On Demand
Communities Affected by Fort Hood
Details continue to emerge about the shooting at Fort Hood. Two communities have been affected in particular: military families and Muslim-Americans. We try to find common ground. Tom Tarantino, legislative associate at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and an Army Captain who returned from Iraq in 2006, discusses how a violent incident at a military base might affect life there for military families. And Hesham El-Meligy, a Muslim-American activist from Staten Island, discusses the incident and the reaction of his community.
- About the Brian Lehrer Show »
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Tapes and Transcripts »
- Latest Episode »
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
YOU PRODUCE The Brian Lehrer Show
Be a listener-producer with facts, questions and people you'd like to hear on the air.
More
The Brian Lehrer Show Scrapbook
Visit the scrapbook for daily photos and miscellany from The Brian Lehrer Show.
More
Shop at Amazon!
The Brian Lehrer Show picks
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
More
Comments
Refresh
So just how many of these Bad Apples are there?
I contend that the biggest mass murders are generally committed in gun-free zones.
Oddly enough, it seems from what I'm hearing so far, that the public areas of Fort Hood are gun free zones. The soldiers are not allowed to carry guns.
Gun-Free Zones Copr. 2000 C.Garvey permission granted to read on air or post:
The observation tower of the Empire State Building was a gun-free zone.
The Texas Restaurant, where Suzanna Gratia-Hupp watched her parents
and 21 others executed,
while her gun sat, as required by law, in her car,
was a gun-free zone.
COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL was a gun-free zone.
Long Island Railroad 5:33 to Hicksville,
was a gun-free zone,
for all except for crazy Colin Ferguson, alone.
Hitler's Germany, for all but government Nazis,
Was a gun-free zone.
Parts of the South were gun free zones,
But only for slaves.
East Timore was a gun-free zone.
And was helpless to resist Suharto's invasion,
And 25 years of Indonesian genocide.
The 767 Flights of Nine Eleven, from Boston to the World Trade Center, were gun-free zones.
The death toll of gun-free zones:
thousands, millions, and it accrues,
Massacres at shooting ranges, gun shows:
none.
But that's not news.
..
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. This man's act has brought shame to my American Muslim community even though he appears to be a lone wolf more along the lines of the distrubed Korean man who murdered dozens at Virginia Tech. But he is still a traitor and should be punished with the utmost severity.
Great post by Chris - I salute you. Please post again and call in. Liberals have no idea about the bad consequences of their well meaning rules.
The experts agree that gun control works. Unfortunately the experts are Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Castro (the later two big favorites in the Obama admin). These experts all just happen to be mass murderers.
One of the first things the Obama admin tried to do when it took office was to control private gun ownership by members of the US military. The would be fascists immediately hit a stone wall. The Obama admin will voted out of office if tries to confiscate Americans’ firearms. Part of the national socialist health care fraud contemplates using such to do just that.
As to the tragedy at Fort Hood, clearly the Doctor was insane over his conflict with his Muslim religion and his duties as an officer, doctor and American. The fundamentalist Muslim won out in his case and in dozens others here and in Britain. There is a danger from a small portion of the Muslims in the west.
As to increased security, in the old days, all officers carried side arms. The armed services should return to this rule, down to Staff Sergeants. Other institutions like colleges, hospitals, (where many doctors already own and carry guns), even mass transit should also allow concealed carry by qualified members of these communities.
Many tragedies like Virginia Tech and the LIRR attack can be avoided not only by better mental health care but by more citizens with concealed carry permits.
The definitive study and book "More Guns, Less Crime” has already proved this fact beyond a shadow of a doubt, despite what WNYC and the rest of the liberal and mass media tell you.
what exactly does the military do (or not do ) to men to make them snap like this?
domestic violence in military families is up. there's that rapist/killer in ohio and the washington area sniper (both ex military)
and what does it say about the military psychology staff that they couldn't see a problem with one of there own??
This is NOT about the Muslim "name" this is about the misfire in the brain of the person.
I really can't stand this type of cultural relativism as if the unease felt by the Muslim community in any way compares with the tragedies of the families of the victims.
This is not a Muslim problem, this is a human problem. The whole Muslim community should not be dragged into this nor dragged down by it. It is a very sad story and I feel more compassion for this man then any kind of hatred. I also sympathize with the families of the victims. It's again one of those situations where everyone is a victim whatever the degree nonetheless victims.
this man (HUMAN BEING) was harassed, called "camel jockey". what do you think happened? the largest military base in the world, IN TEXAS. 2+2=4.
