-Ivy
What a horrible tragedy. 13 dead and thirty more wounded. 1 sick and deranged psychiatrist also injured who shouted, "Allahu Akbar" before committing this atrocity.
Some reports say his parents were from Palestine; others, from Jordan. Do you know the truth?
He was being posted to one of the wars in Muslim countries and hated the idea. Perhaps he wasn't suited to being in the army, even in a sort of non-combatant role? But perhaps that was the only way he could afford an education. If he dressed in Arab clothes when he was off duty he seems to have rather stood out in the base and received some abuse from others. Did the army drive him mad?
Freelance jihadist.
C:\satire/on
>>He was being posted to one of the wars in Muslim countries and hated the idea. Perhaps he wasn't suited to being in the army, even in a sort of non-combatant role? But perhaps that was the only way he could afford an education. If he dressed in Arab clothes when he was off duty he seems to have rather stood out in the base and received some abuse from others. Did the army drive him mad?<<
I don't know. I'm sure he was acting in conformance with his religious beliefs and so was being rational, and this will become apparent once those who are not familiar with the Muslim faith, which is a rational faith, will realize upon familiarization with the precepts of Islam.
But I'd like to remind everyone, I predicted that future terrorist acts on the part of Muslims would come from American home grown Muslims.
The question is, however, was this an act of terrorism at all, or an act of fidelity to the teachings of Islam for a devout Muslim?
If the latter, then he is protected under the Constitution's First Amendment, which allows all Americans the right to freely practice their religion without harassment and prejudice, such as racial or religious profiling, which we see happening in our predominately white and Christian nation.
C:/satire\off
--John
"Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" ---Walt Whitman
An aged and devout Muslin was quoted on TV today as saying killing is against the Qur'an. Something like, "He who kills a man kills all humanity."
Cal, from West Michigan
All generalizations are false, including this one..
>>The question is, however, was this an act of terrorism at all, or an act of fidelity to the teachings of Islam for a devout Muslim?
Tom
He that is soon angry, is like a city left without defences.
King Solomon
>>How many Americans, does anyone think, would join the Taliban and fight against the American army?<<
Apparently there is always somebody willing to do so, unfortunately. And in some instances, like what happened at Fort Hood the other day, it results in the murder of innocent people.
LINK
We may find out. A Hispanic, probably Catholic, opened fire in a highrise office building in Orlando Florida..but our cops down here have no problem killing people so he is dead. IF he was Catholic it will come out and be part of this. But his motive was losing his job. He was clear about that.
Anna
<<..This is a very sad day. >>
It is indeed sad to-day, but also on many other occasions and in many other locations.
We can speculate as to what happened, and what 'reasons' were behind those terrible actions, but wars by themselves bring insanity to many. The investigations will have to find out the truth of the events and motivations, if any.
There seem to have been a few indications of developing problems which were not taken care of. On the other hand, it also seems that much behaviour was quite normal.
There are Muslims in many different occupations, some in the armed forces of Western countries. They deserve to serve their countries, and at the same time hold their beliefs and have the same respect shown them as any citizen of their country should have.
In these difficult times, I urge all Muslims - humbly beg all Muslims - who are troubled in their lives and in their communities - to seek help and advice when needed, to pray more than fight, and to seek the peaceful ways which are much better for everyone. Think of your families, your friends, and the future for all that we are trying to make.
If you see your brother or sister or someone else in trouble, and going astray, by all means try to help them, reason with them, and get them help if you can do so. Challenge them if they have a bad understanding of things, and lead them to have a better understanding.
Killing and injuring people cannot be the way towards a peaceful and beautiful future. Violence only brings more violence, chaos and destruction.
Peace - yes, sometimes through careful strength - must be what we are all trying to achieve.
Insh'Allah, we must join in a peaceful mission towards this better future.
Ibrahim Ghana
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>>What a horrible tragedy. 13 dead and thirty more wounded. 1 sick and deranged psychiatrist also injured who shouted, "Allahu Akbar" before committing this atrocity<<
Unless there's been confirmation on this since this morning, that claim appears to have been a rumor.
Remember the basic rule of news and truth.
First story bears little relation to the truth, except in things like body counts..
Second story is a little closer to the truth, but still riddled with errors.
Only by the time you get to the third or fourth iteration do you begin to get the facts on what actually happened
My peeve tonight is that stupid line that CBS was running across the bottom all morning, "Base Under Siege."
Apparently the moron who wrote it (probably a laid-off headline writer) hasn't the foggiest notion of what a siege is.
The method of "postulating" what we want has many advantages; they are the same as the advantages of theft over honest toil.Bertrand Russell
IF he was Catholic it will come out and be part of this
No. If he is Catholic, then it will be reasoned that he's just a nut job. Catholics don't do stuff like Muslums,<s>
Very good article about that in today's AP news. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091107/ap_on_re/us_rel_fort_hood_shooting_muslims
"This is no way a reflection of Islam any more than Timothy McVeigh's actions are a reflection of Christianity,"
Dave
Well,..he was a psychiatrist..that must have some bearing on this. People think shrinks are crazy..
....and as I said where I live Catholics, especially church going Catholics, are looked on with suspicion because people have long memories and actually believe what their Grandparents told them about "people who worship statues and bellieve that communion is actually the blood and flesh of Jesus. Why that is cannibalism. And they are all loyal the Pope not America. " I _hear_ this thinking in this Century.
When I first moved down here I over heard a couple of old farmers "Well if their fancy church just happens to burn down, do you think that will run them Cath-O-lics off. They aint got no business 'round here with God fearing folks anyway."
Made me see the South in a whole different light. I was sort of prepared for the racial double standard. but this exchange made me blink.
Yet Lousiana is heavily Catholic. Menton that and the RedNecks retort "tell them to move back there." Anna
>>Well,..he was a psychiatrist..that must have some bearing on this. People think shrinks are crazy..<<
A common stereotype. As a class, psychiatrists are probably better adjusted than most. However, when one does go awry, the availability heuristic kicks in and it becomes memorable.
I believe he was born and raised in a suburb of my town, Roanoke Virginia, the suburb being Vinton, Virginia.
His parents owned a number of businesses. They are as shocked as anybody else.
Attempts to elicit memories of this man from former school teachers and school mates reveal a very unmemorable young man. Most people can remember going to school with him, but can't remember anything about him.
A person doesn't become a psychiatrist without a certain amount of intellect determination and discipline.
This mystery may never be solved.
Caroline
TM>>How many Americans, does anyone think, would join the Taliban and fight against the American army?<<
>>Apparently there is always somebody willing to do so, unfortunately. And in some instances, like what happened at Fort Hood the other day, it results in the murder of innocent people.<<
I am familiar with the case of Johnny Walker. But my question was to get you to realise that not many people, and particularly people with a strong a faith, such as Muslims, are likely to willing fight and kill fellow members of their faith.
Someone in the US military should understand how strong these people feel about their faith, and not just assume that because they are born in the US, they will be integrated into the US culture and fight against their own people. The same misguided idea is often trotted out over here in the UK, to prevent a violent backlash from the ordinary citizen who believe that Muslims can never be trusted, even if they all don't resort to violence!
George,
>> Some reports say his parents were from Palestine; others, from Jordan. Do you know the truth? <<
My impression is that his parents are of Palestinian descent from Jordan. He was born here in the States, though.
>> He was being posted to one of the wars in Muslim countries and hated the idea. <<
Afghanistan. He had been dealing with patients who returned back from the war and was horrified from their personal accounts.
