Are we surprised?

After twenty-five years of portraying Arabs as only terrorist villians in movies and TV, can I say that I'm really surprised?

As the war in Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Is there a cop show where an Arab is the good cop? A sitcom where an Arab is anything other than a comic stereotype? A movie where the terrorists aren't Arabs?

For some reason it's been okay to paint Arabs exclusively as terrorists or drug/gun runners, no lawyers or doctors unless they're comical or shown catering to the Arab community.

It's truly been a horrific bit of stereotyping that, although technically far superior, has always reminded me of the depictions of the Japanese, hispanics and blacks in the cartoons of the forties.

My point is, it's not just the war that has created this impression. To hold the culture blameless is to not view the whole picture.