Ignorance is present

This country is going down a very scary road. In many Americans it is clear that a fear of Islam is taking over. That fear has already turned to hatred by most on the far right. What I don't seem to understand is, why?
Don't people realize that Islam is a peaceful religion? Don't they realize that the two sects are as close in theology as Catholics and Protestants? Haven't they figured out that there are only a small percentage approved of what happened on 9/11? Obviously not.
First things first. Everyone needs to realize that the term Muslim or Islam does not mean that everyone agrees on everything. 90% of Muslims are Sunni, while Osama bin Laden claims to be Shia. So blaming 9/11 on all Muslims would be like blaming child molestation are the Spanish Inquisition on all Christians. Second, it seems that the way Muslims are portrayed by some is similar to the way Jews were portrayed in Europe around the 17th and 18 century. They were blamed for peoples problems, they were considered to be "bad guys", and they were looked at as second class citizens.
I have been so ashamed by what people in our country have been saying about Islam and its people that it just makes me sick. The "mosque near ground zero" is nothing more than a bitch fit that the Republicans wanted to start up before the elections. Calling it a mosque would be like calling St.Vincents hospital a church. Also, the burning of the Korans is a unbelievably disgusting act. Those people are only going to anger two kinds of people, Muslims and anybody who is rational. Bigotry of any kind should be silenced immediately, there is no reason for the media to allow such crap to be seen by people.