America the disunited - opinion poll

Christian Century, March 23, 1994

* A 48 percent plurality of LatinAmericans, 41 percent of whites, 39 percent of African-Americans and 30 percent of Asian-Amerieans surveyed agree that Muslims belong to a religion that condones or supports terrorism.

* The view that Catholics are "narrow-minded because they are too controlled by their church." was endorsed by a 58 percent majority of non-Catholic Latino-Americans, a 57 percent majority of Asian-Amerieans and a 49 percent plurality of African-Americans. A minority of 34 percent of white non-Catholics agree.

Still, the poll found some cause for optimism:

* Sizable majorities of up to 80 percent believe that African-Americans "have made valuable contributions to American society, .... will work hard when given a chance," "believe strongly in American ideals and the American dream" and are "deeply religious ..

* Across the board, roughly nine in ten people in all of the various groups surveyed--including 91 percent of whites--endorse the idea that different groups should learn to understand and appreciate the lives and contributions of other groups.

* Despite religious stereotypes, a majority of those surveyed credit Jews, Muslims and Catholics with positive attributes, pride in their heritage and strong contributions to American society.

* A 61 percent majority of all the diverse groups agree that it is unfair to have two Americas, one of privileged white Americans and the other of people of color who are treated like second-class citizens. While members of minority groups led the way in agreeing with that statement, six out of ten whites surveyed agreed with it as well.