You are citing foreign policy initiatives. Hitchens, Iran, and the portrayal of Islam as the new bogeyman should not affect Muslims domestically if we are truly integrated. If people don’t understand Islam, they’ll look to any Muslims they personally know for an example. If we set a good example, then TV brain washing can only do so much.
The Ground Zero community center had people who defended Muslims’ rights. The Tennessee mosque was vehemently opposed, but Muslims were able to move forward, and had the support of many white Americans. People understand that not all Muslims are terrorists, but just as the media hypes of Muslims as terrorists, it also hypes up the bigots and warmongers.
Like I said earlier, and as Deeba pointed out, I think European Muslims have a bigger problem in terms of integrating, and it works both ways. Muslims are hesitant about integrating, and non-Muslims are wary of Muslims because of the current political climate. I personally would like to see expats returning home, but for that to happen, the country as to change. Unfortunately, we now view any kind of progress as Western. I wish half the clowns on here could see Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the 50’s and 60’s. They would be shocked at how liberal the country was.