What Do Americans Know About Islam?

FamilySecurityMatters.org Documents for Anti Terrorism Caucus Americans' Ignorance of National Security Dangers and Devastating Cost

New York, New York – FamilySecurityMatters.org, the Web site of the Family Security Foundation, Inc., has published the findings of its national study and focus group, 'What Do Americans Know About Islam?'

For the first time ever, the study documents the shocking extent to which Americans are ignorant of the threat that endangers them and how devastating the cleanup cost would be if a WMD attack were to be successful in our homeland. The study was undertaken in part to help the Anti Terrorism Caucus demonstrate to Congress and the public how virtually no strides have been made in the seven years since 9/11 in understanding why thousands were murdered that day; nor have strides been made in understanding how to frame messaging to the public about the continued and growing threat.

Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC) said, "I thank Family Security Matters for doing this national study. This is the first survey I've seen that really shows what Americans know about things like Shariah Law and Sovereign Wealth Funds. My hope is that people will take notice and will begin to educate themselves on these vital issues."

FamilySecurityMatters.org President, Carol Taber, said "America is endangered by a threat doctrine of which we know very little. Americans must take it upon themselves to learn what threatens our national sovereignty, security and American lives, and to be much more actively engaged in our nation's policy making."

The study revealed:

1. Americans are ignorant of the threat doctrine that endangers them.
2. Americans are ignorant of the total economic devastation (researched and documented in an unclassified study prepared for the Department of Homeland Security in 2005) that would befall us if a WMD attack were to succeed, thus elevating national security as more important to economic security than any other issue.
3. Contrary to popular opinion, a majority of Americans are “very worried” about the safety and security of our citizens and our country, and FSM’s tracking study revealed this concern has not abated over the years.
4. Contrary to what our political leaders seem to believe, when Americans are educated about the threat, they are not divided politically - they immediately understand it, are engaged and their instinct is to protect America.

The study concluded if Americans were better informed, they would be more united and it would help to eliminate political partisanship in Congress, allowing much-needed progress to be made in our collective duty to defend America.