LONG LIVE AMERICA
I have spent my entire life in public service, both in the military and in law enforcement. I was raised in a Navy family and I was proud of my father for his service and my mother for the sacrifices she made attendant to that service. I have an affinity for those who serve their country and a particular animus for those who would pretend to cause them harm.
Yesterday I watched, with rolling tears and a heaving chest, the memorial at Fort Hood, Texas for those men and women who were murdered by a ruthless al Qaeda terrorist, who was also an officer in the United States Army medical corps. I was angry at the Army for allowing traitorous fanatics like this to operate openly. I was depressed at the thought of how many other terrorists may well occupy our military installations. I was ashamed to think how much I hated these Muslim killers. I was disturbed at how dark my thoughts became as I imagined the horror and the hate that I would like to bestow on these Allah loving devils.
I understand the notion of war and the inevitability of human conflict. I do not, however, understand the need to kill for one's notion of "God" or other myths that are beyond the pale. Is the Christian God as merciless as the Muslim God? Of course. History proves that. Are the Christians capable of the same violence? Of course. History proves that. What does that mean for decent people everywhere? Where can we be safe? Will we ever again be safe from these religious fanatics?
There are those who think al Qaeda to be a small, insignificant group of frightened arabs hiding in caves in Pakistan. They do not understand the nature of this dark beast. Osama bin Laden has long arms. His tentacles reach across the globe, embracing it not with love but hate. What happened at Fort Hood proves the existence of this evil. Should I wish death on all Muslims? No! Do I wish death on all of those who would harm our nation? Yes! If all Muslims secretly wish to harm our nation do I wish death on all Muslims? Yes!
My rational mind tells me that all Muslims are not terrorists any more than all black people are thieves, or all people who live in the south hate all people who are black. It cannot be a collective or subjective judgment, nonetheless the hatred on this day for the murderer Hasan runs deep. Now I just have to sort it all out......forgive me.
posted by MadMike at 1:09 AM
11 Comments:
Your feelings are understandable Mike. As you know I am an inactive Marine (there are no ex marines) and a short period of time as a police officer. The incident at Fort Hood has left everyone wondering what happened and I think our analysis can wait a day or so. For the time being I am finishing up my day of commemorating the birthday of the Marine Corps (November 10) and today thinking about those who served before me, with me, and after me in defense of our country. My Step father served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, and my brother in the Navy. Everyone who has stepped forward and taken that oath deserves our thanks and support.
Mike,
you are a friend,and you are being honest.Your reaction is what happens when something so close to you is attacked. I can offer examples showing your reaction to be an emotional one which Muslims experience when their people and institutions are attacked,but you already know that and are already having those thoughts I'm sure as you sort out your feelings.
You are too experienced and too smart to let an emotional reaction be any more than a catharsis. which is what this is.
Hang in there man.
We all need to bring those irrational thoughts and feelings to the surface in order to deal with them effectively. You seem to be in that process. So don't anquish the hate you feel. Let it run its course. From the words i read here of yours, I feel you will sort it all out and find the place to put them where they belong.
Today just think of those you served with, not those you fought.
Mike, bless you for your service. I honor you as I do all service persons past and present, today. Bless you.
I am taking MrMac's advice and am honoring those with whom I fought as opposed to those I fought against.
Thanks Gwen and Bill as well as my friend Oso for their thoughtful comments.
MadMike, I'm still angry about it! I'm angry that the FBI, the Army, the DHS, the NSA and CIA ALL knew who this guy was, knew what he was spouting, who he associated with and, who he was trying to associate with...and was conveniently ignored.
THAT pisses me off to no end!
Political correctness gone mad?
The Army covering it's ass because they allowed one to get through?...let alone allowed one to become a field grade officer within it's ranks!
And this clown wasn't just showing "warning signs" that he was a nutcase, he was advertising them openly to anyone who would listen!
A dismal failure occurred that didn't have to, at the cost of good kids just trying to do something for themselves while serving the country.
And I find that unnacceptable.
Mike,
This was a very heartfelt and logical post. What Major Hasan did was reprehensible, and it is unforgivable that so many warning signs were there about him, and so many people and entities overlooked them.
Al Qaeda does indeed have long tentacles. Thankfully, they are nowhere near as numerous, well-equipped, organized, or pervasive as were the old Soviets or even the Nazis (or as paranoids like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, or Glenn Beck would lead us to believe. For this reason, we need to finish the job of smashing them to a pulp, but that doesn't include foolish, expensive, or protracted occupation of lands where they no longer exist. We need to be more focused, and hit them hard. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, we need to keep our eyes open and nip potential problems in the bud. We must guard against racial or ethnic profiling. Rounding up or persecuting all Muslims today is every bit as wrong as was the persecution of domestic Germans in WWI, the internment of domestic Japanese in WWII, and the communist witchhunts which occurred in the McCarthy era. People have simply got to use their heads and keep their eyes open rather than keying cars or defacing property.
Thank you for your heart, passion, and service, Mike. You are a rational man and a real patriot.
Sepp: I am pleased to say that, albeit a rare occasion, we agree completely, no exceptions. Thanks.
Jack: Thanks so much for your kind words. There was a time when I thought we had a real mission in Afghanistan and we did right after 9/11. We succeeded in routing the Taliban and scaring hell out of al Qaeda. Mission accomplished. It is now time for us to go. If the Afghans want a democracy they will fight for it themselves. We have shed too much precious blood already. It is time for us to come home. Have a great Veteran's Day.
I thank all of my friends for contributing here. It makes life better somehow....
Back at you Mike!
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