The attack at Fort Hood has inspired almost visceral reactions around the world, potentially leading some to say things that are illogical at their core.<\/p>\n
The New York Times<\/em> has said the attack “complicated” the service of Muslims<\/a> in the military.\u00a0\u00a0Bryan Fischer, who lists his title as the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, posted a blog on the AFA website entitled “No More Muslims in the US\u00a0Military<\/a>,” suggesting that Muslims be banned until they can “prove” they are not “jihadis” and threats to national security.<\/p>\n Fischer’s assertions are absurd, and they contravene the protections of the US Constitution and the heart of Christianity.\u00a0 In addition, the AFA is a Christian organization (which ostensibly focuses on family\u00a0issues<\/a> unrelated to religion in the military), and Fischer appears to miss the fact that the very course of action he suggests be taken against believers in Islam could also be taken against believers in Christianity.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, one of the “warning signs” emerging from Hasan’s tale was the fact that he said he was a “Muslim first and an American second<\/a>.”\u00a0 That paradigm is not far removed from those Christians who say their priorities are God and country, in that order.\u00a0 Christians in the military have already<\/em> been called traitors for those beliefs.\u00a0 Legitimizing discrimination against Muslims would only add fuel to the fire of those who have long desired to take the same actions against Christians.<\/p>\n Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s actions have increased the scrutiny on all<\/em> religion in the military, not just Islam.<\/p>\n Fischer also takes issue with politically correct notions that claim that all religions and cultures are equally valid and true.\u00a0 That is certainly a valid concern, but the heart of\u00a0American liberties is the freedom to believe as one chooses.\u00a0 That doesn’t mean everyone has to agree, nor does it mean that one has to support an ideology with which he disagrees.\u00a0 It does mean, however, that those differing ideologies are free to coexist.<\/p>\n In fairness to the AFA, there is another blog on their site in which the author is “repulsed” by the suggestion that Muslims be banned<\/a> from military service.\u00a0 It would appear that the authors are not describing the official position of the AFA.<\/p>\n In the continuing\u00a0investigation into the massacre, information has begun to emerge that Hasan may have had contact with a radical imam<\/a> who once lived in the US but is now in Yemen.\u00a0 That same imam has praised Hasan’s actions<\/a>, and said that<\/p>\n American Muslims who condemned the attacks on the Texas military base last week are hypocrites who have committed treason against their religion.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n