In honor of the folks at Fort Hood, and soldiers everywhere
We’ll be hearing a lot today about the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, and we’ll be seeing a lot of that photo of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people before taking four bullets himself. Hasan is in critical condition. Two others initially arrested after the melee have been released, which means the killer was acting alone.
I suspect we’ll also be hearing about some heroism, for example from the civilian policewoman who reportedly brought Hasan down and was wounded herself. And unfortunately, we’ll be hearing about the victims, many of them probably soldiers who were either just returning from or preparing to travel to overseas war zones.
So I thought I’d post the following, just to brighten things up a bit and remind us about the real people involved in stories like this.
As a military brat myself, I have to admit that has a special poignancy. I remember very well the day Mom tricked us three kids with a similar surprise return home from Dad, who had been away on a long stretch of TDY (temporary duty). I also remember how upset she got the night I innocently told her that I had forgotten what Dad looked like. She didn’t like that at all. (Given Dad’s specialty, strategic early warning, he was never in a war zone, but he did have frequent posts away from home.)
As far as I can tell, the video was taken and posted just a few days ago. Since the daughter didn’t know Dad was coming home, he was probably back on leave rather than home for good. That means he’ll be headed back to Iraq pretty soon if he isn’t there already. Multiply those emotions by many, many thousands for all the troops overseas, and you’ll get a sense of the sacrifices we’re asking of our people.
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
230 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
November 6th, 2009
8:03 am
Look what these 2 wars are doing to our soldiers…FULFILL YOUR PROMISE, OBAMA, AND BRING THEM HOME NOW!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 6th, 2009
8:04 am
Now if our “Commander in Chief” would only back their mission……
joe matarotz
November 6th, 2009
8:08 am
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 6th, 2009
8:13 am
When has the Democratic Party establishment in recent years ever run the equivalent of a Dede Scozzafava? It is unimaginable. They can hardly abide moderate Democrats, let alone the Zell Millers. Pro-life Democrats can’t speak at their conventions, and while they claim to “reach out to independents,” mistreat the ones closest to them, as Joe Lieberman now knows well. Big Tent advocates of the left, heal thyselves.
But Tuesday’s results will make it more difficult for them to maintain this arrogant, monopolistic attitude. All the faux-concern about the state of the Republican Party and the conservative movement masks their own problem: a polarizing presidency, stuffed with left-wing radicals, which is promoting legislation that leaves the American people cold and unafraid of alternatives. -Neumayr, AmSpec
It won’t stop them from pushing the bookman Republicans on us, however.
v racer
November 6th, 2009
8:13 am
Bookman,you’re a military brat? Just thought of you being one of us makes me want to puke.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 6th, 2009
8:13 am
Well, I sure hope that major that killed all those people pulls thru, so we can kill him and get Justice.
Have a good day everybody.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
8:19 am
Thanks, Jay.
AmVet
November 6th, 2009
8:24 am
For the fallen…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw
Normal
November 6th, 2009
8:24 am
Mike, from below…
If you had taken the time to notice, you would know that everyday I tell the President I want him to bring the troops home. I also, daily write to the White House and The Democratic Party. I have done this for some time now.
I don’t know what makes you feel that you are so superior to the rest of us mere mortals and why you always try to incite the emotion of anger, but I do know that my greatest weapon against you and your kind, is indifference. As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to you, I hear nothing, I see nothing, I say nothing. You no longer exist.
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
8:27 am
v racer – here’s your thought for the day: beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone
electrician
November 6th, 2009
8:31 am
normal..I stand with you, you may remember our exchange on this subject a few days back..Mr. President..BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 6th, 2009
8:31 am
In honor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrhMv_4Q-YU
jt
November 6th, 2009
8:33 am
I would mortgage my house and donate it to charity to have Steny Hoyer come on my property and tell me that I HAD to buy health insurance. PLEASE Steny.
PLEASE.!!!!!
electrician
November 6th, 2009
8:35 am
V racer..you must be new to this blog ,Jay has mentioned that many times over the years.
