Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

An American, and Muslim, tragedy
Miami Herald ^ | November 10, 2009 | Mohammad S. Shakir

Posted on 11/10/2009 10:45:12 AM PST by IbJensen

The breaking news about Fort Hood made me cringe.

Like most Muslims, I hoped the shooter would be a Smith or Jones, while some smirked and gleefully waited for a Muslim name to say, I told you so.

Once again, this incident would highlight the polarized social relations in American society amid a national tragedy.

American Muslims would be uncomfortable by intense media scrutiny, while others would have a field day maligning Islam and blaming Muslims.

And both would be wrong.

If Major Nidal Malik Hasan were Robert Stewart, who committed mass killings at a nursing home in North Carolina, or Mike McLendon, who massacred his former co-workers in Alabama, it would be another tragic episode requiring a routine investigation and short-lived news coverage.

But the dynamics of this tragedy are much different and demand a full and thorough investigation for many unanswered questions: The alleged shooter did not just kill his co-workers; he killed the individuals who made a selfless commitment to defend the homeland, and thus all Americans.

The U.S. Army is no ordinary institution that would promote an individual to the rank of major without appropriate training and serious screening. Hasan was not only a trained officer, but also a trained physician -- a mental-health caregiver.

It is bad enough if he were just another ideologue who fooled the system to become an officer.

It is far more harmful and dangerous if he cracked after listening to the horror stories from combat-stressed soldiers returning from a questionable conflict in Iraq.

The suicide rate among veterans underscores the need to look into the state of mental health of all military caregivers.

Also, there is a matter of trust.

The soldiers facing the enemy trust that their backs are protected by comrades in uniform. This sacred trust is what makes our military a cohesive unit of fellow soldiers regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

The tragedy in Fort Hood leaves many unexplained variables.

Therefore, it must be investigated thoroughly, and media must report the facts regardless of peoples' insecurity or bigotry.

As a military veteran I know there are many proud and patriotic American Muslims serving their country in uniform.

News coverage should not make American Muslims uncomfortable. They bear no responsibility for the actions of a deranged individual.

Nor should anyone say, ``I told you so,'' if for no other reason than out of respect for 13 dead victims at Fort Hood.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: allahuakbar; sjs; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last
Mohammad made him do it!

It's an American tragedy due to the fact that even the Army is inundated with political correctness.

It's a muslim tragedy because killing is what their 'religion' is all about!

1 posted on 11/10/2009 10:45:13 AM PST by IbJensen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

“Allahu Akbar!” - Maj Hasan


2 posted on 11/10/2009 10:46:59 AM PST by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
"the polarized social relations in American society"

And just whose fault is that, Mohammed?

3 posted on 11/10/2009 10:48:26 AM PST by clintonh8r (Jumping to conclusions...it's what I do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: skeeter
They hate the West.
Why are they here ?
4 posted on 11/10/2009 10:48:43 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

In his book he says the Prettiest sound on EARTH is the Muslim call to prayer at sunset.
Barack Hussein Obama

Now he will speak over the dead, done by the Islamist terrorist of his ‘prettiest sound on earth’ religion.


5 posted on 11/10/2009 10:50:58 AM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

As an American, I refuse to take any blame whatsoever for what happened. I didn’t invite the muslims to this country and won’t take the blame for what they do to our people. I expect our military to accordingly and take our military back. I’m tired of having to listen to this crap. The muslim excuses mean nothing to me any more. I use to be open minded about most everything. Not any more. We, as Americans, are Judeo/Christians, nothing more.


6 posted on 11/10/2009 10:51:07 AM PST by RC2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
The U.S. Army is no ordinary institution that would promote an individual to the rank of major without appropriate training and serious screening.

Hogwash. In my military career, I thought it was a routine thing.

7 posted on 11/10/2009 10:51:56 AM PST by Mark17
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

To dominate and Islamize America. Politically and every other way.

One world Government, One world Religion. No exceptions.


8 posted on 11/10/2009 10:52:05 AM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
As a military veteran I know there are many proud and patriotic American Muslims serving their country in uniform.

Many? The number of Muslims in the U.S. military is hard to estimate. Estimates vary from 4000 to more than 12000.

9 posted on 11/10/2009 10:52:23 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

If this was a one time event, I’d say yeah, chalk it up to a crazy guy.

I’d be relieved to know that only one guy yelled “Allah Akbar” as he shot up a military readiness center.

But people who love America (this does not include all who live in America) still remember when another group of Muslims screamed “Allah Akbar” as they flew commercial jets into the twin towers and killed over 3,000 Americans in one day.

