DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this blog entry are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
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13 NOV 2009
From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
--Thomas Jefferson--
5 November 2009, MAJ Nidal Malik Hasan, United States Army Officer committed an unthinkable act (to most Americans). What were and still are his motives? Were his actions premeditated towards accomplishing a "patriotic" duty to a religious event, a political agenda or was this simply a personal venting of MAJ Hasan's internal anguish and frustrations?
The purpose of this entry is to not judge the actions of MAJ Hasan but to analyze the impact of his actions concerning the patriotism of the United States of America. How will the resiliency of the United States civil and military leaders stand to this event? Will the outcome of this event promote patriotism of fellow Americans or will it chop away at it?
It is my option that the quote above by Thomas Jefferson is a reminder that liberty must never be taken for granted, if this should occur the shock of patriotic blood spilled will remind us of our gift. One outlook may be that American’s will not stand for it rise and stand together. Another outlook may be weakness of the American military iron guard, a kink in the American armor of military mental well-being and integrity. A final proposed conclusion is that this event is not personal enough to effect the tree of liberty and American’s are not concerned enough to modify our worldly views.
It is my hope that this blood (tragic that it is) will water the tree of liberty with patriotism as it did 11 September 2001. American’s die every week on foreign lands and get very little media attention. Hopefully, the American’s that died on that tragic day on continental American soil will not be spilled in vain.
Where do you stand?
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13 NOV 2009
From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
--Thomas Jefferson--
5 November 2009, MAJ Nidal Malik Hasan, United States Army Officer committed an unthinkable act (to most Americans). What were and still are his motives? Were his actions premeditated towards accomplishing a "patriotic" duty to a religious event, a political agenda or was this simply a personal venting of MAJ Hasan's internal anguish and frustrations?
The purpose of this entry is to not judge the actions of MAJ Hasan but to analyze the impact of his actions concerning the patriotism of the United States of America. How will the resiliency of the United States civil and military leaders stand to this event? Will the outcome of this event promote patriotism of fellow Americans or will it chop away at it?
It is my option that the quote above by Thomas Jefferson is a reminder that liberty must never be taken for granted, if this should occur the shock of patriotic blood spilled will remind us of our gift. One outlook may be that American’s will not stand for it rise and stand together. Another outlook may be weakness of the American military iron guard, a kink in the American armor of military mental well-being and integrity. A final proposed conclusion is that this event is not personal enough to effect the tree of liberty and American’s are not concerned enough to modify our worldly views.
It is my hope that this blood (tragic that it is) will water the tree of liberty with patriotism as it did 11 September 2001. American’s die every week on foreign lands and get very little media attention. Hopefully, the American’s that died on that tragic day on continental American soil will not be spilled in vain.
Where do you stand?
Michael Bancroft
MAJ, US Army
ILE 10-001C, Student
