Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 02:46:31 +0100 (BST) From: =?iso-8859-1?q?eldorra=20mitchell?= <manynotone-AT-yahoo.co.in> Anti-Muslim/Arab Sentiments Continue To Rise: Bush To Visit Islamic Center Monday, September 17 2001 -AT- 04:43 PM GMT By Middle East News Online Reporter WASHINGTON (MENO) - White House spokesman Ari Fleischer announced today that Bush will be meeting with Islamic leaders today in D.C. in an attempt to urge Americans to cease their attacks against Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans who are "fellow citizens." The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon fueled anti Arabs and Muslims sentiment here in the United States. Some say that the American media has encouraged such behavior by pointing the finger exclusively on Osama bin Laden or Palestinians for carrying out the attacks "The president feels very strongly the importance of all leaders across America sending a message that as Americans, Muslim Americans love their flag too," Fleischer said. Bush asked for a respectful treatment of Arab-Americans and said that Americans should not direct their anger against any group because of their race or religion. The House of Representatives Saturday unanimously approved a non-binding resolution condemning acts of "bigotry and violence" against Arab-Americans, Muslims and South Asians living in this country. In a recent poll conducted by Reuters/Zogby showed a majority of Americans expressing favorable views of Arab or Muslim Americans. Only 8% said they considered the United States to be at war with Islam as a whole. 85% said the enemy was "a small group of terrorists who may be Muslim." The scope of the attacks against the U.S. is still unclear. But Arabs here are now torn between two feelings; sense of tragedy for what struck their country, the United States, and fear that they would become easy targets for those searching for a scapegoat. 2001 Middle East News Online. This news item is distributed via Middle East News Online (MiddleEastWire.com). For information about the content or for permission to redistribute, publish or use for broadcast, contact our syndication department. ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send a newsletter, share photos & files, conduct polls, organize chat events. Visit http://in.groups.yahoo.com
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