Arabs in Military Try to Rise Above Massacre -- Sphere News »
Posted By TimALoftis 2 weeks ago in ReligionWASHINGTON (Nov. 6) -- The shooting rampage at Fort Hood could make life noticeably more difficult for Arabs and Muslims serving in the U.S. military.
The Pentagon says there are 3,546 self-identified Muslims in the military. Muslim groups say there as as many as 15,000 because many list no religious preference in their records. Hasan is among nearly 300,000 of 1.4 million active-duty service members who didn't list a religion.
Ray Hanania, a Chicago radio talk show host and co-founder of the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military, condemned Hasan's alleged actions as the work of a troubled individual. But he said many Arab-American and Muslim service members can tell stories of prejudice in the ranks.
"There are jokes about Arabs," said Hanania, who is Christian. "Or someone saying, 'Why did your people attack us?' Or it's a lack of knowledge about Islam. Do you guys believe in a different God? Or, 'If we go to war, can I really count on you stand with me?' I don't think everybody gets those questions."
Former Army Capt. James Yee, who served as Muslim Army chaplain at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, said harassment can take a toll on Muslim service members. Yee himself was accused of espionage in 2003 and spent 76 days in solitary confinement in a Navy brig before all charges were dropped.
"There is absolutely no excuse justifying the criminal actions" at Fort Hood," he said. "But the military also needs to better address racial, religious and gender harassment issues. They all do occur much more than is ever reported. That I know from firsthand experience as a chaplain who often dealt with these issues from soldiers, as well as experiencing it for myself."
Life in the military has been tough for those with Middle Eastern backgrounds for years, says James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. "In every war, the enemy 'gets generalized,'" he said. "We did it with the Hun and gook and Japs and now it's hajis and rag heads. It is hard but it's a special tribute to these young men and women that they're able to weather that and continue to serve with distinction."
When Colin Powell went on "Meet the Press" to endorse Barack Obama for president amid Internet rumors that the candidate was a Muslim, he noted a photo of a mother grieving in Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60, final resting place for the dead from Iraq and Afghanistan. She clutched a grave marker that "had a crescent and star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan," said Powell, the first African-American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "And he was an American."
Despite Thursday's attack, Arab-American and Muslim soldiers are likely to remain in high demand as language and cultural translators in both war zones.
Read Full Story at sphere.com »
52 Views Share Story 8 Comments Report
Submitted By:
TimALoftis
A Proud And Dedicated Member Of The Propeller Community. If You Like Social News, Join Us For A Mature And Intelligent Discussion On The Latest ...
Who Also Submitted:
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentComments So Far: 8 (view all)
-
-
0%
alanocu1 week, 6 days ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
How about we devote our attention to the family and friends of the American patriots who were murdered in cold blood by a radicalized Muslim. I realize that liberals could give a rat's a$$ about the victims of this horror, but try and find it in yourself. Try and imagine your own spouse or child being gunned down, and they'll we'll tell you to "rise above" the massacre.
Reply -
100%
Justice4All1 week, 6 days ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
The concerns are valid. We have already seen posts on Propeller from the usual racist zionists trying to portray all Muslims as racists.
Reply
Thousands of Muslims have spoken out against this sensless violence yet we see posts from the usual ilk dealing with comments, generqlly fabricated, to portray all Muslims as supporting this kind of violence.-
50%
Edmar141 week, 6 days ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Historically, Muslims are racists. Mohammed was a documented racist, as were his followers. Just read the history of the region after they conquered it. Muslims have never raised their non-Muslim citizens to the same class level as themselves. Non Muslims have always been held to the standard of second and third class citizens. Women, well, do we need to debate that inequity? Shia and Sunni hatred is racist even within the same religion. Today, there are 55 Muslim dominated countries in the world and not one gives equal rights to their non-Muslim citizens still. Is that racism? I guess it all depends on how you define racism and on which side of the fence you are sitting. Certainly didn't work in Lebanon with the Christians, or in Iran or Iraq or Turkey with the Kurds. Non Muslims aren't even allowed in Mecca. Jews can't pray on the temple mount. Jews aren't allowed into many Muslim countries, nor can they own land or live there. Which Muslim countries give equality to Christians? If I'm wrong, please show me when and where non-Muslims were elevated to the same social status as Muslims and in which Muslim country all citizens share equal rights. Come on Justice, for once prove me wrong. I don't think it is a Zionist racist statement. I think it's just plain fact. I don't believe for a second that all Muslims support the violence at Fort Hood, but I am just responding directly to allegations in your post. Not to this article. Now, prove me wrong and be specific.
Reply
-
-
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.