public is increasingly concerned about terrorism, the future of America, and the future of the American way of life. They're increasingly willing to give up individual rights for the safety and unity of the nation. This is what always happens during a generational crisis period, and these trends will continue to increase as we approach the "clash of civilizations" world war.

In the Cornell University poll, each of the respondents was asked to agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

Statement % Agree

All Muslim Americans should be required to register their whereabouts with the federal government. 27

Mosques should be closely monitored and surveilled by U.S. law enforcement agencies. 26

U.S. government agencies should profile citizens as potential threats based on being Muslim or having Middle Eastern heritage. 22

Muslim civic and volunteer organizations should be infiltrated by undercover law enforcement agents to keep watch on their actiities and fundraising. 29

Approximately one-quarter of respondents agreed with each statement, with the infiltration of Muslim civic and volunteer organizations garnering the most support (29%).

Overall, nearly half of all respondents (48%) supported one of the possible restrictions on Muslim American civil liberties, with 29% of all respondents supporting two or more type of restrictions.

The Cornell poll also asked the respondents some related questions about civil liberties, and compared them to the responses given in their pool in 2002:

# Statement % Agree
2004 % Agree
2002

1 Government should have greater power in monitoring Internet activities such as email and online transactions, 47 41

2 Law enforcement officials should be able to indefinitely detain suspected terrorists, 63 57

3 We need to outlaw some un-American actions, even if they're Constitutionally protected, 47 41

4 Government officials sometimes need to lie to the press about military operations, 48 57

5 In a time of crisis or war, the media should NOT cover anti-war protests, 33 30

6 In a time of crisis or war, the media should NOT report comments of individuals who criticize the government, 31 31

7 In a time of war or crisis, individuals should be allowed to stage public protests against the government or its policies, and lastly 60 62

8 In a time of war or crisis, individuals should be allowed to criticize publicly the government, or its policies. 63 65

From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, these results are as expected. Americans are increasingly less concerned about civil liberties, and increasingly more concerned about national survival. This trend will continue.

This is all part of a historical realignment of both political parties that will occur in the next ten years. (21-Dec-04) Permanent Link
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Statement	% Agree
All Muslim Americans should be required to register their whereabouts with the federal government.	27
Mosques should be closely monitored and surveilled by U.S. law enforcement agencies.	26
U.S. government agencies should profile citizens as potential threats based on being Muslim or having Middle Eastern heritage.	22
Muslim civic and volunteer organizations should be infiltrated by undercover law enforcement agents to keep watch on their actiities and fundraising.	29

#	Statement	% Agree 2004	% Agree 2002

1	Government should have greater power in monitoring Internet activities such as email and online transactions,	47	41
2	Law enforcement officials should be able to indefinitely detain suspected terrorists,	63	57
3	We need to outlaw some un-American actions, even if they're Constitutionally protected,	47	41
4	Government officials sometimes need to lie to the press about military operations,	48	57
5	In a time of crisis or war, the media should NOT cover anti-war protests,	33	30
6	In a time of crisis or war, the media should NOT report comments of individuals who criticize the government,	31	31
7	In a time of war or crisis, individuals should be allowed to stage public protests against the government or its policies, and lastly	60	62
8	In a time of war or crisis, individuals should be allowed to criticize publicly the government, or its policies.	63	65

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Dec-04 Americans support additional restrictions on Muslim-Americans

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 21-Dec-04
Americans support additional restrictions on Muslim-Americans