PBS Documentary Showcases Islam’s Contribution to Civilization
Nearly four in ten Americans hold an unfavorable view of Islam
and Muslims. That number has remained steady since 9-11. Several
factors contribute to this negative perception, certainly none
greater than Muslims – albeit a few – who commit terrorism in
the name of Islam. The media exasperates this negativity, as
aptly noted in Edward Said’s 1981 classic Covering Islam.
However, some media outlets are more egregious than others.  A
2011 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)
found that the majority of Fox News viewers perceive that
Muslims want to establish Shari’a law in America and express the
distressing view that Muslims are NOT an important part of
America’s religious fabric. Nearly seven in ten viewers of Fox
News believe that the values of Islam are at odds with American
values. In contrast, fewer than four in ten viewers of public
television hold such negative perceptions.  The difference
between Fox News viewers and those