The bigger part of the story that deserves commentary is that he is a psychiatrist! what does it take to break the person commissioned to help his comrades with their mental difficulties? What is the final toll that these wars will have on our families in terms of our mental stability!!!!!???
Tom Tarantino
any gays captain ?
Recently I heard a therapist talking about treating PTSD patients at Walter Reade (here's a video of the work they did: http://www.emofree.com/splash/video_vets.asp )
The technique they were using is helpful to therapist and patient alike, but the therapist talking about the experience was saying she could not have handled the work had she not been able to apply the same technique to herself.
An army shrink dealing with all the stress of soldiers!
We DON'T know for sure yet that the shooter "snapped" psychologically. We DO know that he was already on authorities' radar because of his sentiments about the military, the war in Iraq and suicide bombers.
What effect does the military's strong evangelistic bent have on this event, or on its aftermath?
What effect does the military's strong evangelistic groups have on this event or its aftermath?
it's been comparatively overlooked that Hasan is a psychiatrist. given the reported incidence of PTSD in soldiers and the inconsistent treatment they receive post-deployment, Major Hasan's extreme stress as a soldier/mental health care provider should be explored.
Also, perhaps a future guest can contextualize this shooting within other acts of violence committed by soldiers after their returns home.
The problem is that Islam, accepts the means to justify the ends.
Look at the Taliban, Hamas, PLO. It is a death cult, that will never be westernized.
Vicarious trauma!
All of these posters are finding it very easy to pretend being a Muslim played no part in the man's actions. I wonder how they'll react when the inevitable happens on a NYC subway and the suspect is dressed in Muslim garb.
Also, what about the influence of the Christian right which is has been unchecked in the military?
It's impossible to not consider Major Hasan's religion because he imparted it before his rampage.
He had also been reprimanded in the past for actions related to his beliefs.
All this touchy feely, being a Muslim is nothing to do with what happened is all well and good but let's not be disingeuous here. Let's face it, the fact that this guy was a Muslim IS a factor without any shadow of a doubt. It does not mean we have to generalize from that fact but it is definitely a factor and we cannot bury our heads in the sand about it and in fact it's dangerous and irresponsible to do so.
A relative, an avowed Christian, forwards around an email that has obviously gone around to many already, calling on us to remember the "Muslim" bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Marine barracks in Lebanon, US embassies, the World Trade Center and so on. It asks for a boycott of a stamp to celebrate Eid.
How shall we answer this kind of email, this attitude or frame of mind? I believe this is germane to this discussion.
What I'm most concerned about is the reports that there *were* indications that Maj. Hasan was having problems & apparently nothing was done. I have to wonder if this was related to the way troops w/PTSD & other psychological reactions are treated when they return.
john from office # 18 -- that is NOT the problem. People in general - all people - tend to accept horrible means to justify ends. Look in the mirror: what do you suppose the invasion of Iraq and the torture at Abu Gharaib were about? Ends justifying means is what. Muslims can do without that sort of "westernization".
Teasing about anything for any length of time will cause you to snap..on top of the fear of being deployed...a bad situation for everyone.
I am surprised that many are surprised. It happened before maybe on a smaller scale. There is even half of that Kubrick movie "Full Metal Jacket" that is about a soldier snapping.
And all these reports of fragging in the Viet Nam war.
It is possible that the prospect of being deployed caused some unbearable pressure on the shooter and snapped.
The fact that he survived allows to examine the causes, motivations behind this tragedy.
The Major’s crime was clearly premeditated. Though I feel that part of all violent crime is due to insanity, this officer did have a cause - preventing US soldiers from killing fellow Muslims overseas.
Like many of his fellow Islamic terrorists, he was also a lowly coward, attacking unarmed people, like similar attacks in Bali, Madrid, London, NY, Israel and even among their own people in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is something very sick in a small but dangerous segment of the international Muslim community.
I hope that after his trial, the Army is allowed to show his execution live and in color for all to see justice at work.
So we should leave them to live in their Sh-t holes
ANONYMOUS from QUEENS - if not snapped then are you saying this was planned? What are you saying? I heard he wanted OUT of the military as well...not that I trust the media.
Whites are the dominant culture, so whenever they do something wrong one is not seen as indicative of the whole (look at Timothy McVeigh). But since minorities are "the other," the action of one is seen as representative of the entire race.
