mg, I know that gut feelings aren't rational. That's why I mentioned "classical conditioning."
The point is, if someone has a conditioned fear of people who resemble someone who harmed them, that's understandable. So, yes, a white kid who was beat up by a black person might understandably have a "gut reaction" to blacks (and vice-versa).

What I'm saying is that I don't understand how one develops a fear of "Muslim garb" based on what happened on 9-11-01. The hijackers were not wearing "Muslim garb" of any sort. Not to mention that there are many varieties of "Muslim garb" - for men and women and from various countries.

What I'm saying is that if Williams has come to fear all Muslims, it's not because of what happened on 9-11-01 but, most likely, because of the anti-Muslim screeds he's been hearing spewed on Fox and on right-wing talk radio ever since.      And I wish he would realize that and own up to it.

There is no way that a fear of Muslim WOMEN from, say, INDONESIA should automatically arise from our having been attacked by 19 Muslim MEN wearing nonsectarian clothing on 9-11-01.

Genie