Excellent Article By Ray Hanania

[KharmaTrain]

Here's a great perspective on the Ft. Hood tragedy from an American Arab...

http://www.swnewsherald.com/online_content/2009/11/110609rh_forthood.php

Hasan, like most Arabs, opposed the war in Iraq. That's clear from his repeated actions to protest his assignment there. Was he being targeted by superiors who hate Arabs the way Bush and Cheney hated Arabs to justify an unjustified war in Iraq?

Major Hasan's conduct is criminal. It is appalling. He is alleged to be the gunman and subject to criminal prosecution, he should be punished for his alleged actions in taking the lives of 13 innocent Americans and injuring 30 more.

His conduct does not represent in any way Arabs who live in America like myself or others. We are patriotic and have served this country in the military with honor and distinction and even without regard for our own personal dislikes for the wars we have been thrust into fighting or supporting.

Discuss...

[cali]

1. suggesting that Hasan was being sent to Afghanistan

by superiors who hate him, without any evidence at all, and comparing those superiors to Cheney and bush, and yeah, that's what the author is doing, is just yucky. Oh, and perhaps it's best not to join the military if you don't want to support their wars.

[KharmaTrain]

2. We'll See Where The Evidence Leads...

Unfortunately people, especially the corporate media, have rush to judgement. One would think that if Hasan were such a threat, he would have been discharged or never promoted. This isn't a cut and dried situation...and it's all "yucky". So should the military prevent anyone with an Arabic heritage or believer in Islam from serving? As I state, this is a different perspective on what happened...from a man who not only is an Arab-American but also served in the military.

Cheers...

[cali]

3. Oh, I don't know. I mean about his being discharged

I don't see his being Muslim as having much to do with it. It's that he was evidently a very disturbed individual. And of course the military shouldn't prevent someone of Arabic heritage or who is Muslim from serving. The idea is utterly repulsive and I said NOTHING to spur you to ask me such a question. Thanks for the ugly insinuation that I'm a bigot.

Oh yeah, cheers.

[KharmaTrain]

4. No Insinuation At All...

I don't launch ad hominem attacks...and my anger is directed at those who try to put labels on a tragedy. You are correct that Hasan was deeply disturbed and somehow slipped through the cracks of the military system until he snapped. It's the corporate media that I direct much of my anger as they put the labels out there and it become the meme. My question was a rhetorical one...and please don't take it as being directed at you. We've had many fine discussion here and I appologize if my frustration has boiled over this morning...the whole incident is sickening and tragic.

Guess time for me to go back into lurk mode...it's too nice of a day to waste on angsting around here...

[madrchsod]

5. do`t waste the day here!

we have to take advantage of this fine weather. after the last month this seems like spring again. out here in the corn fields it`s been the coolest and wettest fall since the early 40`s. most of the corn fields still have`t been picked and the corn has high moisture...it`s going to be interesting what the commodity prices are going to be and how much natural gas will be used to dry the corn....

[KharmaTrain]

6. I Saw Fields Still Not Harvested...

My kids are coming up from rural downstate later today...I'll ask about how things are going down there. What a contrast to the last couple years when some areas suffered drought.

The temp here is supposed to be 67...gonna head to the nearby Forest Preserve one last time for the year. This year has been strange indeed...but this Fall has been a pleasant surprise.

I usually play on here in the morning with my cup of coffee and going through the blogs...then it's off to the real world. I do lurk throughout the day...but life's too short to sit around and play on message boards.

Enjoy your weekend as well...and Go Bears (even though I expect them to lose).

:hi: