|
A time to mourn, not for a debate
By Heber Taylor
The Daily News
Published November 7, 2009
If Americans are kind to themselves, and to each other, they will give themselves time to mourn for those who died in the tragedy at Fort Hood.
But, because the soldier accused in the killing, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is a Muslim of Palestinian heritage, the debate about whether people of one kind can be integrated into the American military, and hence into American society, began before flags could be lowered to half-staff.
It’s a debate that should have been settled long ago.
The fact that this tragedy is being described as the worst mass shooting on an American military base ought to remind us that there have been other similar tragedies.
If you pull any one of those tragic cases out of the file, you will see that many people grieved for victims. Some people expressed sorrow for those who lost their way and did the unthinkable. Many came to a realization that those who serve in the military endure enormous pressures for the public good. Some acknowledged that human beings sometimes break under that pressure.
On Oct. 27, 1995, a disturbed soldier opened fire on a small unit in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. One soldier was killed and 18 were wounded.
Sgt. William J. Kreutzer Jr. was sentenced to life in prison.
Because his name was Kreutzer, rather than Hasan, there was no debate about whether one group of people could serve with others in the Armed Forces. But we’ve had that debate before.
Those who have served in the Armed Forces, and who know its history, know that we’ve had that debate more or less continuously. We’ve debated, at one time or another, whether people of African, Mexican, Irish, German and Japanese descent could serve. The answer was provided by actions — by dedication, courage and valor — rather than by words.
We should put this old debate to bed.
We should lower our flags and mourn.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter |
65
Comments
|
|
|
