Why do Muslims hate us?

Based on a previous discussion on "Imperial Hubris", I decided it was time to pick up the book. Just the first chapter alone is an eye-opener.

It started me to thinking about what it is we are doing wrong with regards to the Middle East. As Carla had pointed out in Preemptive Karma, somewhere around 90% of Muslims hate America.

Many have made the claim that Muslims hate our freedoms (yes, I'm simplifying. Please bear with me).

The Author goes into detail about how it is our incursions into the Muslim world that cause our hatred. I agree with him wholeheartedly. This has been a process that has been going on for decades and 9-11 was the price we paid due to past policies of our government.

One book that I found to be illuminating was Karen Armstrong's "Battle for God." This book details the history of Fundamentalist movements in the three monotheistic religions. One point she made, and I never thought about until then, was that the Muslim world held America in high regard. That all changed when we restored the Shah to the throne in Iran.

The Author of Imperial Hubris argues that when we interject ourselves into the Muslim world, we are not just attacking the political institutions of these countries in the minds of Muslims; but, attacking the religion of Islam. And it is this attitude that explains the reaction of Muslims.

And in the end, I can't help but feel that the current administration is making the same mistakes that have occured in the past and we will again pay a price for it.