The 9/11 commemoration for the first time is marked by protests -- a manifestation of the bitter debate on the planned mosque near Ground Zero in New York. Maine's largest newspaper apologizes to readers angry because it gave prominent front page display to a story on Ramadan on Sept. 11 but printed nothing about the anniversary of the worst attack on U.S. soil. Polls show a growing number of Americans have a negative opinion of Islam.

These developments have commentators wondering why U.S. views of Islam are worse now than in the emotional aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center? For instance, a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey in August found that 30 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Islam, down from 59 percent after the 2001 attacks.

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