A lot of military people seem to be snapping (McVeigh again!)--would you blame the entire military for that? I'm sure the DC sniper is looked at as a black man first and a military man second, if at all.
Calls'em As I Sees'em, there's something very sick about you who wants to watch someone die "live and in color".
I say buckle your seat belts, much more to come. This large military population returning with PTSD will be reflected in increased violence (domestic and otherwise), substance abuse, depression, homelessness, etc.
And, yes, the mental health professionals assigned to help them heal/cope will be vulnerable and, if not properly supported/supervised, they too will become traumatized.
I only hope that all those people with ribbon magnets on their cars will truly be willing to support their returning troops' needs rather than look away out of guilt and deny the damage done to humanity by war.
Hypocrisy! If this was a lone wolf, how about this case: A physician, who had treated a number of friends and neighbors for injuries from Muslim terrorist attacks, went beserk and shot a number of people in a nearby mosque. He was subdued and beaten to death. His name was Baruch Goldstein, and the event occurred in Hebron. It was universally condemned in Israel from the Prime Minister on down (except for a miniscule group of crazies), it and was similarly condemned by American Jewish groups. Yet, to this day, pro-Palestinian advocates bring this up as a hate crime that smears all Israelis. It's widely mentioned on college campuses as part of anti-Israel propaganda. My question to Muslims is: Was Baruch Goldstein a lone wolf who went beserk, or do you have a double standard: one for Muslims, another for everyone else?
#33... Let's play politically correct pretend.
#32 nkbah said...
"Calls'em As I Sees'em, there's something very sick about you who wants to watch someone die "live and in color"".
I see your ire is only for "Calls'em As I Sees'em" and NOT the actions of Major Hasan.
My heart goes out to all those suffering loss at Ft. Hood. This dialogue is so important. I also want to know who is qualified to determine who is qualified to carry a concealed firearm? This guy was a psychiatrist and he cracked. You never really know who is going to crack do you? The military MP's and the Department of the Army Civilian Police were armed and took the guy down. Maybe another armed soldier could have done this faster with less loss of life? Possible..but we will never know. Is there enough data here to justify increasing concealed firearms to the "qualified" in the general population-not really. There are enough guns on the planet for people to do what they want with. Justified fear and anger drive the rationalization of your agenda. However,guns are not the real issue here. Our boundless capacity to alienate and dehumanize each other is the issue.
Ed from East Village:
If he had kissed his crucifix before he started shooting, it wouldn't even be a topic of conversation.
Lets get some perspective plz:
The US military is a killing machine.
This mans line of work was dealing with the excrement of the killing machine. Trying to make it smell like potpourri.
He became the killing machine.
This is a tragedy within a tragedy.
I agree w/Lori #33 - there is no decompression given to the returning soldiers....now they are snapping BEFORE they leave??? Jeez!!
#38 Lori said...
"If he had kissed his crucifix before he started shooting, it wouldn't even be a topic of conversation"
Really? On WNYC? On the BBC? "The Takeaway"? On WBAI?
Here is a link to doctor Hasans profile at the Virginia Board of Medicine. Note under General Information he is located at the Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft Hood Texas.
http://www.vahealthprovider.com/results_generalinfo.asp?License_No=0101238630
He is certified in Osteopathy and Podiatry.
and *Self-Designated Practice" in Psychiatry.
Does that mean Dr. Hasan is NOT certified in Psychiatry?
We will be learning much more about this guy.
This has nothing to do with the pressures of the military. It has everything to do with this man, his connections (of which I'm sure there are some), and his brand of radical Islam. Of course, his religion was a factor, in the same way that fundamentalist Christians who bomb abortion clinics use religion to justify their actions. I'm getting tired of the Muslim community reacting by deflecting or adopting a defensive posture rather than by saying, "Hey, maybe the way some people are misinterpreting and practicing our religion is a problem--is OUR problem, and we must deal with it head on."
Re: Gerard from Brooklyn said: "who is qualified to determine who is qualified to carry a concealed firearm?"
There are more good people than bad in this world. If law disarms the good people, then violators get to outgun them.
"Is there enough data here to justify increasing concealed firearms...?"
Yes. Right-to-carry laws have decreased violent crime in 41 states.
Gun bans have increased gun violence in Australia, Britain and Washington DC.
Leave a Comment
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Back to EpisodeEmail addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. WNYC reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the WNYC.org Comment Guidelines before posting.