Imagination in Media

As the news is revealed today that Major Hasan, the shooter of the Fort Hood shootings, was in contact with a radical cleric in Yemen, it causes the reader to think. For instance, how would this feel as a Muslim member of the military?

Here are some thoughts that I may have were I in that position:

- Is this story fully investigated? Is it really warranted? After all, there have been many instances where all media sources jump on a bandwagon only to discover later that the whole story has changed.

- Is it really possible to conjecture that this was his motive? Simply because he was in contact with the cleric does not mean he was necessarily encouraged by that.

- Isn't the word "radical" a good clue that not every Muslim is like this? It seems unfair to characterize the actions of an entire religion by the radical beliefs of two men.

- Where is the counter-story? Why isn't there a story on Muslims in the military who are peaceful, American citizens who want to fight for their beloved homeland? In a situation like this, where the idea of Muslims within the military is becoming wrapped up in solely Hasan, it seems that there should be some kind of "balance."

I find the last one to be my biggest contention. As a Christian, I am aware that there is a problem of evil within the world. Hasan was an evil man who chose to act on those impulses.

However, I have no doubt that there are many Muslims who are faithfully serving in the military to serve me and keep me safe. I am so thankful for each of them, and am incredibly hesitant to only look at Hasan. Whenever there is an extremist in a situation, it seems almost necessary to remind the American people that there are many other "normal" people in the same category.