A Tragedy

This past Thursday the United States was shocked to hear that an Army psychologist at Fort Hood went on a shooting rampage killing 13 people and injuring many others. Initial reports said that he had been killed by the first responder (a female civilian security officer). But then we learned that he is still alive and in stable condition. It was also said that the security officer was killed but later that she was also alive. President Obama spoke on the subject and said that it is bad enough when a soldier is killed in combat. But it is even worse when they are killed when they are at home on base. He also said that they would get answers. The pshycologist was preparing to deploy just before this happened. But no matter what his reasons for this were it was still very wrong. You cannot excuse his actions no matter what his motive. I think that it is situations like this that puts everything into perspective. Earlier this week there were the elections and a rally at Washington. But when something like this happens it seems everyone puts their differences aside. I believe this is one of the things that makes America great. In times of trial we support each other. When going to pay our water bill this morning I noticed the flag being lowered to half mast. And flags across the nation will be lowered to signify that we care. To honor those who have died. To show our support for those that they left behind who are grieving over their loss. Today the United States are united in their support.

But I find something very interesting in this whole situation. There is no blame shifting going on as to whose fault this was. If 13 soldiers were killed and many more wounded in Iraq in one day there would be a great outcry. Many would say “See those troops should not be over there”. But when our troops are killed at home by a fellow soldier there is no outcry. No one says “they should not have been at the base”. So why the difference? Is there any less honor for a soldier killed at home then one killed on the battlefield? I don’t think so. Both were doing what they were assigned to do in order to keep our country safe. It was necessary for us to go to Iraq in order to keep the world safe from terrorists. We should not judge the soldiers of course for being over there. They were sent there. Who is their commander in chief? It’s the president. He is the one responsible for them being there. And he can blame it on his predescessor that we are over there but he has left the troops there. He is responsible for what he does and for what he does not do.