Opinion : Fort Hood killings don't reflect military norm - Frontiersman

Fort Hood killings don't reflect military norm


Published on Sunday, November 8, 2009 1:04 PM AKST

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 people — 12 of them soldiers — and wounded 28 in a rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, this past week. The shootings took place in an area of the fort where military people were getting ready to transport to war zones or were there after returning from war zones.

Apparently the major didn’t want to go to war.

Perhaps there are some naive youngsters who look forward to facing battle because they aren’t aware of its toll, but most people probably wouldn’t look forward to facing war’s dangers. But they go anyway. They do their jobs and hope to come out of it alive.

Maj. Hasan denied 12 soldiers their duty and they died anyway.

In incidents like this, the question is always: Why not just kill yourself and let others live out their lives?

It’s somewhat amazing, perhaps, with all the weapons available to military personnel that this kind of thing doesn’t happen more often. The reason it doesn’t is because people committed to the modern military have an honor about them that wouldn’t allow them to kill without provocation.

Today’s military may be the best since World War II simply because they want to be where they are, serving their nation in war and peace.

For those old enough to remember the Vietnam War, lots of people in that long-running campaign didn’t want to be there. They were drafted. What resulted were some tragedies. “Fragging” came into our lexicon when soldiers would throw grenades into officer’s tents. The My Lai massacre was committed by men led by a guy with no scruples.

Those men and those incidents certainly didn’t define the military then any more than Maj. Hasan defines the military of today.

What he did do is reinforce the notion that soldiers, sailors and airmen don’t always die in combat. They die while training. They die like some of us — car wrecks, heart attacks, disease. Or they die because somebody goes crazy.

The difference, though, between soldiers, sailors and airmen and the rest of us? They know when they put on the uniform they are committed to going into harm’s way if ordered.

That’s why we should attend one of the Veteran’s Day events this coming week. Those events recognize the people who chose the right path. They didn’t choose the path of cowardice as did Maj. Hasan.

Copyright © 2010 Frontiersman

Comments

27 comment(s)

    debra wrote on Nov 15, 2009 1:04 PM:

    " How many more people are in our military sent to do the same thing. murder our servicemen. if you don't agree your an idiot! The terrorist said they were going to destroy us from within. And they are. 911, the crash of our economy, the bail outs orcastrated by our president, hmmm, now the health reform that will eat us up in taxes. what's this I hear about obama wanting to give muslims a place of their own in the middle of our country, this man is the anti christ! "

    debra wrote on Nov 15, 2009 12:45 PM:

    " Gary Grandy you are exactly right! This is so obvious. What is a muslim doing in our military giving advise to our soldiers. somone better do some looking into just what he's been doing in his job. we are fat dumb and happy lazy ignorant americans and we now have a muslim leader. what did this terrorist say, "I am a muslim first and an american second" Obama probably says the same thing! Wake up people. We are close to being done! "

    I choose wrote on Nov 13, 2009 3:51 PM:

    " Money from the VA? You're assuming that I'm a veteran? Interesting. No, I'm just trying to fit in with the rest of the country...blindly accepting that if we keep using the word "tolerance" and talk about giving the world apologies and hugs, well by golly those swell folks in the Middle East (and other countries) will abruptly ignore thier own religion and stop trying to inflict death and fear upon the rest of the world. Now if we could just get Israel to accept Palestine's democratically-elected terrorist government.... "

    Endeavor wrote on Nov 13, 2009 11:53 AM:

    " I'm told that its just a "few" Muslims that ruin it for the rest. Amazing since those "few" manage to fill streets by the thousands in so many countries chanting "Death to the USA" and such. Those "few" that looked surprisingly like sizeable thousands, in many countries, celebrating the attacks on 9/11. Those "few" that seem to always be behind nearly every terrorist attack around the globe, week in and week out. "

    To I Choose wrote on Nov 13, 2009 11:17 AM:

    " Are you trying to get money from the VA for being mentally unfit? You are entitled to your opinions. I do respect them. However, you might want to practice your dialogue skills. "

    I choose wrote on Nov 12, 2009 11:00 PM:

    " I choose to sit down with a big, happy, dumb grin and sing peace songs and give hugs while a large group of people on this planet plot to convert or kill the rest of it. I'm happy in my ignorance, because I've been taught since childhood that blind ignorance in the name of politically correct thought is best. To wake up and acknowledge the obvious would hurt my head. While I'm at it, I'll label those that recognize blood-thirsty killers for what they are as being full of 'hate'. "

    Tolerance is a Civic Duty wrote on Nov 12, 2009 7:10 PM:

    " You seem to have a lot of pent up anger. With time, maybe you will realize that it will only affect your health and mental well being. As a veteran, I will try to practice the tolerance that our early colonies maintained. It is my civic duty. I choose not to practice religious intolerance and the spreading of hate. I choose not to demonstrate the very traits that terrorists use to justify their murder and carnage. "

    Power Wagon wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:49 PM:

    " read the Koran. Tells you everything you need to know about what a warm and fuzzy view they have. Start with the word "Islam" which means "Submit". Its ironic to see the PC heads bobbing away mindlessly, as always, blathering for tolerance and peace regarding a large group on this planet that demands that these same people either convert or die. Lecturing others to "read" and "do research" about a religion they clearly know nothing about. A book they have obviously never read. "

    Your Logic Doesnt Work wrote on Nov 11, 2009 6:51 PM:

    " Thanks for admitting that. These are the ignorant comments that I was refering to. Why don't you get on a plane and visit places other than war zones where Muslims are living. With an open mind, you might learn something but then again.... "

    Those Who Cast the First Stone wrote on Nov 11, 2009 6:44 PM:

    " Definately Ignorance at it's finest. You might like to read today's Anchorage Daily News article written by a former Fighter Pilot, "There is no greater advocate of peace than a soldier." Veterans Day honors those who made the sacrifice and came home changed because they witnessed the effects of hatred and intolerance and realize that we should do every thing that we can to avoid war. That goes for both sides! "

    watcher wrote on Nov 11, 2009 3:54 PM:

    " Yes! Shame on you folks full of 'hate'! Just because nearly every terrorist act committed throughout the world during the last 30 years has been done by Muslims is no reason to think that most terrorist acts are done my Muslims! Or that Islam preaches hate and encourages such things! Its all coincidence! Shame on you for using logic and acknowledging the obvious! "

    Littlebird wrote on Nov 11, 2009 11:45 AM:

    " I served in both Iraq wars. I met several local people there that were happy with what we were doing. But I also saw that, big picture view, thier religion is not one of tolerance. The number of Muslims that believe thier religion commands them to wipe governments and other religions off the map were definitely in the majority. Mr. "Spreading Hate" encourages others to 'do research'. I would recommend that he follows his own advice and starts by reading the Koran. "

    sharpie wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:47 PM:

    " Good question! And the answer is.... YES! I did 4 3-month tours in Iraq and saw PLENTY to validate everything I've ever said or read! Never saw an "evil few" though. Nope...I saw a large group of people that follow a religion that doesn't subsribe to "live and let-live" or tolerance of other religions. The 'few' that I saw were those that seemed to prefer peace.

    So your assumption fell flat, my friend! LOL! "

    Palmer Farm wrote on Nov 10, 2009 3:14 PM:

    " Nice try with a "gotcha", but unfortunately I did my time in Bosnia, Kosovo AND the Middle East and saw plenty to back up what I've also read. Maybe Oprah, MSNBC or any other happy-go-lucky media outlet is happy skewering the truth in the name of "let's all get along" but the truth was (and is) pretty evident (want to compare terrorist acts for the last several decades?) Those others that you speak of that are being attacked? Yeah, those are the ones that aren't doing enough killing and such to make the traditionalists happy. Try again. "

    Spreading Hate just like Terrorists wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:46 AM:

    " To Palmer Farm and Sharpie,

    One question, have you ever served with the military in the Middle East? If you had you would have seen that innocent Muslims are being murdered by the evil few. Islamic terrorists don't just kill Christians. Can you explain your logic now? But believe what you want, after all you probably haven't done any research or service past the comfort of your television set in the safe, beautiful Mat Valley. "

    This is the UNIITED STATES Of Americ wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:17 AM:

    " I say take your constitutional rights to bear ARMS. This does not mean that we are to protect our country as much as it give us the constitutional right to protect OURSEVLVES against those foreign and domestic. The time has come. If you are a real AMERICAN..........get your arms and be ready. This kind of crap is just the beginning of what is to come. Gather your arms................................be ready. Their are plenty of us to support each other...............I say bring it on....................I really don't want this but I have children to protect......bring.......it................on...........we're.............ready...........bring...........it..............on................ "

    sharpie wrote on Nov 9, 2009 3:21 PM:

