When political leaders demonstrate that it's OK to tarnish an entire ethnic or religious group, xenophobic rhetoric enters the mainstream public discourse in a way that encourages intolerant and extreme reactions.
Brooklyn College's Faculty Council denounced the spying on Islamic students, suggesting that the police department targeted them without any proof that they were engaging in terrorist activity.
If the last few major acts of violence in the U.S. were committed by White men, why is it that they are not scrutinized just as much as those that appear Muslim/Arab or simply 'other'?
Although it may seem harmless to assume someone's religion based upon their name, it's becoming apparent that this type of judgment is unnecessary and irrelevant, especially for Muslims in America.
The Tea Party attitude is more predictive of approval for President Obama than education, race, religion and party affiliation. In addition, a very large portion of the likely electorate sides with or against Tea Partiers.