Austrian Politician Calls Prophet Muhammad a 'Child Molester'

While in the US white/black racism has essentially gone underground (modern racism) in the US and Europe white/arab racism is the old fashioned variety -- proudly displayed.

A candidate campaigning for the Graz city council in Austria says it is time that Islam was "thrown back ... behind the Mediterranean," and alleges Muhammad wrote the Koran in "epileptic fits."

No Covert Racism

Over the last 25 years, some forms of racism have gone "under cover," that is these forms of racism are no longer socially acceptable. For example, anti-black racism is under cover in American right now and the cases of Dog the bounty hunter, Michael Richards, and Don Imus illustrate that. 25 years ago white people could safely say the n-word.

However, other forms of racism are not covert.

Here is the church's website.

Anti-Islam and Anti-Arab racism is overt.

Several articles in the Sun about an Arabic Public School in Brooklyn

Madrassa Plan Is Monstrosity

Brooklyn Arabic School

Arab School To Face Scrutiny At Emergency Parent Meeting

Parents Voice Distrust Of Arab School Promises

‘Screaming and Crying' Greet Arab School Plan

A Madrassa Grows In Brooklyn

Muslim Panel: Many Distrust Legal System

How I came to love the veil

A Washington Post Article

One way to look for potential prejudices is to examine the way we respond to one group and then look at how we respond to another group:

When Islam offers women so much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women's attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the nikab -- and they hail from across the Scottish border, where men wear skirts.

Is the veil feminist?

Some young Muslim feminists consider the hijab and the nikab political symbols, too, a way of rejecting Western excesses such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. What is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved through piety -- not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.

Policing Terrorism

In remarks to reporters, Brown’s new home secretary, Jacqui Smith, articulated the basic message. “Let us be clear,” she said, “terrorists are criminals, whose victims come from all walks of life, communities and religions.”

While mainly about Brown's policies, this article raises an interesting question about the language being used, and the groups and stereotypes being referenced:

Radical Islam
War
Terror

Muslims’ Veils Test Limits of Britain’s Tolerance

New York Times article

Two interesting things. First, it appears that the Britons who are upset about the veil are talking past the Muslim-Britons: the Muslim-Britons see it as a political and free speech issue. Why is it not perceived that way? And (a related) second, I wonder to what degree attitudes against the veil are anti-Muslim attitudes being expressed symbolically?

Survey of Muslim-Americans

Muslim-Americans are well integrated into American culture but are more likely to question the war on terror. Also they feel stigma over 9/11.