Does the media pick on Muslims?

So it’s our fault, is it? The media’s? According to some Aussie Muslims, it is journalists who have given Muslims a bad name.
Since that infamous date of September 11, when Islamic terrorists slaughtered thousands in the US, the Australian public’s attitude towards Muslims has “hardened”, says a new report from the Australian Department of Immigration.

The media is blamed. One Iraqi father was quoted saying: “The media portray us as terrorists. The media are against us.” According to a co-author of the study, Ilan Katz, “the families felt strongly the media were gunning for Muslims: it was a huge concern.”
Are they right? Or are they just shooting the messenger? I see plenty of reports about Muslims in the Australian press but most of them seem to be news reports about atrocities committed by Islamic males abroad – such as suicide bombings – or by Islamic countries, such as the proposed stoning to death - currently postponed - in Iran of a 43-year-old mother of two, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who has already been given 99 lashes for alleged adultery.

Wouldn’t Aussie Muslims be better speaking out against these blots on the Islamic faith? A caller phoned Melbourne radio 774 ABC a while back when Muslim writer Waleed Aly was guest-hosting, asking this very question. Aly’s response was that “very few” countries condoned stoning any more and then he moved on. Few? Even one is one too many.
But you certainly don’t have to look far to find bad press involving Muslims. Here’s one from the weekend in The Age: “Suicide bombers hit mosque” , which told of Sunni Muslims killing 27 people and injuring 270, presumably (seeing as it was a mosque) all fellow Muslims. To add to the outrage, the Jamai mosque was bombed as Muslims celebrated the birthday of the grandson of the prophet Muhammed.
Rather than decry the media for “hardening” people's attitude towards Muslims, shouldn’t all good peace-loving Muslims be loudly condemning this appalling act of barbarity on one of their own sacred days?
What puzzles a lot of non-Muslims is why the good law-abiding Muslims don’t speak out against the atrocities that continue to be perpetrated all over the world by thugs and criminals in the name of Allah. When a terrorist explodes a suicide vest in a crowded market place or mosque, the media is not going to ignore it, whether it is done in the name of Allah or not. What the decent Muslims need to do is loudly and consistently condemn this pointless Islamic violence, as much of the rest of the world does. The media would be happy to report that. 

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/blogs/modern-times/does-the-media-pick-on-muslims/20100717-10ezg.html

Please fellow Muslims brothers/sisters .. Make your stand load and clear .. condemn terrorist acts and disassociate yourself clearly and publicly from such non-Islamic barbaric acts .. Speak out for Allah's sake! Quit being passive! Please! Please!