Normal
November 6th, 2009
8:35 am
Jay, I was an Army Brat. I can still remember at Fort Gordon, when I was 4 or 5 years old, during the Korean War, that Army Cars would pull up to a house in the housing complex, and the families would be sad and cry, and then they moved away. I never understood what was happening at the time, but it was the Army informing the family that the husband/father had been killed in action. If I can still remember, think of the kids that it happens to. War just doesn’t kill soldiers, it kills families and the innocence of little children.
AmVet
November 6th, 2009
8:35 am
Mrs. G, that was lovely.
When FDR died, the nation grieved, and this piece was a big part of finding some solace. It was as you see, revived after 9/11.
Later, all…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMz8fKkG2g
Paul
November 6th, 2009
8:35 am
If that doesn’t choke you up, nothing will.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
8:38 am
If that doesn’t choke you up, nothing will.
Particularly if you happen to have a child around that age.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 6th, 2009
8:40 am
AmVet
that music moves me to tears…..
Normal
November 6th, 2009
8:40 am
As far as the Fort Hood debacle is concerned, we know that the Major acted alone, and will be tried for his actions. The Army will see to that, but he must not be killed. He must be put away in Federal Prison for life. We cannot make him a martyr
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
8:41 am
This might be a good time to mention that however you feel about the death penalty, you do not want to live in the sort of country where it’s quick and simple to apply.
American due process means that there is a trial phase, and an appeals phase. And if you feel it ought to be suspended in certain egregious cases–if you really and truly feel it should, even half a day or so, still, after you’ve absorbed the initial shock–you are a piss-poor American.
mike
November 6th, 2009
8:44 am
Normal –
“If you had taken the time to notice, you would know that everyday I tell the President I want him to bring the troops home. I also, daily write to the White House and The Democratic Party. I have done this for some time now.”
That’s great, but what does it have to do with anything that I have said or that you have said to me?
“I don’t know what makes you feel that you are so superior to the rest of us mere mortals”
I don’t. This is a pathetic argument.
“why you always try to incite the emotion of anger”
What does this mean? What do I do that you or anyone else does not?
You are the one who initiated the conversation with me. How are my comments any different than yours? Be specific?
“but I do know that my greatest weapon against you and your kind, is indifference. As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to you, I hear nothing, I see nothing, I say nothing. You no longer exist.”
First of all, you initiated the conversation with me. Second of all, you have made this claim before and every time you were the one who struck up the conversation with me.
Finally and most importantly, there is nothing in my comments to you or my comments in general that is out of line, even by the standards of this board. I have never impugned your intelligence or morality. I don’t use profanity. I have never called you names. I simply have put forward arguments to which you have no response. If you want to use spurious claims of uncivil behavior as an excuse for your inability to respond, that’s cool. Whatever makes you feel good.
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
8:46 am
sfd – “American due process means that there is a trial phase, and an appeals phase”
I’m not sure about how that applies to military trials though. This isn’t going to be tried in a civilian court.
@@
November 6th, 2009
8:48 am
Also a military brat (1 of 4) whose Dad went TDY many a time. He would leave in the wee hours of the morning before the sun came up because he couldn’t bear to see the tears.
The next morning We’d listen to his goodbyes while we ate our cereal. With the first call home, he’d talk to each of us. His absences would hit me hard. I would ask him what he was doing. He’d laugh and say “I’m crying in my beer, baby, cause you’re not here” to which I’d respond….
“I’m crying in my milk, Daddy.” With each call, we’d share that (OUR) little exchange.
Gale
November 6th, 2009
8:50 am
My suspicion yesterday was that a soldier had cracked. It appears that may have been the case. I wonder, given the convenience store vidio, if the Major usually wore traditional Arab garb off duty. He was born and lived in Virginia. Was his mode of dress habitual or recent? If recent, why didn’t someone notice and question it? Perhaps it was the elephant in the room, similar to the elephant that keeps us from discussing racism when it surfaces. This is a grim situation that will haunt us for years, I fear.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
8:50 am
I’m not sure about how that applies to military trials though. This isn’t going to be tried in a civilian court.
