Fear Itself: Why This Year's 9/11 Anniversary Seemed More Acrimonious Than in Years Past

Summary

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Prior to 9/11, radical Islam was an afterthought for most Americans. Even after the United States weathered the al Qaeda-direeled attacks on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the bombing of the USS Cole, Americans remained largely inattentive to this looming threat. Now that radical Islam is a front-burner issue for the majority of the country. Americans are increasingly fearful of an unseen, yet seemingly omnipresent enemy that lurks in the netherworld of Afghanistan's mountainous border shared with Pakistan's lawless tribal regions.

A fear of Islam has even affected American politics. As President Obama's popularity has dipped, the number of Americans who incorrectly believe he is a Muslim has grown. In January 2009, when President Obama assumed office, his approval rating stood at 65 percent, and just 11 percent of the country thought he was a Muslim. Today, President Obama's job approval rating hovers at 45 percent, while the number of Americans who believe he is a Muslim has climbed to 24 percent. With the dissatisfaction over the proposed Islamic cultural centers in Lower Manhattan and Murfreesboro, and the growing number of Americans who incorrectly believe their President is a Muslim, it is clear Americans are letting a growing fear of Islam - driven by a real anxiety over a lack of tangible success in Iraq and Afghanistan - get their goat.

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Fear Itself: Why This Year's 9/11 Anniversary Seemed More Acrimonious Than in Years Past

Perhaps the most remarkable outcome of the September 11 attacks was the way our country responded with fervent unity. A day of unimaginable horror was met with levels of solidarity experienced only a few times in American history. President Bush's approval rating soared overnight, sales o...

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