Heredity

As humans, we spend much of our lives-- particularly our young lives-- wondering (or having wondered on our behalf) who we take after. When a new baby is born, everyone asks themselves and each other: whose eyes, or nose, or dimples will she have? Whose hair color, or build, or chin will he develop? That shy smile recollects Aunt Sally's mischievous grin, and that hand gesture is so reminiscent of Uncle Phil.

And it is not just the physical, but other traits and talents, as well. Is his propensity for music related to great-uncle Herb's career as a concert cellist? Does she take after cousin Beth's natural athleticism? Will he have his grandma's artistic talent? Will she be a clown like her brother? Likewise, adopted parents get to marvel at each new characteristic as it appears, wondering where it comes from: those unusual stunning eyes, or that skill at math.

As a child, you of course never actually think you look like anyone. No matter how many times people tell you that you look like your mom, dad, cousin, grandpa, or sister, you just don't see it. Personality traits are slightly more understandable, but even with those, you tend to believe more that you are just one of a kind. But then you get older. You start to see your family members in your own photographs, and in your reflection. Things come out of your mouth, and you're a little bit horrified how much you sound like your parents or some other family memebr. As younger cousins, nieces or nephews are born, you begin to see how deep the family resemblances run. And you wonder: who do I take after more?

Then, one day, the answer strikes you: well... I guess it must be Dad.

And then you go start trying to un-superglue your hand.

A matter of perspective

This week I read an article from CNN about the alleged shooter at the Fort Hood Army base last week. After brief updates on his status, the article went into a lengthy discussion of various past incidents that may have indicated that Maj. Nidal Hasan as a "militant man" who held "extremist" views. As I was reading through the article, however, I found that 90% of the examples given did not seem to foreshadow any bloody attack such as the one that happened at Fort Hood: and in fact, if a different religion had been inserted into these stores, many Americans would have found it quite honorable.

Case 1: "Those who knew Hasan before he was a major in the Army say he was long known for militant Islamist views. Doctors who crossed paths with Hasan in medical programs paint a picture of a subpar student who wore his religious views on his sleeve... Hasan 'was clearly espousing Islamist ideology' during his time as a medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, one of his former classmates said."

First of all, there is nothing "militant" about the example given. Perhaps he did share militant Islamist views at other times-- but then, why can no one come up with an example?

Imagine a Christian student who wore his religious views on his sleeve, and clearly espoused Christian ideology to his classmates. Not only would American Christians find this kind of open faith to be admirable, but there would likely be great protest against anyone who tried to silence such expressions of faith.

Case 2: "After the shooting, Hasan's family revealed little about him, saying in media interviews that Hasan was a 'good American' and a lifelong Muslim who complained that he was harassed in the Army because of his religion. His former classmates describe a much more militant man. His presentations for school were often laced with extremist Muslim views, one source said. 'Is your allegiance to Sharia [Islamic] law or the United States?' students once challenged Hasan, the source said. 'Sharia law,' the source says Hasan responded."

Again, what are these "extremist Muslim views"? I can only assume, since it is the only example given, that this refers to the question of Maj. Hasan's reported allegiances. Um... as Christians, are we supposed to be more loyal to U.S. law than to Christ's teachings? I know, give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and all, but in the end... that's still a matter of following what God has instructed. Frankly, I find it a little disturbing that people had beef with this answer by Hasan. This wouldn't even be an issue if the question had asked "the ten commandments" instead of "Sharia law."

Case 3: "The source also recalled an instance in which Hasan was asked if the U.S. Constitution was a brilliant document, to which Hasan replied, 'No, not particularly.'"

The U.S. Constitution was apparently so incomplete when drafted that it has been amended 27 times since. Countless other amendments have been proposed. The fact that this man does not find it to be a particularly brilliant document did not, itself, indicate that he was a militant, extremist, or bad person.

Case 4: "In these presentations, which were supposed to be about health, the source said that Hasan justified suicide bombings and spoke about the persecution of Muslims in the Middle East, in the United States and in the U.S. military."

Finally! Something that is troubling! (At least part of it.) Justifying suicide bombings = not ok. Speaking about the persecution of Muslims in the Middle East, U.S., and U.S. military = is ok.

In conclusion... If this individual did shoot up the Fort Hood base, killing and injuring many (and it seems like a fairly straightforward case that he did... though it is still "allegedly," pending a trial) that is bad. I don't know if he was mentally ill, just plain evil, or some third alternative. It may be that he really was an extremist, militant Muslim and was acting based on these beliefs. But the things that people point to in this article are not indicitive of that. What they indicate is that he was a religious man-- it just happened to be a religion that was different from the other people engaged in these interactions.

When we put forth attacks like this, based on examples that could refer to any reasonable religious person, we lose credibility with people of other religions, in this country, and with the rest of the world. No wonder Hasan gave presentations on the persecution of Muslims. If someone called me a terrorist because I was open about my religious faith, that would be ridiculous. So let's not open ourselves for such ridicule. Let's take the facts for what they are, deal with this terrible tragedy and the horrible acts that brought it about, and not have to sensationalize and villify as our primary coping mechanism.

Article: Alleged Fort Hood shooter paralyzed from waist down, lawyer says