Military justice includes an appeals process. I don’t claim to know the ins and outs but I’ve heard about enough cases to know that much.
If time permits you might want to look in here…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Armed_Forces
Steve Real
November 6th, 2009
8:51 am
Hang the traitor.
RW-(the original)
November 6th, 2009
8:52 am
Spurious claims of uncivil behavior seem to be rampant around here this morning. I’m used to it from the clown that piggybacked off of Paul’s unfounded claim, but I’m sure not used to them from Paul. Too bad neither of them could point to any specifics.
Guess I’ll head to work.
Later y’all I can’t wait to see how the 10:2% unemployment number gets spun into what a great job Porkulous is doing.
david wayne osedach
November 6th, 2009
8:54 am
I am surprised that this guy didn’t use a suicide bomb! That would have made a very clear statement.
Hef
November 6th, 2009
8:58 am
My Heart goes out to those who lost their lives yesterday due to this cowardly act. I only hope Hasan lives so that we might find out the truth to his actions. To guess now does no good unless your in the media where jobs are tied to sensationalism & where truth sometimes just gets in the way. The families of those who passed deserve better,let’s hope they get at least that.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
8:58 am
Positive thoughts for Fort Hood families. But again, this coverage shows us how little actual journalism is left – all speculation, no facts. I guess they’ll just retract and sort that out later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I would mortgage my house and donate it to charity to have Steny Hoyer come on my property and tell me that I HAD to buy health insurance. ”
Go for it. Such empty threats. That’s almost like the wingnuts who claim that half of all doctors will quit their jobs if we get the public option. Yes, like I’m sooooo sure.
Gale
November 6th, 2009
8:59 am
That he did not use a bomb says more clearly to me that it was not the same as the suicide bombings we are unfortunately used to. This man is not the average unemployed and desparate radical we hear about in Iraq. He had an apparently good career. What he had was constant contact with combat weary troops. I don’t condone his actions. I wish someone in the medical command there had noticed that he was cracking.
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
8:59 am
Thanks sfd. I’ve been around the military most of my life, but my parents were both civilians working for the DOD, so I don’t know a whole lot about the actual military side of things.
Normal
November 6th, 2009
9:00 am
Steve Real
November 6th, 2009
8:51 am
Hang the traitor.
Absolutely NOT. We treat him civilly, we try him for his crimes, and we put him away for life. We do nothing to make this man a martyr or a hero of Islam. That would be the very worse thing to do.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:02 am
Hef,
“To guess now does no good unless your in the media where jobs are tied to sensationalism & where truth sometimes just gets in the way. The families of those who passed deserve better,let’s hope they get at least that.”
[Polite golf clap].
Angry Black Man
November 6th, 2009
9:04 am
Normal
Spot on at 9:00. I’d even go farther as to ask the media to quit using his name and trying to dig up his past. All they’re doing is making him more important than what he’s worth. Personally, I refuse to use his name. As far as I’m concerned, he’s Major. I respect the rank, but not the person. His actions were pure cowardice.
I’m not a military brat, but my family has served the country well in all branches. Jay, if it’s possible, can you give us any info on where or how to send our condolences to the families?
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:06 am
And I’m absolutely ashamed of the AJC this morning posting that headline. Is that a known fact that the gunman yelled that or is it just speculation to get people riled up? There is no way they have had time to interview the hundreds of people in that room, and I can not believe for one minute that the Army would have already released such information.
I’m not one for censorship, and if he did yell that, that is a totally different manner, and yes, deserves to be published to the public, but let’s at least give the investigators time to investigate the whole matter instead of throwing out meat bits for the blood thirsty media so they can pump up their ratings.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:06 am
Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of “friendly fire,” that in the mayhem and confusion at the shooting scene some of the responding military officials may have shot some of the victims.
This can and does happen.
