NEW YORK, November 1 (IslamOnline.net) – Keen on clearing stereotypes about the Muslim community and sending the message clear that an entire population cannot be stigmatized by the work of a handful, several Americans said Muslims are part of the US’s multi-ethnic fabric who were regrettably discriminated against following the 9/11 attacks.

"As far as Muslims are concerned, I do believe that Muslims are part and parcel of American society," Martin Williams, a cap driver, told IslamOnline.net.

He said the annals of history prove that the United States is a "melting pot" for all people.

"In America all colors, races or creeds are equal and should feel that they are an integral part of American society."

Williams went on: "So they must participate in society as much as they wish or as little as they wish, but they are part of American society even though they are of separate culture and separate religion."

Brian Thayer, a cashier in a CVS drug store, agreed.

"We live in a multi-ethnic country we have people from the four corners of the world….We have people from Africa, Eastern Europe, India, Latin America and Asia. So Muslims are another component of this diversity."

Asked how she sees Muslims, Marian Austin, an attorney, said they do have "excellent values, are very caring people, family oriented and very sincere in their religious belief."

She added that the American people should not place all Muslims in one basket, asserting that an entire population should not be stigmatized by the work of the minority.

"I have many Muslim friends in Detroit (Michigan) and we do socialize and come all the way from our cities to see each other."

She recalled the good old days in school where she had an intimate Muslim friend.

"Aisha was one of my best friends in school and we e-mail each other every now and then."

"I think that many Americans do not believe that the Qur’an preaches violence," said Bill Edmond, a financial consultant from Philadelphia.

"You are talking about three great religions, three great books of this world and I believe that the vast majority of Muslims are not violent but there is a minor percentage of people who misinterpret the Qur’an the way it suits their agenda," he added emphatically.

He believes that "education, education and education" is the one and only way to clear misconceptions such as that Qur’an calls for the banishment of the infidels and the killing of the innocent as circulated by some American media.

"Text books about the true Islam, informative TV programs I think will do," said 31-year-old Edmond.

Asked whether he could tolerate a Muslim president of the United States, Epi Houel, a program assistant at Axa Advisors Corp., said "Why not."

"To my personal belief it is only a matter of time to see Muslims in high-profile government positions," he said.

Houel, of French descent, explained: "Throughout American history people, whatever their culture and whatever their religion, have become part of American society and the American election system has allowed people, irrespective of their race, to move forward and that has happened."

"Any race, any culture, any color, any religion you can name advances in the American government."

The Muslim community in the United States is estimated to number some seven million, though there are no official numbers.

Though Gregory James, a program officer at an NGO in New York, will vote for incumbent President George Bush for the "great work" he has been doing in his war on terror, he really understand Muslims’ feelings and keenness on sending the wartime president back to Texas.

"Walking in their shoes, I do really feel for them given the oppression, discrimination they faced in the wake of the Manhattan attacks," he told IOL.

"But we were in a time of war and the president had to protect his people and those decisions were made in the best interest of every one and a certain group, which is the Muslims in this case, was likely to suffer."

More than 1,200 Muslims and Arab-Americans have been taken into custody after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.