One of the more obtuse comments you have made, and I generally find your posts well thought out.
There's exceptions to the rules, that's why I said most. I know that even the average Joe in America know when there's a protest or a conflict else where but they lack deep understanding of what's going on. This is what I see on the different boards, comment sections...
I think that it comes from the medias. Americans views are mostly on both extremes sides. They either qualify a muslim as a Muzzie terrorist goat fucker or a nice immigrant we should let in. Nothing in between.