Hef
November 6th, 2009
9:08 am
Bosch-Thanks,I was just about to send you same. { Polite theater clap}
Brad Steel
November 6th, 2009
9:08 am
mike,
you are so smart and it is easy to tell that you know you are such. (such a douchebag)
Paul
November 6th, 2009
9:12 am
Good Morning, RW-(the original)
Followup from downstairs, as that thread seems to have tapered off (thank heavens).
The first and second paragraphs were completely independent of one another. If you saw a link between the two and that’s what you mean by a spurious claim, that’s not what I intended. The second part was about a couple responses to Solder which were of the “quite your whining, you @@!$@…. I don’t remember that you’d even posted anything to her.
Last night there was a conversation involving you, me, NIF and Doggone/GA. NIF spoke of an incident in which a friend of his was killed for a cell phone and how that affected his thinking. Doggone/GA used the term ‘victim’ in referring to the shooter but the impression I had was it didn’t in any way absolve the shooter, just meant he had his demons to contend with. But I signed off and thought about it some more.
I’d mentioned I nearly lost two sons, college roommates to a couple punks with guns. Parking lot robbery in their apartment complex over Christmas. My wife and I were in San Antonio when the call came, drove straight through to Tallahassee – Florida State. The punks were arrested after they’d shot several other people and sentenced to long terms. One was a juvenile but that didn’t gain him much. Anyway, and this is the point: when they were sentenced I made a pretty harsh comment about what I hoped happened to them every day while they were in prison. One of my sons was chagrined at what I’d said. Here here he’d been through all that (his brother said “Dad, the worst part was I thought I was going to watch my brother die and there was nothing I could do to save him”) and he asked me to put aside those feelings.
So I can accept what Doggone/GA was expressing. I may not fully understand it, I may not be able to do it myself, but I can accept the sincerity of the expression.
That’s all I wanted to say and I’d like to be done with thinking about that. It was a tough night. There are 40 families out there who need support, now.
Common Sense #23
November 6th, 2009
9:12 am
“What is interesting, and more than a little distressing, is that the number of people wearing the uniform is only a bit more than 1.5 million on active duty, and that this represents only about one-half of one percent of Americans. A society coheres only when it shares beliefs and experiences, and humans rarely value things that are acquired at no cost. With a minuscule percentage of people making a contribution to our defense, we will not be successful in protecting a country of more than three hundred million people, worldwide obligations, and threat from a variety of malefactors who want to see us destroyed.”
Colonel Jack Jacobs (retired, Medal of Honor – Vietnam)
jt
November 6th, 2009
9:14 am
“Go for it.”
He won’t do it. I’ve asked. Him and Reid and Grayson. They won’t do it. Obama is too girlish for enjoyment.
Paul
November 6th, 2009
9:17 am
sfd 8:50
I’ve a lifelong friend who’s a schoolteacher. One of the parents of one of her students was arrested for a pretty horrific offense. Military took jurisdiction. I asked her what she thought about that. She said after watching it play out the thought amongst the school employees was, it’s better from the defendant’s standpoint to be tried in military court (lots of protections, thoughtful people in the process) but when it comes to being sentenced, it’s better to be in civilian court (her words were, ‘man, once they found him guilty, they hammered him!’). It was a child abuse case.
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
9:17 am
“Obama is too girlish for enjoyment”
You might want to rethink that insult…since it appears it was a FEMALE police officer who took out the Ft Hood shooter.
jconservative
November 6th, 2009
9:18 am
Nice piece of writing Jay.
“War just doesn’t kill soldiers, it kills families…”
Amen Normal – well said.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:19 am
Marsh
**Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of “friendly fire,**
Only the policewoman had a gun. That was why he was able to shot so many people.
They haven’t released the actual injuries that this monster caused. Some people might have been hurt trying to get out from in front of his guns.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:19 am
I’m sure if Hasan were Christian, lots of folks would be telling everyone to not jump to conclusions about his faith. They wouldn’t be slamming Christianity, they’d be telling everyone to be cautious, not to condemn an entire religion.