    " To those that choose their views on Islam according to what those few that tell us it's a "religion of peace" and such; read the Koran. In addition, read "Islam and Terrorism" by the man that used to be one of the head professors at the world's largest muslim university in Egypt. The Koran, like The Bible, has two books. The peaceful passages come from the 1st book. But they preach that when there's a contradiction, to go off what is more current. And the entire 2nd half is full of death, murder etc. "

    Palmer Farm wrote on Nov 9, 2009 12:53 PM:

    " I wonder how long this country will continue to bury its head in the sand of political correctness before it admits the obvious: Islam is the problem. We're so scared to offend anybody or recognize the problem with this group of people because of the 'religion' word that we actually help thier cause. They know it, and they exploit it.

    I don't care if you classify it as a cult, religion or whatever...they're nuts and they want us dead! There's a war going on and we refuse to realize it. "

    Lets be better than this. wrote on Nov 9, 2009 12:00 PM:

    " Ghandi, Martin Luther King...Jesus....How would they handle this? Or do you have intolerant views of these few at well? Like it or not, even during WWII, we interned 2nd and 3rd generation Americans who were in the military in concentration (OOps, internment camps) How did these people feel? The man was evil, crazy ect. I only hope what pushed him over the line, was not ignorant, biggoted comments which I heard quite often in the military as well as in our general public. Let's be better than they are. "

    to Oops wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:48 AM:

    " It was not the gun, it was the ISLAMIST JIHADIST TERRORIST who would have used any method at his disposal to KILL INFEDALS. Our military has been infiltrated by a foreign ideology aided by apologists Obama and his Army Chief of Staff. Disgusting at the least. "

    Cold blooded..... wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:25 PM:

    " Hasan has ties to the same mosque as the 9/11 murdering terrorists.Which in my opinion makes him a cold blooded murdering terrorist. Yet the media continues to twist this into some kind of politically correct BS. I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions though, as advised by Barack Husein Obama, my president and the commander in chief of the military. Like Lt Col Ralph Peters said of Hasan's deed and the way the media has portrayed it, "It makes me want to puke." I couldn't agree more. "

    We are better than this. wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:10 PM:

    " Intolerance is a trait of terrorists. Let’s not do the same by classifying groups and labeling them. When does your intolerance step over the line? This attitude is the foundation for more severe behaviors in the future.

    An evil, selfish attack on our troops. Absolutely! The rapist back east. Do we headline him a Christian Serial Rapist? I doubt it. Two evil acts, what's the difference? Please don't spread more hate in the world. There is already quite enough. "

    Come on wrote on Nov 8, 2009 3:17 PM:

    " Let see,

    For one I don't give a crap what his religion is, the guy is nuts simple as that. It had nothing to do with not wanting to serve, he obviously thought he was serving a purpose by killing American soldiers. There are all kinds of crazies in the world, and not much can be done to prevent these sorts of things whether it's dometic or not.

    And Oops,
    Are you for real? You can't go out and buy a gun? Of course you can. Everyone here has guns. Gun control doesn't come into play at all. "

    Oops wrote on Nov 8, 2009 1:07 PM:

    " So when you have a "Christian" go out and kill people do you label him? stop the hate!! Our nation is for equal rights, race, religion, gender. Hasan was wrong but you can't blame Muslims.

    Where are all the 2nd Amendment voices? So was it about his beliefs but where did he get the gun? Just because you're in the military doesn't mean you can go out and purchase a gun.

    Now you see the dilema!! was it a gun right or religious right? "

    Patriot wrote on Nov 8, 2009 11:34 AM:

    " We had our share of cowards during the Vietnam war too, they were called "Draft Doggers," Our military has been infiltrated by Islamic Extremists because we no longer have a draft, hence those who are on their 4th and 5th tours. What happened at Ft. Hood was an act of terrorism, committed by an Islamic Extremist and I for one am sick of those who would try to offer up reasons for his behavior. He chose to execute unarmed Americans! For those of you who don't get it, it's time you whisky tango foxtrot up. "

    WulfslÃd wrote on Nov 8, 2009 10:21 AM:

    " Thank you Captain Obvious! "

    Gary Grandy wrote on Nov 8, 2009 4:28 AM:

    " Why can't we admit the truth. This was a terrorist attack by a Muslim.
    We fat, dumb and happy Americans are watching our country be destroyed.by our politicians and media. "

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