After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, it was said the United States would never be the same. That has proved true in good ways and bad; among the wrong-headed impulses was a readiness by some to blame all Muslims for actions of a few.

If some political rants are to be believed, the imposition of sharia law in America is imminent and all Muslims must be suspected of wanting to do the country harm. But how do such attitudes measure against reality? What do American Muslims feel about themselves and their country? The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press has conducted a scientific poll of American Muslims to find out.

The pollsters found no indication of increased alienation or anger among American Muslims in response to concerns about home-grown Islamic terrorists. Nor is there evidence of rising support for Islamic extremism: Just 1 percent say that suicide bombings and other violence against civilians are often justified to defend Islam, while 81 percent say that such violence is never justified.

More than half of the respondents did say that government anti-terrorism policies single out Muslims for increased surveillance and monitoring. Yet 82 percent report being satisfied with their lives, and 79 percent rate their communities very positively as places to live.

The survey suggests a population that is mostly middle-class and mainstream, religious but not dogmatic. Despite a few errant cases involving Muslims, the Pew survey that the American melting pot continues to work its magic.

-Guest Editorial

First Published September 1, 2011, 4:15 a.m.