Joan
November 6th, 2009
9:20 am
This wimp of a President needs to dump or get off the pot about the mideast. Either go in with all guns blazing, decimate the population (cause that is the only way you will end inter-tribal wars) or just get out guys out of there now. We can sure use them on the borders, and in the inner cities. And this is what we get for being so naive as to allow Muslims in the military when we are fighting their ideologues. How stupid of us as a nation to be so incredibly simple minded in the name of political correctness.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:22 am
NIF,
So sorry, I’d forgotten that you were a bystander.
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
9:22 am
“Either go in with all guns blazing”
Now really Joan, why be so kind to them. Surely that’s a lot of wasted ammunition. Why not just nuke ‘em and be done with ‘em?
Hef
November 6th, 2009
9:22 am
Bosch-There will be thousands of news article’s,reports,& this just in type of information in the coming weeks.Me I’ll wait for the dust to clear,collect all the info,before I begin to offer an opinion on such a tragedy. One positive is that it’s the weekend and most people stray away from the tv/radio during this time period,not to mention who reads newspapers anymore unless there are coupons inside.
TnGelding
November 6th, 2009
9:23 am
Which means the killer was PROBABLY acting alone. How many more are at the tipping point?
Paul
November 6th, 2009
9:26 am
G’morning, Bosch
How ya’ feeling? Drugs working?
What did the AJC headline say? The online edition was about the brave police officer who took him down, then helped the wounded before realizing she’d been shot.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:28 am
This article contains a paragraph concerning the “friendly fire” possiblity.
But we probably should not pay any attention to it, since we have NIF with us, who was at the scene.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/army_shooting_hood_110509/
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:29 am
Hef,
Agreed. The only thing I’ll add is that I am of the opinion already that it is simply that: a tragedy. No matter what comes down the later, no matter the details, it is a tragedy pure and simple.
I know what you mean though about offering an opinion later, not trying to dispute that.
Normal
November 6th, 2009
9:33 am
norman ravitch
November 6th, 2009
9:23 am
Let me know when you join up and i’ll buy you a beer.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:34 am
Paul
It wasn’t just the friend’s husband’s murder. I understand that anyone who commits murder has demons. I just don’t care. Everyone has problems.
Making victims our of criminals is one of the prime reasons that we have the problems we have today.
I do, however, find it extremely interesting that the person I was talking to and the other two liberals that went to her defense would have absolutely no problem with cheering the slaughter of an innocent, unborn child. Pardon me for not buying into a feigned compassion for a murdering animal, when they cheer the slaughter of 40 million unborn children. it’s not an unborn child. It’s not a family member. It’s not a US citizen, it’s a choice. Yeah, right.
But they would fight for a man that has proved his hate for the country that gave him half a million dollars in a free education and was paying him 6 figures to set on his sorry ass and listen to soldiers with problems. Once it was time to go and put his own life on the line(Actually, he would have been in a protected area), he starts killing. Try him and kill him. it’s just a shame that he will not feel the pain of knowing that a loved one was killed by someone like himself.
Common Sense #23
November 6th, 2009
9:37 am
The condemnation from the Islamic community today is overwhelming …………… or am I deaf?
We had better wake up …………..
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
9:37 am
Some background on the expression “Allahu Akbar.”
Hef
November 6th, 2009
9:37 am
Bosch-Ditto that. With that I’m out-a-here to go enjoy my family & beautifull weather,never take either for granted. Have a great weekend all,even you Mr President…….smile…..
mike
November 6th, 2009
9:37 am
Brad Steel -
“you are so smart and it is easy to tell that you know you are such. (such a douchebag)”
Ah, we conservatives have so much to learn from liberals. So “intellectual”, so “tolerant”.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:38 am
Marsh
Stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.
I made the mistake of listening to CNN. They claimed that only the woman policeman was armed.
Back to FOX.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:39 am
Paul,
Drugs are working nicely – although I think I will have a set back after seeing that video Jay posted. Nothing like getting choked up when you are trying to get over bronchitis!
When I clicked on this morning, the on-line headline said “Gunman yelled Allah Akbar!” or something like that. When I started watching the news last night about this and heard the guys name, my first thought was “Oh great.” As if this isn’t tragic enough – now we have homemade gravy for the meat hounds of outrage.
