Sadly Predictable? Fort Hood Tragedy Unleashes Tragic Islamophobia

I have been following this as a professional journalist. I have a warning. Much of what has been said has not been confirmed. Nevertheless I have heard that the doctor was often called a rag head (this is a man who went to school for years and years). I also read that a bumper sticker was ripped off his car. There is no excuse for killing, other than self defense. This needs to be investigated by the Justice Department.

Thanks Billie.No doubt it was a very sad incident and has to be dealt with firmly.You 're right,the person must have had a very bitter feeling about the action U.S. military took against Iraq and dreaded to go there.
This is the main reason why he commited the act

Thanks Billie.No doubt it was a very sad incident and has to be dealt with firmly.You 're right,the person must have had a very bitter feeling about the action U.S. military took against Iraq and dreaded to go there.
This is the main reason why he committed the act

i honestly dont care WHY he committed the act. If he was feeling hurt or neglected or ignored or whatever he could have quit. Being picked on because youre a muslim is not an excuse just like it wasnt an excuse for the columbine losers who shot up their school.

what he did is inexcusable and i hope he pulls through so he can be tried convicted and executed

Thank you, Billie! A well said article in response to the bigotry being thrashed here and across the nation!

I agree with everything you said, BUT this violent act does not justify treating innocent people unjustly. No act does.

completely agree with antonianoel

I'm confused by the tenor of the comments. This article does not attempt in any way to discuss the action of the perpetrator at Fort Hood. I am writing about the erroneous response among an element of the general public who use the fact that the perpetrator was Muslim to fuel an anti-Islamic backlash.

I do not defend the soldier or his actions; he clearly had a problem, and his actions are abhorrent. However, his religious faith was not the problem. And it is problematic to me that some are suggesting that the issue is his Islamic faith.

Thanks for writing this article.

Again, well said and well presented. It's a shame that some people didn't get that out of your original article.

Thanks, Antonia. Your first two comments came in while I was composing mine. So I want to clarify that I was not referring to your first two comments in the message above this one that you just responded to. (Sorry this cross-comment time-lapse is so confusing!) It seems like you understood my general intent and agree and simply affirm that you (like me) are not offering any excuses or rational in defense of the atrocity at Fort Hood.

I find the news horrible and confusing after I watched it on CNN.It's really bad news at all.

Thanks for this article Billie. We at PakistanisforPeace.com also are saddened at the horrendous acts allegedely committed by Major Hasan. I wrote about this today also and about how there is a war between the jihadi Islam and the moderate Islam many Muslims such as myself practice. These deranged individuals who think they are defending Islam and Muslims when they kill in the name of Islam, are the most lost souls roaming this planet. Again, thanks for this article and our prayers to all the victims and for all our brave service men and women.
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4566443-fort-hood-tragedy-the-enemy-from-within

Manzer, I read your report this morning and thought it was very well done. I will re-link it here and encourage other readers to visit:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4566443-fort-hood-tragedy-the-enemy-from-within

I especially appreciate how you distinguish that factions within a religious tradition can splinter and widely differ from one another. It is unfair to paint with a broad brush, so to speak, and color all factions within a single faith tradition as equivalent.

Thank you for consistently representing a viewpoint on Allvoices that I can both learn from and endorse.

This is horrible and quite honestly flabbergasting i watched it on My local news channel, horrible.

Border,

I think you are being very insensitive to the families of the dead and injured. There has been a precedent for this type of cowardly type of domestic terrorism. This has occured at other Military facilities this year and many others have been averted. I think you are being a little too politically correct by avoiding pertinent facts that are also part of the story. By standing behind the veil of the typical"Islamophobia" defense the problem will never be corrected. We need to address this in it's proper context. If he was a Muslim that held any type of animosity towards the US and had any political or religious motive, that should be discussed as well.

By continuing to to turn the cheek the other way, it makes an accomplice out of all us.

Our military men & women put their lives at risk everyday. If there is an element that is hell bent on destroying that which we belief in, it must confronted or we will continue to see this type act.

I'm sorry you consider my report insensitive, Redhanded; it is not intended to be. I appreciate your effort to explain your difference of opinion to me. This report is not intended to analyze other incidents of domestic terrorism nor is it unsupportive in any way of any of our military. [You did read Al-Suwaij's statement, I presume.]

