Setting The Record Straight On Fort Hood

Setting The Record Straight On Fort Hood

For over a week, there has been a media frenzy over the killings at Fort Hood, Texas. A lot of anti-Muslim sentiment has risen as if it was September 11th all over again. For those of you not familiar with the situation, army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan went on a rampage last Thursday and killed 13 of his fellow army officers and left 29 injured; one of the worst incident in decades. He is currently in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds. Hasan is expected to be tried in a military court according to military code. Authorities claim that he had no direction and acted on his own will, though he is apparently yelled Allah Akbar or 'God is Great' in Arabic. Today was the memorial service for those who lost their lives, in which the President and First Lady attended. President Obama said, “No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favour.”

This is not a matter of religion, this is a matter of the Military's treatment of its personnel. The stress, racism, and discrimination that has been apparent for years and years takes a toll on those that join. I'm not defending Hasan, but the truth of the matter is that he was put under a lot of pressure and treated like dirt. There has only been two cases of Muslims going on rampages and killing others around them. There are quite a number of Christian soldiers that have gone on killing sprees, sometimes murdering their own family. Therefore, this is not a matter of religion. Let's not forget the Christians that put a bullet to the head of abortion doctors for what they claim is their religion and/or Jesus. Not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslim. Hasan is not even considered to be a terrorist, as neither was he part of a terrorist cell (Such as Al-Qaeda) and since he acted on his own. As a result of his own actions, it cannot be considered terrorism as the term clearly says that it is for political reasons and he was not acting on behalf of politics or religion, just pure anger.

The American Family Association (A conservative Christian group) published an article on how Muslims should not be allowed to partake in the military, and with a profound explanation. Check out the website, here. Many others are claiming the same thing. A petition is also calling for an end to the immigration of Muslims. The petition states:

There may be plenty of Muslims who reject these basic principles of Islamic doctrine, but we have no way to determine who does and who doesn't. We could ask them on their immigration application, but another Islamic principle allows Muslims to deceive non-Muslims if it helps the spread or dominance of Islam, so we cannot trust their answers.

Check out the entire petition, here.

I am very sorry for those who have lost their lives at Fort Hood and I wish the families all the best. I find it very unfortunate that there are so many ignorant people living in the United States assuming that Muslims are all evil. This Islamophobia is out of control and seems fairly relevant to the Red Scare of the 50s. Those who act on the 'behalf of Islam' are acting on the behalf of Islamic movements, not Islam. The racist ideology Americans are expressing is no better than the ways Germans treated Jews before the war - this has to end. The American Military needs to take a look at the mirror and see what is wrong with itself before pointing fingers. The U.S. Military needs a make-over and needs it quick.

What do you think of the Fort Hood incident?

[Image via CNN]