Posted on 07/27/2005 4:47:32 PM PDT by SandRat
HADITHA DAM, Iraq (July 27, 2005) -- As the Marines with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment continue their fight in the Global War on Terrorism, most of them think of it as business and not personal.
However, for some Marines who are of the Islamic faith, the war in Iraq hits a personal note. Cpl. Mohammed N. Rahman, who is a Sunni Muslim, fights not only to free the people of Iraq from the insurgents grip and to protect his country (America), but also to redeem his beloved religion.
“This is a personal offense, not only to me but others who share my faith,” said the 23-year-old infantryman with 2nd Platoon, Company L. “The insurgents have scarred the image of my religion.”
Rahman was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh where he learned to speak Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic during his childhood, before moving the United States with his family at age 12.
Upon arriving in America, he strove to learn the English language while adjusting to the busy and culturally different society.
He joined the Marine Corps in 2001 because of its discipline and its tradition that closely mirrored the practices of his beliefs.
Rahman was shocked to learn later in the year that the terrorists of the Sept. 11 attack announced that they were Sunni Muslims and that their faith had led them to attack.
“I was outraged by this ludicrous image that the insurgents portrayed about my faith,” the Columbus, Ohio native said. “No one really feels the same way they feel.”
Now Rahman is working to redeem his faith and putting his linguistic skills to good use while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On missions, Rahman, in addition to being a rifleman, acts a linguist for his squad. As a linguist he informs the local community he comes in contact with about the Marines mission here and helps them understand that the service members are here to help them.
“Most of these people don’t know or understand things outside their society,” the 2000 Worthington-Kilbourne graduate said. “Most people don’t understand that the reason we are here is to help them have a better life and to remove these dangerous insurgents.”
Many of the people he talks to do not follow the insurgents’ belief in a jihad (holy war) on America and they do not believe in any religious wars between the Sunni and Shia.
Sometimes people even give him useful information that they think could help them, because of their shared religion.
Even though he is a Sunni Muslim, he is not allowed in the local mosques, which are of the same faith as he is for political reasons. Instead, he finds time to worship in his own way.
“As we go on missions during prayer times I go through the prayer process in my head,” Rahman said. “I try to find time to pray when I’m back at the dam.”
Rahman understands the importance of the missions he goes on and he knows that his small part in a bigger war is not overlooked and he hopes it will be over soon.
“I trust in our leaders’ decisions,” Rahman said with a smile. “I will continue to do my job the best I can, through my actions, my faith will be redeemed, and my country will be safe.”
YW. No problem send it!
Muslims are not a race.
Ever since Malkin said that every Muslim should be rounded up and put into concentration camps for the rest of their lives, they have become more vocal about it.
I guess they're too blinded by their own hate to realize that what they're advocating is genocide and in the end history would regard us as being worse than the Nazis ever were.
Kneel before zot!
This Marines actions are honorable, but they do not get Islam off the hook for all of the havoc that the religion has brought on the world in recent years. Most Muslims on the planet are not out there killing Americans, but a lot of them seem to condone people doing it in the name of the religion. The Muslims who are moderate are essentially nonpracticing Muslims because the Sharia Law (The Law of the Quran)condones and commands horrific acts, like beheading people who convert from Islam and stoning women for adultry.
This is an 8 month old thread a troll at post 24 resurrected. The troll has since been zotted.
HEY!! Wait a minute. It's not a $hithole...
Da*med if I can argue about the mayor or council however....
It seemed a little strange. It had an aura of liberal, Islamist-apologist propaganda.
Here is my solution, the Roman Solution (referencing the Roman destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD)
1. Western Countries "Everytime Muslims kill foreigners in the name of Islam, we will drop a bomb on the Ka'bah."
2. We will continue to bomb mecca everytime a terrorist act is carried out, until the bloodshed is stopped.
3. When we Christians suicide bomb Muslim populations, we will bomb one of our own churches to avenge you,
4. And by the way, our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan cover their bullets in pig's blood.
Remember kids, it's not genocide if it's against the "Muslimes". Gas chambers, concentration camps, and firing squads are perfectly okay if it's "Muslimes".
Adolf who?
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