It may seem like I’m more concerned over the media coverage and the implications than the families that have been effected, which is not the case. Speculation and gossip into such serious matters makes me a little agitated.
mike
November 6th, 2009
9:40 am
Common Sense –
“The condemnation from the Islamic community today is overwhelming …………… or am I deaf?”
The “Islamic community” should not feel compelled to do anything that the rest of us aren’t. This was the act of a man (or at the very worst some men), not a community.
Paul
November 6th, 2009
9:42 am
NIF
When I remembered my son’s response to me it crystallized for me – the similarities in attitude between my son and the other blogger. Most definitely not the same, but enough out of the norm that I could see the point.
That’s all I was getting at. I do not have sympathy for the shooter. To me, he’s evil. Had no empathy for others. Let the justice system have its way with him then move on. I hope the media balances out the stories about him with stories about the effect he had on the victims and their families.
mike
November 6th, 2009
9:42 am
Bosch –
“As if this isn’t tragic enough – now we have homemade gravy for the meat hounds of outrage.”
Yep. That’s the way a bunch of us felt about the Tiller case, and the meat hounds of outrage did not disappoint.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:43 am
NIF @ 9:38
I would, but I believe you are way too “touchy” for that this morning.
Seems you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
9:44 am
The condemnation from the Islamic community today is overwhelming …………… or am I deaf?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/muslims.fort.hood/
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:45 am
Paul
**I hope the media balances out the stories about him with stories about the effect he had on the victims and their families.**
FOX will. But don’t count on any other network to tell the whole story.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
9:45 am
The condemnation from the Islamic community today is overwhelming …………… or am I deaf?
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/25644/
Call it like it is.
November 6th, 2009
9:46 am
Good job Jay, no spin, no blame, just from the heart. Your partner in the desk across from you, could take some tips from you.
Have a good day.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:47 am
Marsh
I made a commit. Then you went hysterical, claiming that I was there.
Calm down, oh hysterical one.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
9:47 am
Jay
That is a great video clip, but I have seen it before. It isn’t new.
Common Sense #23
November 6th, 2009
9:47 am
Mike:
Disagree ………. it’s the act of a sinister, evil, religious movement that seeks to dominate the world by force. You ignore that at your peril.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:49 am
Yeap.
“it’s the act of a sinister, evil, religious movement that seeks to dominate the world by force. You ignore that at your peril.”
There’s your sign!
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
9:49 am
The condemnation from the Islamic community today is overwhelming …………… or am I deaf?
http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=26126&&name=n&&currPage=1
U.S. Muslims Condemn Attack at Fort Hood
Posted 11/5/2009 6:15:00 PM
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/5/09) – A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group tonight condemned an attack on Fort Hood military base in Texas that left at least 12 people dead.
In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:
“We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”
Along with innumerable condemnations of terror, CAIR has in the past launched an online anti-terror petition drive called “Not in the Name of Islam,” initiated a television public service announcement (PSA) campaign against religious extremism and coordinated a “fatwa,” or Islamic religious ruling, against terrorism and extremism.
SEE: CAIR’s Anti-Terrorism Campaigns
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Angry Black Man
November 6th, 2009
9:49 am
Bosch
I saw that headline when I logged into the site too. That’s the last thing I expected to see, but it doesn’t surprise me one bit. For us to be a “nation built on Christian principles”, we sure are not very tolerant of much of anything outside of Christianity.
Blogger
November 6th, 2009
9:55 am
By ROBERT A. GEORGE
Updated 8:06 AM CST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009
President Obama didn’t wait long after Tuesday’s devastating elections to give critics another reason to question his leadership, but this time the subject matter was more grim than a pair of governorships.
After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance. At about 5 p.m., cable stations went to the president. The situation called for not only his trademark eloquence, but also grace and perspective.
But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a “shout-out” to “Dr. Joe Medicine Crow — that Congressional Medal of Honor winner.” Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?
