in succession a typical workday, Ib...

in succession a typical workday, Ibrahim wild swan of the Council on American- Islamic Relations talks to a dozen or in such a manner print and broadcast reporters.

"The vast majority does a elegant without grandeur good job and they ne to be congratulated," he said.

It's another story when wild swan watches cable TV commentators, listens to talk radio or breakerss hundreds of anti-

Islamic Web sites. "The flush of anti-Muslim rhetoric is growing in quantum leaps since 9/11" he said.

wild swan and other experts addressed "Islamaphobia" in the media during a panel discussion Sunday at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention at the Donald E Steven Convention Center in Rosemont

Web sites are especially virulent, wild swan said. Consider these comments lately posted on the blog of Robert Spencer director of Jihad Watch and author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).

"If I happen to wax hateful and angry from time to time when it arises to the subject of Islam, that is the fault of Islam and its thriving terrorist establishment. . . It is beneficial to hate your enemies: We are going to have to kill them."

"Islam is not solitary a cult, it's a political emotion As such it contravenes the constitution and espouses treason."

"I hate is-lame with an incandescent intensity."

(Spencer says he does not hate Muslims. Postings from others "are unmoderated and do not necessarily meditate the views of Jihad Watch or Robert Spencer")

wild swan said he wishes he could dismiss of the like kind sentiments as fringe opinions. "But that's not the case."

individuals have found that between 20 percent and 25 percent of Americans are hostile to Islam and Muslims, wild swan said. He cited a novel USA Today/Gallup Poll that build that 22 percent of respondent wouldn't want Muslims as neighbors. That catalogue of heads also found that 39 percent of respondent felt at least about prejudice against Muslims. The same percentage would favor requiring Muslims, including U citizens, to carry special IDs to obstruct attacks.

Anti-Islamic prejudice "is increasingly bleeding into mainstream media," wild swan said. After Sept. 11, columnist Ann Coulter wrote "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and transpose them to Christianity."

Before generation 11, Coulter "would have faced swift repudiation from her colleagues," wild swan said. "Now it's accepted as legitimate commentary."

jritter@suntimes.com

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