This report cites three major mainstream Islamic groups. Do not lose sight of their response. They correctly represent Muslim.

If we disagree on that, so be it.

I'm just saddened by it all no matter the circumstances

Red, since a few muslim groups have all ready denounced it, shame on us for saying what we feel.

According to the first writer in the comments,(robert bedwetter weller) because he was called a rag head, it made him angry. Oh yea and his little bumper sticker was peeled off.... Why then didn't we have him taking freaking SENSITIVITY TRAINING, the liberal cure all.

I think the direction of the investigation should look into the hatred against the Christian and Jews being taught at the mosques. Religious zealousness must be given reason and incitement and a personal moral behavior is breached when religious fanaticism is taught to the followers until they are brainwashed into vile action in the name of Allah. The saying holds so true as follows buy the evidence to all the actions against the west.. " not all muslims are terrorist however all terrorists are muslims." The propaganda by the middle east money and western muslims will only cause further distruct . The root cause of the killings I can assure you will be traced back to the brainwashing of the muslim men at the mosques. All most should be monitored in the US for accountability. It is incredability ignorant of any one to infer islamophobia when there are 13 people dead.. I think it is more like Americanophobia.. No one is holding Muslims in the US and I fell motivated to start of fund with donations to help deport all muslims who are unhappy in US.

This report cites three major mainstream Islamic groups. Do not lose sight of their response. They correctly represent Muslim.

Who is this suppose to bring comfort to, Me, You, the families of the dead. Gee lady you called him a terrorist, all these other mainstream groups call him a deranged killer. Yea I disagree with ya, you piss ant liberal.

Oh by the way tell that clown weller the liar, who is a legend in his own puffed up little mind, quit attacking innocent little old ladies.

Me? I'm not *so* innocent.

this story is cool

Regardless of the motivation, killing is wrong. But it is true - we must all be careful of our own subconscious and conscious prejudices to ensure things like this do not happen.

just another example of the turmoil and horrors surrounding war

just another example of the turmoil and horrors surrounding war...

so sad what happened and im more horrified to read what is now happening after this incident.

It's scary when it's one of your own that commits an act of violence like this. :(

Does anyone have any information on how he got accepted into the Army in the first place? He seems to have been in the Army at least since the first Golf War. Why would he join the Army if he might be engaged in a war in the Middle East?

The Army sent him to college and for his graduate degrees

Sorry, but it doesn't matter whether the guy's name was Osama bin Laden or Sarah Palin. One person committed this horrific crime and one person -- not an entire segment of the American people -- should pay the price.

Mike,

You should trying using this logic when trying to characterize all Republicans or Conservatives as Right Wing Nuts.

