Thursday, November 5, 2009

A Sad day for for the Armed Forces

Today I was shocked to discover that 12 soldiers were killed in dual shootings at the Fort Hood army base in Texas. One shooter was killed while two other suspects were recently caught. For a more detailed depiction of what occurred, I embedded a link in my title.
When I hear news like this, I shiver. I may be against war but the soldiers who fight for this country should never be targeted by hate crimes like this if this even is a hate crime at all. The shooter's motives were not revealed but whatever they are I am certain that they were not just causes.
What should be done to prevent further shootings like this? Was this a political statement? Was it more personal? What do you think of this travesty?

9 comments:

Justine Roscoe said...
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Justine Roscoe said...
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Emily said...

This is so horrible. Men are sacrificing their lives in order to serve their country and U.S. citizens. And yet people like Nidal Malik Hasan go crazy and have a shooting rampage. I think its more personal because the article mentioned he was an eight year veteran? A bad flashback of fighting got to him and he decided to retaliate these emotions by killing maybe? So...Nidal Malik Hasan has been identified but not found? I hope he is found and questioned to find out his motives for this.
-Emily Niemann

Esther A. said...

According to updates (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/reports-of-mass-shooting-at-fort-hood/?hp), it looks like there was a single shooter and that he was a military psychiatrist who "had recently expressed deep concerns about being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan" and had been the victim of harassment from his "military colleagues." Though I'm sure the reason for the shooting isn't this simple, it looks to me like he was terrified of having to go to war, wasn't getting the support he needed from the people at his base, and, unfortunately, reacted violently.

And on the topic of hate crimes against military personnel, I agree with you, Seth; whether or not one agrees with the war, those who decide to fight to support the country ought to be respected.
-Esther A

Amos Yan said...

Wow..and to think that the military was originally thought to build character, not tear it down.

Its not shootings though, there have been plenty of accounts of murder in the military. I do believe there was a couple who had an affair during their time in the military. Later the guy kills his girlfriend when she told him she was pregnant and dragged her body off somewhere in the woods. Creepy.

Emily said...

Woah...that is really scary. x_x

char.tay. said...

I really do believe that its a shame when news like this gets reported. Families who have to say goodbye to their loved ones before he/she goes on his/her mission would definitely feel more nerved at crimes like this occuring here, in the US. the US of all places. But i think that the military/government should have a system or something that can emphasize the importance of being healthy physically as well as mentally and whether or not individuals who have signed up or been drafted to be in the military, be evaluated and cleared for combat. Truly what has happened today is tragic and my prayers are with those families/loved ones who have lost a loved one today.

Serena said...

I feel really bad for the soldiers. I agree with Charlotte. The government should have a system to protect those who have been drafted into the military. They deserve this protection and respect. This way, it can also be safer for them and their families can be more comfortable knowing they are somewhat safer out there. This is really tragic.

devin_yan said...

As Esther said the updates do show that it was only one shooter, This is an example of what war can do to a person. In his case he did not get the proper acknowledgement from other and reacted in a violent way