Do you think that as people began recognizing it that it began to gain more converts?It seems to have been a quiet minority religion. I don’t quite know if my experience with Islam is sufficient, but at least here in Columbus and I’m sure other parts of the country, Islam was virtually unheard of. I’m sure some people were acquainted with it in areas where there was a more significant percentage of Muslims, but I don’t think it got nearly the attention it has gotten since the war began.
Americans have a reputation overseas for being somewhat insular in their knowledge about other nations, societies and religions. Whether this is deserved or not is a moot point. But I think it would be a fair comment to say that until the Vietnam War began for example, most Americans didn’t even know where it was.I began to wonder, how popular was Islam amongst Americans before the war? Was it virtually unheard of? I ask because many seem to be well… Completely ignorant of Islam and act as though it has only been recent since it has been adressed.
You neglected to mention the involvement of the Ottoman Empire during both World Wars. Also that story I posted above talks about the active engagement of American forces in ending the Muslim piracy during the early 1800’s in the Mediterranean Sea.Americans have a reputation overseas for being somewhat insular in their knowledge about other nations, societies and religions. Whether this is deserved or not is a moot point. But I think it would be a fair comment to say that until the Vietnam War began for example, most Americans didn’t even know where it was.
I suspect the same holds for Islam. Obviously it wasn’t highly visible in the US until 9/11. There was the occasional hiccup before that eg. Cassius Clay changing his name to Muhammed Ali. But such events were isolated enough that they didn’t impinge on the national consciousness, and posed no threat to anybody. 9/11 changed all that, even though the US has been very heavily engaged in the Middle East ever since the development of modern oil based industry, and particularly with the re-establishment of Israel. With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US was heavily involved with Pakistan in fomenting Islamic opposition to the Soviets. In fact, to some extent, you’re reaping the result of that involvment right now. Even before that, for some reason, the US never seemed to trust India, and helped Pakistan there as well.
In the case of home-grown Black Moslems, I think it’s more of a protest than anything else against the way they’ve been treated.
One thing is for sure - Islam isn’t going away, and it’s going to impinge more and more on the West.
You’re right Bob,Americans have a reputation overseas for being somewhat insular in their knowledge about other nations, societies and religions. Whether this is deserved or not is a moot point. But I think it would be a fair comment to say that until the Vietnam War began for example, most Americans didn’t even know where it was.
I suspect the same holds for Islam. Obviously it wasn’t highly visible in the US until 9/11. There was the occasional hiccup before that eg. Cassius Clay changing his name to Muhammed Ali. But such events were isolated enough that they didn’t impinge on the national consciousness, and posed no threat to anybody. 9/11 changed all that, even though the US has been very heavily engaged in the Middle East ever since the development of modern oil based industry, and particularly with the re-establishment of Israel. With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US was heavily involved with Pakistan in fomenting Islamic opposition to the Soviets. In fact, to some extent, you’re reaping the result of that involvment right now. Even before that, for some reason, the US never seemed to trust India, and helped Pakistan there as well.
In the case of home-grown Black Moslems, I think it’s more of a protest than anything else against the way they’ve been treated.
One thing is for sure - Islam isn’t going away, and it’s going to impinge more and more on the West.