Various forms of expression of hate in the west against Muslims and Arabs have been going on from decades before 9/11 and continue unabated today for
three major reasons, very briefly:

1- Racism still afflicting some western closed minds;

2- Christians viewing Islam as a competing religion; and,

3- Particularly in America, the Middle East conflict between Israel and the Arabs.

Those same factors have been the reason for hate against Muslims and Arabs from long before terrorism ever came into the picture. And the first two of those three have been the reason for that hate from long before the Middle East conflict came into the picture.

But before we discuss the matter any further, we need to always keep in mind that the palpable hate that Muslims experience comes from literally a minute number of individuals or groups who are either very vocal or very influential in some way or the other. The hate which is generally propagated either inadvertently and innocently, or deliberately through some western media is expressed almost entirely by those individuals or groups that are somehow associated with any or all of the above three factors. Therefore we need to be very cautious about generalising such hateful conduct to all westerners, or even large segments of them. The opposite is true, as all evidence strongly suggests. The influence and vocality of the haters are what give the impression that such hate is widespread beyond what it truly is. However, there is no denying that the influence of some of the most vocal haters has managed over time to induce those who at worst were previously latent haters to come out.

Terrorism's role in the hatred

The influence of negative stereotypes in eliciting hate

Very briefly - since this is not the place to discuss the issues involved in detail - no matter what negative images are propagated about some group, no matter their veracity or fallaciousness, people who aren't prejudiced will not attribute the wrongs to a whole people (i.e. race, religion, nationality, etc.).

To illustrate, only racists would attribute the pervasive and widespread Catholic priest pedophilia scandal to the Catholic clergy in general, let alone to all Catholics, or worst yet, to all Christians and Christianity, even though those are not lay persons, but men of God representing the very essence of Christianity. Intelligent, unprejudiced people attribute the wrongs, no matter how pervasive and global, to corrupt and pervert individuals.

Likewise, when haters propagate hate against Muslims based on wrongs committed by some Muslims, rational unprejudiced people will never let that affect their view of all Muslims or encourage them to hate all Muslims or Islam. So the excuse that Muslims do this or that wrong (other than terrorism) is also no excuse. Those who are non-racists, unprejudiced to start with will still not generalise wrongs to whole groups, nor use those wrongs as an excuse to either hate those groups or promote hate against them.

So to be very clear here, hate for whole groups emanates not from the actions of some members of the accused groups, but from the hateful, prejudiced attitudes of some members of the haters' group.

Islamophobia versus Hate

Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jews - all Jews - simply because they are Jews, and that is racism. And anti-Islam is hatred of Muslims - all Muslims - simply because they are Muslim. It makes no difference that a Muslim has not committed any wrong, or is as peaceful and law-abiding as can be, as well as good in every other manner of the word. It suffices that his or her label is "Muslim" to be hated, good, bad, or whatever, makes no difference whatsoever. The very label "Muslim" suffices to generate hate in the racists and haters in the west. Those people are "racists" not "Islamophobes".

However, it appears that the term "Islamophobia" has taken root, and is now used to represent both hatred and fear of Islam, more the former than the latter, which is an inaccurate usage of the term. But for the sake of convenience and due to the lack of a better term (anti-Islamism, for example, denotes a totally different meaning), it has become the term of choice when addressing gratuitous anti-Semitic-like hatred of Muslims.

Racism versus prejudice versus bigotry

Racism, as many often point out when someone speaks of "racism against Muslims", is hating members of another "race", not another faith. However, that criticism of the word's usage is frivolous and unjustified. "Racism" has long been used - if erroneously - to speak of those who hate those who are different from themselves. Indeed, it is often even used in describing hate against gays (homosexuals).

Prejudice is the more accurate term, since it is defined as hate of those different than oneself in any way, religious, racial, or otherwise.

"Racist" is often the term of choice in situations were a more powerful connotation of prejudice is needed, required, or implied. Being "racist" is generally viewed as more negative, more hateful, than being "prejudiced". It connotes "hate" more strongly than "prejudice".

"Bigotry" and "bigots", which are less commonly used terms, imply intolerance of differences, changes, new ideas or customs, etc. Though the words sound harsh, they really lean more toward intolerance than hate. Intolerance is often accompanied by hate, and holding intolerant attitudes for long periods of time eventually transforms into hate of the racist and prejudiced kind.

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Article:

The Horrors the West Needs to Acknowledge