Shooting at Fort Hood--Why is it played down that the shooter was Islamic?

purpleflurp · 11-05-2009, 07:35 PM

In watching the early coverage of this terrible tragedy, the press made assurances that this event had nothing to do with "terrorism." In watching the coverage this evening, a witness said that Malik Nadal Hasan said he was doing what the Muslims should do in Afghanistan--"stand up against the aggressors." Why does the press insist on playing down the Islamic connection?

Soldiers Open Fire at Fort Hood in Deadly Rampage

Btw, this shooter was a psychiatrist. What a surprise. The psychiatrist opens fire on innocent people, killing 12 and injuring over 30. Now, THERE'S a well-adjusted man!

geeps20 · 11-05-2009, 07:51 PM

because it is not politically correct. When i first heard the news, my first thought was that it was a Muslim..

purpleflurp · 11-05-2009, 07:54 PM

^^Yep....one of the stations just interviewed Hasan's cousin who vouched for his being a "good American." I'd hate to see the bad ones...

lockn · 11-05-2009, 07:59 PM

Did you know the Dylan Klebold was Lutheran? I think they generally don't talk about that when shootings take place becuase it would look like an off-color attempt at a political point unless some relevant evidence (something written on a note?) is found.

purpleflurp · 11-05-2009, 08:03 PM

lockn:

It is relevant when it is made relevant by the shooter. If the witness was correct, Hasan said something like he was doing this to show what Muslims in Afghanistan should do...attack the aggressors. So, as I think you must realize, this is a very different case than Klebold. To act otherwise is disingenuous.

romanigypsyeyes · 11-05-2009, 08:03 PM

In every story I've read it's said it's unclear at this point what religion he is. My guess would be that if he ISN'T Islamic, they don't want the backlash of being called discriminatory.

My heart goes out to those families though. What a terrible, terrible thing.

geeps20 · 11-05-2009, 08:06 PM

well. if you were watching Fox News(you know, the non news agency), you would have heard the whole story from the cousin of the killer..He was a Muslim from birth.

romanigypsyeyes · 11-05-2009, 08:06 PM

Well. I don't watch Fox News.

geeps20 · 11-05-2009, 08:10 PM

^ well that makes sense then that you didn't know he was a Muslim.

PRUNEFACE · 11-05-2009, 08:40 PM

It shouldn't matter what faith they are. He sounded like a good person who had some psychiatric issues even as a psychiatrist.

geeps20 · 11-05-2009, 08:44 PM

^ sure..he was just a good person with some issues.. Jeez

edit: and it certainly matters that he was a Muslim, it was the reason he murdered 11 people.

LogicWarrior · 11-05-2009, 08:44 PM

i don't think the religion of the guys who shot up the holocaust museum, the knoxville church, or the kansas abortion doctor was discussed at all.

romanigypsyeyes · 11-05-2009, 08:46 PM

^ The weren't as far as I know either. Neither were the Virgina Tech or Columbine shooters. But they weren't "TEH MUSLIMS!"

Pizzagirl · 11-05-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

edit: and it certainly matters that he was a Muslim, it was the reason he murdered 11 people.

You know that for sure?
Does it matter that Timothy McVeigh was Christian, was that the reason he murdered all those people in OKC?

geeps20 · 11-05-2009, 08:48 PM

^ Sure him being Muslim and upset with us being in Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with it.