Look through my eyes and maybe you will look at my eyes differently.
I am stationed at fort hood, and I am muslim. The two things that me and Maj. Hasan had in common. If u don’t know the details about the fort hood shooting then climb from under the rock you have been under for the past year and I will brief you.
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is suspected of shooting and killing 13 people and the attempt to kill 32 other on November 5 2009. At the time of the shootings I was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. I was in my sixth month of my 12 month tour at the time. As news was being passed over seas, news was getting to us that there were three people on fort hood shooting up the entire post. Then the story changed from 3 suspects, to 2, then eventually to 1. When the final shot had been fired and the dust had settled, this is when the real adventure for me and all my fellow muslim brothers and sister in America began.
When the shooter was identified as Maj. Hasan the media didn’t hesitate to use there brains to know that it was a middle eastern name. which in terms translate in some peoples brain as a muslim name. that’s when headlines read “muslim extremist attacks” “terrorist attacks” or something of that nature. These headlines were published to a screen near you before Maj. Hasan even made it to the hospital.
Now on to my point. I do not agree with Maj. Hasans actions. if found guilty of just one of the murders I would want to see life in prison for the guy (seeing that I don’t believe in the death penalty). Many people don’t know that his actions cost masjids all over the country retaliation for one persons actions.
I applaud the military police on fort hood that were working that day. Alot of people look at me crazy when i say "i would not have killed him". Why kill a man that is suspected of killing 13 people? Especially if you think he is a terrorist? Wouldn't you want answers from the guy? I'm glad he didnt die because the media would have put their own twist on what they thought happened. And I'm sorry to say most of the American public is too naive that they will believe everything the media says. America would rather hear a CNN reporter say it rather then cracking open a book or search the world wide web for the real answer. (sorry got a little off track there)
Let us rewind 6 months to May 11th 2009 when an American soldier by the name of John Russlle in Iraq walked into a health facility and opened fire on other American soldiers killing 5 other soldiers. He was never called a terrorist, his name was not widely publicized across the world, and i don’t even know if anyone knows what Sgt,. Russlles religion is. Maj. Hasans name, religion, rank, M.O.S, deployment status, house address, and the mosque he prayed at address was made public within the first day of him being apprehended. I believe the media was asking for retaliation without actually saying it. John Russell son was quoted saying “For him to do something like that, he couldn't of been in his right state of mind. They had to have put him to a breaking point. Because he just had to have lost it, lost all train of thought to do anything like that”. Why is it that Maj. Hasan cant make the same argument? I’ll tell you why!!!!! It’s because Maj. Hasans dogtags has the word Islam imbedded on it as do mine.
I am not asking for any kind of sympathy for Maj. Hasan. I am asking for sympathy for my muslim brothers and sisters who fear retaliation from the west as they pray towards the east.
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