The general public views Islam as a strange game like soccer. It has strange rules, and strange uniforms, and they don’t know anyone who plays it, and they wonder why anyone would play it? They’re furriners, of course, and therefor unAmerican, and you wouldn’t eat at their restaurants, or want them as neighbors, in case they bomb your house.
Oh hell! I don’t know. Is that the answer you want? Take it. It’s all silliness and guesswork, anyway.