***On Thursday 13 American Soldiers were killed and another 30 wounded at a horrific mass shooting at a US Army installation, Ft Hood Texas . As I watched in horror and then anger I recalled my two years of final service in the Army as a Battalion Commander at Ft Hood, 2002-2004.
My wife and two daughters were stunned at the incident having lived on the post in family housing. A military installation, whether it is Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, or Coast Guard, is supposed to be a safe sanctuary for our Warriors and their families. It is intended to provide a home whereby our “Band of Brothers and Sisters” can find solace and bond beyond just the foxhole but as family units. A military installation is supposed to be a place where our Warriors train for war, to serve and protect our Nation.
On Thursday, 5 November 2009 Ft Hood became a part of the battlefield in the war against Islamic totalitarianism and state sponsored terrorism.
here may be those who feel threatened by my words and would even recommend they not be uttered. To those individuals I say step aside because now is not the time for cowardice. Our Country has become so paralyzed by political correctness that we have allowed a vile and determined enemy to breach what should be the safest place in America , an Army post.
We have become so politically correct that our media is more concerned about the stress of the shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The misplaced benevolence intending to portray him as a victim is despicable.
***the above is a portion of the comments made by the former battalion commander and prompted my remarks to follow.
The dilemma that I face personally is that I want an open society but I am afraid that we can no longer have it. PC and labels like liberal and conservative will no longer do. We have to put the security of the country ahead of political idealogies. Unfortunately, those like myself or as I see it, those who are open about things have to accept that it no longer can be.
Here’s one of the things I’m thinking and maybe the only positive that comes from this unfathonable tragedy: the shooter at Fort Hood, being alive and because of the military system, when found guilty and sentenced to death will be at Leavenworth prison for years but we will be forced to deal with what he has done because it was a terrorist act. Eventually, as a country we might be forced to face our future and consequently have to give up some of the freedoms we have known in the past. Like what? I don’t know but when 9-11 happened, I said (not original with me and no great insight) this has changed life in America and will affect us forever. And, it will and it has. Consequently, in the past, I would have shrugged off Col West’s comments whereas now, I am thinking about it differently. I would vote for Col West in a millisecond (he is running for congress in Florida). My seminary professor, Dr. Boyce said once that “man has a great capacity to change and to change his views.” Rarely does that happen but I’m giving it a shot. God bless us.