Does it surprise anyone that a “New survey shows more Americans support Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban than oppose it.”
It shouldn’t, considering that Trump’s fear tactics got him elected. It’s obvious that a majority — a slim majority –in the United Stares are suffering from Islamophobia, including Trump himself.
When Trump signed his executive order last week barring Muslims from various nations from entering the U.S., he reportedly mentioned 9/11 as a factor in his administration’s decision.
Let’s be honest about this: The images of 9/11 haunt much of America — and the world.
And then there are the atrocities committed by ISIS, and its threat to take over the world and murder billions of people in the process.
Of course, Trump’s problem — one shared by many suffering from Islamophobia — is that they see all Muslims as a threat. They forget that Muslims seeking refugee status in America and Canada and other nations are fleeing ISIS. They want no part of that terrorist’s group ideology. They simply want to live in peace in a democratic society.
But how to cure Islamophobia?
Obviously, Trump’s method won’t do it. It will only help groups like ISIS recruit more fighters. “America is at war with Islam,” ISIS leaders will say.
And it sure looks like America is at war with Muslims, at least, Muslims from the countries where Trump has no financial interests, i.e. never mind that the 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia and other countries not on the current U.S. ban list.
If I were a conspiracy theorist, I might lean to the idea that Trump and company are looking to make war with certain nations now, and that there is a lot of money to be made for arms dealers and others in the United States . . . But, naw, they wouldn’t wage war to make money, eh.
But there is no doubt that the fear of ISIS and Al-Qaida is at the root of Islamophobia for many people in the United States, Canada, the EU and so on.
And that’s exactly what ISIS wanted from the outset: to make everyone afraid, and to sow the seeds of hatred. They want the West to hate Muslims. And they hope all Muslims will rise up and kill all non-Muslims.
It’s not going to happen, of course. And that is the message our leaders need to tell everyone. Don’t be afraid. ISIS will not rule the world. Their days are numbered.
In the meantime, continue practising the golden rule preached by every sage: Brotherly love. That’s what the vast, vast majority of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world want. That’s what the vast majority of all people want — even those who are blinded by fear and hate.
Deep inside, the vast majority of humans yearn for a world of peace and love.
Don’t let a sick minority poison you.
— Jillian
Photo: President Donald J. Trump gives his acceptance speech on Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. (Source: Screengrab taken by Jillian Page)
Jillian Page 
I am not surprised by the polling.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. The Republican party thrives on stupidity.
Quotes of statements made by Marine Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis, Trump’s defense secretary:
“You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil,” he once told an audience, USA Today reports. “You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually it’s quite fun to fight them, you know. It’s a hell of a hoot. It’s fun to shoot some people. I’ll be right up there with you. I like brawling.”
“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet,”
“Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment [in American democracy] and kill every one of them until they’re so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact,”
“I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all.”
“The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event,” he said, according to NBC News. “That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot.”
Trump has in his White House office the most extreme of Islamophobes, Steve Bannon. If you look at the lies, conspiracy theories and fake news on Britebart.com, you should be afraid. Be very afraid. And Bannon is trump’s most trusted advisor.
Things are going to get worse. Much worse.
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Yes, much worse. Expect war with Iran any day now, and worse.
Bannon and Trump are looking to pick fights. They’re nuts.
But I have to wonder if the establishment will allow them to stay in power much longer. Could the military take over and force Trump out?
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I take exception to your premise.
First of all, you are incorrect that it is a ban on Muslims. It is not. It is a temporary ban on immigrants from countries that are predominantly Muslim. This is nothing different than what the last 5 presidents of the US have done. Including Obama and Clinton. Nothing new here.
Second, it is easy to throw around the “Islamophobia” and all the other ‘ophia’s around. Simply name calling is a gross exaggeration. And incorrect. If someone declares war on you, hates you, and wants to harm you, do you welcome them into your house so they can attack you? That is exactly what the US and other western countries have gladly done. We see the results of it all the time. You don’t think ISIS doesn’t slip into the refugees? Of course they do. That is a fact. It is in their plan to take advantage of our hospitality. Terrorist wars are waged in non-traditional ways. We see it all the time. ISIS is at war with the West. If the West does not push back, then ISIS wins.
The purpose of the government of the US is to protect its citizens. If not, there is no America. While ‘middle America’ knows this, the left does not care. The left wants open borders and wants to let anyone in the country. The good intentioned left will destroy America.
So, don’t hate me, that is my view. I only wanted to reply with my opinion. I don’t want to get into an argument about details. I am sure I don’t have all the facts. But that is how much of America feels.
Donald Trump is a different kind of person. He is no polished politician. I think he won because he saw the decline of the American civilization and wanted to right the ship.
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Your opinions are welcome here. We certainly wouldn’t hate you because we might not agree with them.
Please feel free to comment anytime.
Cheers
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Let’s keep in mind, the system of bringing refugees to the U.S. is very different than in Europe or Canada. It takes, on average, 2 years for any refugee to come to the U.S., and often considerably longer. The U.S. doesn’t take refugees in as quickly as we’ve seen in Europe or Canada, there is a much more extensive screening process. So, for ISIS, or other terrorists, to come in a refugees doesn’t make sense, it would take much too long, and they would likely be caught during the screening process. Trump’s policy is putting refugees in the same category with those who come in to the U.S. illegally, which is just wrong.
Trump’s policy is just adding to the confusion around these issues. It’s understandable that a lot of people misunderstand what’s going on around refugees in the U.S., when they see what has happened in other countries where they don’t have comparable safeguards, but for Trump and his people to feed this misunderstanding is just irresponsible. It’s trying to pretend things are much simpler than is true. America is not safer under this policy, quite the opposite, as Trump focuses on the wrong people as threats.
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Another week, and another batch of polls, and now a majority of Americans are strongly opposed to Trump’s efforts to ban certain people from the U.S., and a huge majority view this as a ban focused on Muslims. (Trump is calling all of these polls, “Fake News.”)
Probably seeing what a damn mess Trump had created changed a lot of minds, and made a lot of others wake up and pay more attention. Also, Democrats have finally begun to speak a bit more, after being pretty much missing in action not just since Trump’s inauguration, but really since the election.
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