Christians don’t go into mosques with machine guns screaming “Jesus died for your sins! and spray the crowd with bullets. And if such a freak event happened, churches across the world wouldn’t ring their bells and proclaim a day of celebration.

So, Muslims, take a good hard look at yourself.


10 posted on 11/10/2009 10:53:11 AM PST by BertWheeler (Dance and the World Dances With You!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
The U.S. Army is no ordinary institution that would promote an individual to the rank of major without appropriate training and serious screening.

Hah!

You can always tell the inexperienced among us.
That fact that he WAS promoted to Major destroys his whole argument.
11 posted on 11/10/2009 10:53:11 AM PST by SJSAMPLE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freddd

‘It is far more harmful and dangerous if he cracked after listening to the horror stories from combat-stressed soldiers’

That smell is the smell of Bull sh*t.


12 posted on 11/10/2009 10:53:36 AM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
"I know there are many proud and patriotic American Muslims serving their country in uniform."

Then they damn well better be leading the charge against this guy and any others like him that may be biding their time. Get on board or get out, NOW.

13 posted on 11/10/2009 10:54:20 AM PST by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

I think my son’s voice is the prettiest sound on earth, followed closely by:
Pledge of Allegiance, the sound of a10 Warthogs sending Jihadists to Hell...


14 posted on 11/10/2009 10:55:25 AM PST by Maverick68 (w)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

They are here to suck in all the blessings made possible by Western civilization, with no sense of obligation whatsoever. That is your typical Muslim in America. In it, but not of it.

Look at Nidal Hasan.

Then there are Muslims who are full of hatred for this society and its supposed corrupting freedoms. They preach Islamic supremacy and advocate or actually carry out jihadi violence.

Look at Nidal Hasan.


15 posted on 11/10/2009 10:55:31 AM PST by elcid1970 ("O Muslim! My bullets are dipped in pig grease!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

islam is the culprit, no excuses needed.


16 posted on 11/10/2009 10:55:53 AM PST by AndyPH (?+)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freddd

And extra stinky Bull sh*t at that.


17 posted on 11/10/2009 10:57:39 AM PST by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
News coverage should not make American Muslims uncomfortable. They bear no responsibility for the actions of a deranged individual.

Nor should anyone say, ``I told you so,'' if for no other reason than out of respect for 13 dead victims at Fort Hood.

"Shut Up!", Mohammad explained.

Where does one draw the line between "deranged" and "rational but evil"? Too often we try to rationalize evil as just insanity. I believe that Hassan decided to make war against his country. He was not driven crazy by society. He was not ranting irrationally. From what I have heard he practiced his shooting and even took tactical training classes to improve his effectiveness in murder. Was he some insane man who thought his neighbor's dog was a cconduit for devine elightenment? No. He decided that the enemies of this nation were right and we should be dead.

18 posted on 11/10/2009 10:58:19 AM PST by KarlInOhio (Any similarity between V and the Obama admin is just that of Obama and any other totalitarian regime)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
Therefore, it must be investigated thoroughly, and media must report the facts regardless of peoples' insecurity or bigotry.

As a military veteran I know there are many proud and patriotic American Muslims serving their country in uniform.

News coverage should not make American Muslims uncomfortable. They bear no responsibility for the actions of a deranged individual.

A few thoughts:

1) Thanks to any American who serves their country honorably, regardless of religion.

2) Agreed that the reporting ought to go where facts lead, rather than the spin we've generally received from the MSM and Military.

3) American Muslims bear no direct responsibility for the particular act, but they do bear a responsibility in advance to curb Islamofascism in their community, and to directly condemn and excise it when it occurs in instances like this.

It's #3 that we usually miss.

19 posted on 11/10/2009 10:59:10 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (America, 1776 - 2009. R.I.P.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
The editor makes a fatal flaw in his argument. Hasan was not simply a soldier gone bad. The military is a microcosm of society. Just as you have criminals in society, you will have criminals in the military; however, the military does not have to allow everyone in our society to enter the military. The military has certain standards or criteria that an individual has to meet. The problem with Hasan is that he is a Muslim, and he acted in accordance to the teachings of Islam. Islam is a political-military-religion. It believes that violence and force are not only allowed but required in spreading Islam. Some Muslims would say that Hasan was not correctly interpreting Islam, but we are not talking about a few hundred or a few thousand Muslims holding to Hasan’s interpretation. Hasan represents the majority view of Islam. It is the editor of the column that is in the minority. Therein lies the problem. Hasan did what he did BECAUSE he was a Muslim, not because he was mentally ill or stressed out. He was perfectly sane at the time that he did what he did. He did it BECAUSE he wanted to be faithful to the teachings of Islam.
20 posted on 11/10/2009 11:04:46 AM PST by Nosterrex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson