Guilt by Association

"It's very likely that he is a terrorist."  Now you're pretty scared of him.  "It isn't very likely that he's a terrorist."  You're still suspicious.  No matter what the statement, if it is not a firm and absolute denial, in America, just associating a person with fear-arousing negativity is almost as good as an accusation.  American's don't go about their daily lives suspecting the lady behind the deli counter and the man driving the school bus and the kid protecting his back pack and the couple jogging in the park and the old lady feeding the pidgeons of being terrorists.  But if something were to connect one of these otherwise innocuous figures with terrorism, then the suspicion would be difficult to erase.  That is the problem facing many Muslims in America.  The major terror plots directed towards Americans come from Islamic extremists.  Obviously, not every Muslim is a terrorist.  That Muslim over there, it isn't very likely that he's a terrorist.  But just that connection, just that incidentally shared unifying factor is enough to link any Muslim to terrorism, leading to fear, mistrust, and hatred.  Americans like to simplify things, and they don't like this wishy-washy war of US soldiers against particular insurgents among an innocent populace with cousins welcomed on our shores.  No, the world must be black and white, us and them, brave Americans fighting the sneaky, subversive radicals.  How do you find one, nice and simple?  Look, there's a Muslim.  Western cultures in general favor dichotomy and heroic struggle between good and evil where the righteous prevail.  While Eastern cultures emphasize balance, Western civilizations fight evil dragons to save innocent ladies.  And though the daring knight has evolved, Americans still find threats, generalize and demonize their attackers, and lionize themselves for standing against such widespread and potent an enemy.  Americans connect Muslims with terrorists because it simplifies their world view, adds righteousness to their cause, and makes them more "powerful" for standing against such an enemy.  Once indicated, it is difficult for the innocent to break free.