Anyone at home aware of the major news story of the previous hours had to have been stunned. An incident like this requires a scrapping of the early light banter. The president should apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That’s the least that should occur.
Indeed, an argument could be made that Obama should have canceled the Indian event, out of respect for people having been murdered at an Army post a few hours before. That would have prevented any sort of jarring emotional switch at the event.
Did the president’s team not realize what sort of image they were presenting to the country at this moment? The disconnect between what Americans at home knew had been going on — and the initial words coming out of their president’s mouth was jolting, if not disturbing.
It must have been disappointing for many politically aware Democrats, still reeling from the election two days before. The New Jersey gubernatorial vote had already demonstrated that the president and his political team couldn’t produce a winning outcome in a state very friendly to Democrats (and where the president won by 15 points one year ago). And now this? Congressional Democrats must wonder if a White House that has burdened them with a too-heavy policy agenda over the last year has a strong enough political operation to help push that agenda through.
If the president’s communications apparatus can’t inform — and protect — their boss during tense moments when the country needs to see a focused commander-in-chief and a compassionate head of state, it has disastrous consequences for that president’s party and supporters.
All the president’s men (and women) fell down on the job Thursday. And Democrats across the country have real reason to panic.
New York writer Robert A. George blogs at Ragged Thots. Follow him on Twitter.
Common Sense #23
November 6th, 2009
9:57 am
A person can commit a terrible crime “because” of their religion or “in spite” of their religion. Not all religions are the same or have the same basic values. You are wise is you can discern the difference – you put your life and your country in peril if you can’t.
P.S. Everyone do yourself a favor this week. Read the “Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades.”
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
9:58 am
ABM,
“For us to be a “nation built on Christian principles”, we sure are not very tolerant of much of anything outside of Christianity.”
I couldn’t agree with that more.
But my bone to pick with the AJC posting that on their website – is that – was the fact that the gunman yelled that statement confirmed by the Army investigators? Was it released in a statement by the Army or was is confirmed by someone’s Twitter message or Facebook page?
I was watching CNN last night and Wolf Blitzer was blabbering away about this and some information came in about where the gunman had received medical training, that is was some facility in Bethesda. And Wolf and Tom Foreman both say, “Well, I’ve lived in Bethesda for a long time, and I’ve never heard of the place. OK, so we’re gonna go and try to verify that the place is real. Now, we are not trying to say it isn’t, but we’ve never heard of it, so we are going to go and verify it’s a real place, and we’ll get back with you on that.”
I’m sitting there thinking “WTF?” Is this the drugs again? What in God’s name does that have to do with anything? It was surreal, and I promptly turned off the telly.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
9:59 am
NIF @ 9:47,
No need to commit to me. Without love, there is nothing.
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
10:00 am
ABM
When a Muslim is shooting and killing others,more than likely Christians, while screaming an Islamic phrase, exactly who is being intolerant? The Christian or the Muslim?
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
10:01 am
Marsh
Thanks for letting me off the hook.
Matilda
November 6th, 2009
10:03 am
May God bless and comfort the wounded, the departed, and their grieving families!
I was a military brat, too. My father was a fighter pilot for our nation. Lost a lot of buddies. It’s hard for him to speak about it now, but he’s a man committed to the principles of peace.
Why do the righties think they’re the only ones who love or “support” the troops? Just because we don’t blather on publicly about the ways in which we have loved and supported U.S. soldiers (a lady smiles, nods, and says nothing), doesn’t mean we aren’t heartbroken by these tragedies too. All you who are demanding that Obama send more troops now, why don’t YOU pick which ones who’ll go back for the fifth or sixth time, and then YOU go tell the families? Geebuss.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
10:04 am
ABM,
Oh, I was wrong about promptly turning off the telly at that moment, I forgot I saw something else. A few minutes later, Wolf and Tom came back on and confirmed that yes, the medical facility where the gunman had trained was indeed real even though they had never heard of it – and THEN, they used their smart board with Google Earth on it to show us where they were currently standing, then panned up to the medical facility where gunman trained – see how close it was? Then they used the smart board Googley thing to go ALLLLLLLL the way from medical facility that was in fact real even though they had never heard of it – all the way to Texas where the incident took place – and THEN – showed us where the gunman actually worked – which was a mile away from where the building where the shootings took place.