We are all classified as a part of a group or groups. Sometimes those classifications are perceived as good and sometimes they are perceived as bad. Sometimes, not unlike beauty, they are in the eye of the perceiver. For example, one of the people I love most in the world is an Eagle Scout. To me that is unequivocably a good thing. A title of honor and one of which he should be proud. However, recently a supposedly intelligent young, white, heterosexual person, who is a teacher, union activist, democrat and a liberal verbally trashed this young man and his family as being bigots who hated gays and lesbians. She went further to indicate her belief that BSA and all members were this way. Excuse me? Within this same extended family is an openly lesbian family member who with her partner has conceived and are raising beautiful offspring. The family loves and respects that couple and adores those children just as all other young families within the larger multi-generational family.
Lets take this a step further, I love this young man. Many of my best friends are gay or lesbian. So, am I to choose between loving them or loving this young man? Am I to judge one of them right or one of them wrong?
Lets go even further, the person who made these comments is part of a several groups that come to mind. Am I to believe all white people feel this way because she does? Or, do I think all 30-something professionals believe as she does? How about all union members? Am I to believe that all liberal individuals feel this way because this one person made these horribly hurtful and unfair comments? Should I cast a stone at all teachers because she made these comments and is a part of that group?
Emphatically, no.
Would it happen or does it happen in our society? Just as emphatically, yes.
I am judged negatively because I am a single mom. Yet, not one day in my life did I ever wish to be or endeavor to be a single mom. Does this mean because their father chose to divorce me I should give away my children so, I am not a single mom?
I think we can agree that would be both tragic and, a silly way to avoid a title I don't want. (if this were to become a book, we could even explore why that title and the perceptions of it are often perceived as negative in our society).
My point in this long and rambling post is that quite simply, we are all part of groups and that the perceptions or thoughts provoked by those groups could frequently be painted with a very broad brush.
I know next to nothing of the Islamic faith. I've been told they are a peace seeking, beautiful group who want only to love, be loved, understand and, be understood. However, media reports often show me and tell me that actions of many who are a part of the faith do not appear to be very loving nor peace seeking and, certainly not at all understandable.
Do I know if this man did this because of his faith? No.
Am I guilty of hearing his name and immediately thinking that could be the case? Sadly, and, much to my own shame, yes.
Is it within the bounds of responsible journalism that the media should explore this possibility? Certainly. Just as they should be exploring whether specific events, issues, or occurrences affected him.
By all appearances, this man belonged to several other "groups" or "classifications". Male, single, middle-aged, lived alone, doctor, psychiatrist, lifetime military member, frequently came in contact with injured vets returning from war, was about to deploy himself are a few that come to mind. Has the media explored many of those groups or classifications to look for motive? I have seen reports that looked at several of those.
Should veterans groups be up-in-arms about this? How about active military? How about the AMA? Or, the psychiatrist down the street?
Are we really to get all stoked up each and every time any group or classification is judged?
Do we?
Or, are we just supposed to speak up about it when it is a group to which we belong? Do we?
Or, are we just supposed to do it when it is a group with which our political sympathies are aligned?
Do we?
I think we all (myself included) need to ask ourselves these questions before we spring into action on behalf of any group or when we decide to criticize or demonize any group.
I work in Madison, Wisconsin - a hotbed of liberal socialism where many of the young adults clamor toward those beliefs not through knowledge but, through a desire to be "cool" or part of the "in crowd".
My McCain-Palin bumper sticker was ripped off my car.
I've still not gone on a shooting spree over it.
Nor, has anyone given me any sympathy, empathy or news stories proclaiming that I was unfairly persecuted as part of a minority group.

The United States is controled by a 2 party political system and both parties are basically the same.. They spend money without regards to the economic damage will be incured in the future. Both parties are full of career politicans and newly released information that most are millionares. So bacially we are ruled by two elitist political parties who have control of judges and the federal reserve. Our who political system of government intervention is based on Carl Max model of government to be looked up to to solve our problems. We have Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, food stamps, welfare, cash for clunkers, cash for applicances.. We have wage controls, free marke meddling, the plung protection team, to big to fail bailouts. We are slowing without a peep of from the population turning into a facist government. Trillions in deficits, government programs for everything, the only thing left that the governemt has not yet taken is to confiscate the wealth and divide it just as Carl Max dreamed to do.

We are discussing Islamophobia and you are rattling on about sexual orinentation, single status, group orientation . Somehow you have made your commenets all about you. You made your bed so sleep in it. Sexual orientation, maritial status has nothing to do with religious indoctrination and brainwashing based on religious fanaticism. Take a debating class so you can stick to the facts, and put a McCain -Palin bumper sticker on your forehead if you thinks it has any social impact. And who told you the Muslims are peace seeking look at the recent killings by muslims that the state controled media has supressed, students were run over by a car in Raleigh, NC, Jewish worshipers we killed on the way to prayer by muslim, How about the Washington, DC killers who were in the truck of a car taking shots and killing innocentpeople, Now the masacare in Texas.. Walk into a Mosque and you will see how loving your muslim brothers are, since you are not allowed in a mosque since you are women and looked upon as a second class citizen. Where is your logic?

I remember when bombs killed civilians in Hanoi. The Air Force said it was an accident. That didn't bring any of the dead back. Since this case and others have shown that the Army cannot track problem soldiers I believe all 3,500 Muslims should be discharged or put in a special unit where they could do some good. Ask yourself this question. If you were a devout Muslim and they wanted to send you downrange to kill your religious brothers would you go? I believe we are putting our soldiers and Marines at risk here. I believe Muslims are every bit as good an American as I am. But I have no obligation to my church that overrides my obligation to my country. I am not saying take any, I repeat, any other action against them.

That is a very serious charge you are making, Robert. Any person who feels their religion is at odds with military deployment may seek conscientious objector status.

