I think you might be better off looking up the FBI crime stats than asking some random guy on a forum. The FBI hate crime stats indicate that since 2002, the number of hate crimes against Muslims run between 105-160 per year. That translates to about 3.5 - 5.2 per 100,000 if you go with a population of 3 million and 1.5 - 2.2 per 100,000 if you go with CAIR's figure if 7 million. That is actually better than African Americans, Jews, homosexuals. So cries of rampant Islamophobia are a bit exaggerated.
Blaming the media is a cope out. We have plenty of choices of sources from which to get our news.
Regarding the rest of your post, you don't have to prove your loyalty to the U.S. just because we might have divergent views. I take it for granted till you prove otherwise with your actions.
The part of your post I agreed with, I remove from the above as we both agreed on majority of the content. However, the one's highlighted above, I'd like to debate with you on.
1) You are quoting the FBI's hate statistics from 2002. Why didn't you quote 2013 or 2014? The "Islamophobia" isn't a bit exaggerated, its the reality. The new Black Man on the corner is now the Muslim guy. You said that anti-Islam sentiment existed before just like it is today. But you failed to give me proof of what you stated and refer me to over a decade old statistics. If you own sense and logic is SO flawed and its based on data from 14 years ago, why even post such confident grandiose statements about the subject to begin with? False information doesn't make your argument right, in fact, it eats up your valid points too.
2) I don't know how much you know the law and how law enforcement actually works. But I can tell you with 100% certainty that many anti-muslim issues such as denial of firing of individual/s or threats or verbal abuse aren't classified as crimes and the FBI doesn't get involved with those. The FBI has far more serious things to do then to do find out why a guy cursed out a Muslim man on the corner of 96th street and Columbus ave in New York City. So hundreds of these events actually go unnoticed as they are mere threats or conversations if you will. Or issues of Civil nature, not a crime.
Just for your own understanding, I found a couple of links which might give you a broader picture of the issue. The Media sure as hell as a HUGE responsibility. The media prepares nations for wars and all, the media is what riled us up about Iraq and all when IMO, we needed to be in Afghanistan with all of our might, looking for that bastard OBL who killed our civilians. But that's history, but it shows what Media can do and that's true for ANY country.
3 If the Media acts maturely and doesn't over hype the Middle Eastern situation 4000 miles away from that region into our country, or other uncivil acts taking place in other Islamic countries far from us, I think we wouldn't see this surge. The media is portraying "Us vs. them" now, more than any other time. You referred to these people as cowards. I am sorry, the entire Conservative Church based Republican party comes into that. You have Harvard educated politicians who are supporting "us vs. them" agenda. Remember Sarah Palin for one example? Or Ms. Bachmann from the the Team Party? How many people will become "cowards" if I take your suggestions???
Bottom line is, we are all humans and we should not put divides between the American public. You are almost right, there are actually more than 7 million Muslims in America. Their youth (kids born and / or raised in America) are just as Americans as you and I. So, it doesn't make sense to start the KKK type of a show in 2015, when we are the champion of democracy with our bill of rights, and a roll model for freedom.
4) You got me ALL wrong. I got nothing to prove to no body. My sentence about saluting the flag wasn't to prove shiit to you. I don't even know if you are the guy living a street over with his picture in child molester's registry permanently so who cares about you. You addressed me in a way that came across as if you were trying to make me understand the American culture or media in this case. I was just setting the tone so you knew I wasn't some fool you think came in on a camel to work here and clean tables. That's all. I think you've gotten a good handle about me by now so we are good.
5) Please research before posting stuff with utter confidence when your research is like 14 years old. By the way, as you are quoting stuff from 2012, I don't know if you are behind that much compared to the rest of the world. Did you know that US soldiers started to come back home from Afghanistan starting 2012? Did you know that they now have major league soccer in the country now? Just letting you know so you could come up the year 2015
Here are some of the links. The first link would CLEARLY tell you that up till 2010, hate crimes against Muslims had started to drop. Then there was a 50% surge due to "MEDIA's Propaganda against Islam", the same point I am trying to make.....anyway, read up on the following please. The point of my entire post is, that we are the champion of democracy and human freedom across the world. We need act responsibly and make sure our media and our people aren't super sensitive to a population of people who is majority America and some have lived here for many generations and they've always followed the law, paid taxes and helped the society. We should help the others integrate into our society vs. making them feel like they are a permanent alien. That's what the UK and France did and they are paying the price. We have a much better country and a system that can help everyone. We have to be guardians of this freedom and this democracy and remain open to others trying to integrate into our society. Good night!
2013: The Year To End Hate Crimes Against American Muslims
Muslims Take Special Precautions For Eid Ul-Fitr