Really. No joke. That’s when I turned off the TV.
Common Sense #23
November 6th, 2009
10:05 am
Bosch:
“For us to be a “nation built on Christian principles”, we sure are not very tolerant of much of anything outside of Christianity.
I couldn’t agree with that more.”
Bosch – you really need to think this through ………… there are mosques all over this country and more going up everyday. Try building a Baptist church in “ANY” Muslim country and see what happens.
There is no comparisons to the freedoms of Muslims in this country and Christians in theirs ………. and it’s ludicrous even bring up the issue.
Del
November 6th, 2009
10:06 am
TnGelding
How many radical Islamic’s are there at the tipping point? No one knows the answer to that question. There have been far to many incidents domestically of radical Islam planning to carry out terrorist attacks. Fortunately, most have been uncovered before the perpetrators could carry out their acts. Unfortunately, yesterday at Ft. Hood the act of one radically motivated individual or what appears to be the act of one individual wasn’t stopped in time. Not unlike the recent incidents of Muslim honor killings of innocent children.
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
10:07 am
NIF@ 10:00 –
Simple. It’s the gunman and the gunman ALONE that is intolerant, regardless of his religion or the victim.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
10:07 am
NIF @ 10:00,
God is great.
NIF @ 10:01,
Even though it causes me almost intolerable pain, I’m making the sacrifice.
jt
November 6th, 2009
10:07 am
Steny Hoyer uses copious amounts of hairspray.
It is all wrong.
Normal
November 6th, 2009
10:07 am
ABM, I don’t believe any “Religion” is tolerant of any other one.
If it were a perfect world these cults would be outlawed and let each one of us experience Spirituality in our own private way.
Paul
November 6th, 2009
10:09 am
Bosch – ABM
I think this quote from Dan Brown’s (Secrets of the Lost Symbol) interview on NBC sums it up nicely:
“America wasn’t founded a Christian country. It became a Christian country.”
Mrs. Godzilla
November 6th, 2009
10:09 am
NIF
we know why your eyes are brown….
“”cheering the slaughter of an innocent, unborn child”"
i repeat
“cheering”
yep, you saw that correctly
“cheering”
Bosch
November 6th, 2009
10:10 am
CS,
“there are mosques all over this country and more going up everyday”
And? Are you saying they are all terrorist organizations?
“Try building a Baptist church in “ANY” Muslim country and see what happens.”
Just Baptist or Christian? Why the distinction? But, ok, I’ll bite – what does happen?
“There is no comparisons to the freedoms of Muslims in this country and Christians in theirs”
That doesn’t even make sense to me. Please explain further if you don’t mind.
“and it’s ludicrous even bring up the issue”
So, why are you bringing it up?
Nothing Is Free
November 6th, 2009
10:10 am
Good for your Father. A fighter pilot is the most highly trained and often the most intelligent people in our military. (Chuck Yeager, GW Bush, Greg Boington, John McCain)
However, the problem here seems to be that some on the left have called the murderer a victim. This is the person who killed in cold blood 13 people. I haven’t seen anyone say that Liberals do not have attachments to our military.
Paul
November 6th, 2009
10:11 am
Normal
How about the idea some religions are tolerant of other religions, it’s just the adherents who have difficulty practicing their religion?
Doggone/GA
November 6th, 2009
10:11 am
““America wasn’t founded a Christian country. It became a Christian country.”
Yep, and even the Pilgrims didn’t come here because of religious “intolerence” – they came here because they could not impose THEIR version of Christianity on the existing society in England. They wanted somewhere where THEIR brand of religious intolerance could be fulfilled.
stands for decibels
November 6th, 2009
10:12 am
yep, you saw that correctly
“cheering”
Scroll wheels are your friend.
Marsh
November 6th, 2009
10:12 am
NIF @ 10:10,
Are you one?