Perceptions Of Islam Falling

I saw this story and was floored. Although they had to report the falling perceptions of the public on Islam, they prefaced it with an insult to our intelligence. I will reproduce the article in it's entirety, and add my commentary in bold.

Poll: Sinking Perceptions Of Islam

(CBS) Although Americans believe they are better informed about Islam than they were five years ago, a new CBS News poll finds fewer than one in five say their impression of the religion is favorable. Wait. So now that we realize that Islam isn't our friend, we're uneducated morons? Thanks a lot, you jerks!

Forty-five percent of respondents queried April 6 - 9 said they have an unfavorable view of Islam, a rise from 36 percent in February. And the public's impression of Islam has diminished even more compared with four years ago. In February 2002 less than six months after the terrorist attacks of September 11 the country was evenly divided in its impression of Islam. Guess the silence from the Imams speaks louder than words, huh? The Mo cartoons and slaughter of innocents don't help much, either.

WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF ISLAM?


FAVORABLE
Now
19%

2002
30%

UNFAVORABLE
Now
45%

2002
33%


Thirty-six percent of respondents said they haven't heard enough or don't know enough to say either way. You've always got folks who just can't decide. Is the sky blue? I dunno.

Americans today are also more likely than not to believe that Islam encourages violence, at least in comparison to other religions around the world. Does the term "Jihad" mean anything to you?

The last few months have seen escalating sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni Islamic factions in Iraq and the ongoing trial of Zacarias Moussaoui in the United States. The poll finds 46 percent of Americans believe Islam encourages violence more than other religions, compared with 39 percent of Americans who felt that way two months ago and 35 percent who felt that way in March 2002 (according to a Gallup Poll).

When compared with some other religions practiced in America, positive views of Islam rank below those for mainstream Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Christian fundamentalist faiths. Only Scientology, of all the religions asked about, ranked lower. Well, I can see that. Those Scientologists are just plain weird...

WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF....


PROTESTANTISM/OTHER CHRISTIANS
Favorable
58%

Unfavorable
12%

Don't Know
30%


THE CATHOLIC RELIGION
Favorable
48%

Unfavorable
37%

Don't Know
15%


THE JEWISH RELIGION
Favorable
47%

Unfavorable
16%

Don't Know
37%


CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS RELIGIONS
Favorable
31%

Unfavorable
31%

Don't Know
38%


THE MORMON RELIGION
Favorable
20%

Unfavorable
39%

Don't Know
41%


ISLAM
Favorable
19%

Unfavorable
45%

Don't Know
36%


SCIENTOLOGY
Favorable
8%

Unfavorable
52%

Don't Know
40%