Thanks BE for sharing your views.

I take this opportunity to condemns this senseless act, and to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives or were wounded.

I quote here a Press Release issued via email to all the members of Muslim Student Association (MSA National),America:

Nov. 6, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MSA NATIONAL VEHEMENTLY CONDEMNS TRAGIC SHOOTING AT FORT HOOD, TX

November 6, 2009 - Washington, DC- Yesterday, a tragic act of violence at Fort Hood, Texas, left nearly a dozen men and women dead, and dozens more wounded. MSA National vehemently condemns this senseless act, and extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives or were wounded.

Whether this tragedy is the result of mental instability, or a wanton act of violence, remains unknown. Regardless, the need for open dialogue within all American communities is imminent. Just as many Muslim Student Associations across the United States have engaged in forward-thinking, positive, and productive "Peace...not Prejudice" campaigns this month, we encourage all universities to take the time to host two-part "Campus Conversations", starting with frank and open discussions, in which participants will express their deepest and most sincere thoughts regarding this and other tragedies worldwide. These dialogues should then be followed by solution-based conversations that shall seek to establish reasonable steps toward respect and understanding, tragedy prevention, and a lasting peace within all American communities, that can emanate worldwide.

We also urge our university communities, as well as America's Muslim communities in general, to dedicate next week's traditional Friday prayer to the condemnation of this wanton violence within the teachings of Islam.

While nothing will bring back the lives of those who have been lost, we recognize that a peaceful national dialogue will serve as a blockade to any individual who wishes to do harm unto others, as well as a sincere teaching moment for all.

-END-CONTACT: Ms. Asma Rehman, MSA National Political Action task Force Chair, 703-820-7900 Email:patfchair@msanational.org
_______________________________________

The Muslims Students Association (MSA) National is the largest Muslim Students group in the United States and Canada. Its mission is to serve the individual Muslim student as well as the chapter through sponsorship of educational programs, through offering students chances to learn, network and grow at zonal and annual conferences, as well as through management training programs. As a broad platform for students from all backgrounds, MSA National works with all organizations whose agenda includes a special focus on students and issues of concern to them during their college career.

Thanks and kind regards,
cj

I really appreciate your contribution of this press release because it is a wonderful additional support of the premise of this news report. Thank you very much.

Wow, that really gives me a warm and cozy feeling. What were you expecting them to do, write a letter complaining the terrorist was shot to many times, give me a break.

RWeller, your comment: Ask yourself this question. If you were a devout Muslim and they wanted to send you downrange to kill your religious brothers would you go? I believe we are putting our soldiers and Marines at risk here.

At risk from who, your so called great american muslim soldiers? Better yet, why are they in the Army? TO KILL THE FREAKING ENEMY.

So what your saying then, when clinton sent troops to mogadishu, we shouldn't have sent any black soldiers. I'll take our soldiers over any in the world, regardless of color,religion,sexual prefrence.

I'll tell you what I'll take and these soldiers will take, that's an American soldier, a true soldier could careless about religious beliefs or party affiliation when confronting a common enemy.

REgarding paragraph 1: Assuming your statement is sarcastic, it appears that your point is to express some personal dislike for me. If so: mission accomplished, pollard.

Regarding the rest of the comment, I agree. Strong support from me for your last paragraph. Thanks for commenting!

The doctor had no problem with the military while we were paying for his education and/or he was safe within the bounds of the continental 48.
So, rather than say this was an act of Islamic Terrorism should we say it was an act of Cowardly Terrorism -- Money Grubbing Terrorism -- what?
Why did he only care that the "group" (the military) to which he belonged was killing his religious brothers once he was going to be deployed?
That would seem contradictory, rather as Senator Lieberman has now had the courage to go record saying it does appear that it could be an act of Islamic terrorism.

The discussion is going far afield from the point of this news report. To repeat: this report is not an analysis of the shooting at Fort Hood, but rather is a statement of dismay at Islamic prejudice the incident has unfairly fueled. With all due respect to Senator Lieberman, I believe it is extremely premature to offer suggestions or insinuations on the motivation of the shooting. It *could be* a manifestation of any of many possible problems. But again, this report concerns itself with a problem arising from the aftermath of the shooting and not the initial incident.