Fort Hood Tragedy

November 6, 2009 on 11:36 am | In Politics | Comments Off

 

Following the shooting at Fort Hood yesterday, there was discussion of the incident on Colorado’s 50,000-watt 850-AM KOA radio station (heard in 38 states and in Canada and Mexico). 
A number of callers put forth their speculations of the accused shooter – how he was able to accomplish so much violence and what his possible motive might have been. 
When one caller condemned the accused shooter as a “coward” who “didn’t want to do his job,” I decided to call in to share my perspective.  I found it disgusting that one would use these tragic murders to express unquestioning “patriotism” and support for the U.S. government military actions.
The “thing to focus on” is not, I believe, as a previous caller had stated that the man doesn’t want “to do his job” and is thus a “coward.” The focus for all Americans is to ask “Why?”  Why did this soldier, obviously a good military man who reached the rank of Major, apparently “snap” and express such violent rage?  What is causing our military men and women to have high incidences of suicide, domestic abuse, other violent or disturbed behaviors and divorce?  Why are we seeing so many disturbances?  Perhaps, I said, it is due to effects from our insane foreign policy. 

Think about this military psychiatrist and all the horror stories, the post traumatic stress disorders, he has encountered in his work…being placed in a system which forces him to do something perhaps he felt was wrong…which he disagreed with, and to which he didn’t want to subject himself again…perhaps feeling enraged and trapped in such a system caused a sad horrible reaction.  Whatever the rationale may have been in no way justifies murder, but what may have brought him to such a desperate point should be thought about.

It’s speculation at this point, but addressing the causation of what may have led the man to such a deplorable sad violent act would be far more productive than simply condemning him as a “coward” and propping up the government and its military actions worldwide by saying the man “didn’t want to do his job.” 

It’s time we as a nation question the reasons behind this sort of violence, and that questioning must address the foreign policy we have which is obviously subjecting our military to a degree of stress we haven’t witnessed before. 

Mine was the only voice with that perspective, and I and the host had a heated exchange after my initial comments. 

The host objected to my reference to our “insane foreign policy” and accused me of giving the shooter an “alibi,” to which I simply said, no, I do not excuse such a horrible evil murderous act, that evil does not justify evil, that such murders are not justified, but I do believe it’s important we examine the reasons which could lead a man to this degree of disturbance.  To seek what might have caused such a reaction is not to excuse it.

I was then irrationally criticized by a subsequent caller for not having appreciation for the right I have to speak as a woman when I wouldn’t be allowed to talk that way “under Sharia law”   Such irrational reactions I expect, but was pleased to have had the opportunity to raise the question we should be addressing as a people for the many listeners to the radio show.

Cause and effect must be considered. But

herd mentality doesn’t even want to consider that our government’s foreign policy might be causing psychological problems among our military; herd mentality simply waves the flag in a “my country right or wrong” platitude. 
Prideful statements of  “patriotism” were sentiments I heard repeatedly on other shows as well as throughout the night, along with all sorts of strange references to terrorists’ plots, Al-Qaeda, and Muslims. 
All too often, Americans permit emotionalism to cloud their judgment.  They let their sorrow, sadness, and outrage disintegrate into vindictiveness, hatred, and even pride in their not having committed such a violent act.  Many take pride in having “served their country” and eagerly condemn and dismiss the disturbed actions of a fellow soldier when, more than anything, such behavior should cause the military itself to examine the situation.
An incident as this sure exposes the degree of the sad pathetic state of lack of critical thought among the American people. I guess it’s easier to judge and condemn another rather than logically and rationally examine what the root cause of such violent disturbing behavior among our returning soldiers might be.

As I said in my call, something is terribly wrong when we see such incidents as this. 

(My approx. 5 minute phone call may be heard at the 850 KOA website:  visit the 11-5-09 6PM listing on The Ride Home show page, “the discussion on the mass shooting at Fort Hood continues” segment.  My call begins at approximately the 18-minute mark.)

 

 

 

 

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