Muslims worry about intolerance in U.S. military
Former U.S. serviceman Khurshid Khan (right) stands with other Muslim leaders who say efforts are needed to bring intolerance under control.
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – Army Specialist Zachari Klawonn joined the military in Bradenton, Florida. He had been told the army needed volunteers from the Muslim community to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he has found a climate of intolerance now and worries about his safety.
A Muslim leader of the Shreveport area talks of his concerns these days, a climate of intolerance that seems to be in many places, including responses to the passing of the recent health care legislation. Khurshid Khan says, “I worry about all this, especially after receiving a story about a soldier being harassed. What is this climate of hate that comes in a country we have all considered the greatest place to live?
The story of Klawonn relates his experiences both before and after the Fort Hood shootings, for which another Muslim was arrested last November. Klawonn never knew that man. Klawonn had been spit on, had water bottles thrown at him, and had been cursed by fellow soldiers but a recent incident was far worse. He was awakened very early one morning with loud banging at his door, then found a note that said this as quoted in the Washington Post:
“F—you raghead. Burn in hell.”
Like the Japanese soldiers who were the most decorated among those who served in World War II, some Muslim military are finding they are not welcome in the U.S. Army. Klawonn reported to his superiors about his concerns but was told to hide his religion. The threats, however, have increased since the Fort Hood killings involving another Muslim, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, that Klawonn had never met. Is Klawonn’s experience an abberation or is it commonplace?
Khurshid Khan states, “I am not sure, but I worry. When there are threats against government leaders like there have been recently, of course we worry. When we read articles like the one in the Washington Post about Klawonn, we worry even more.”
“Are you planning to do something about it?” he was asked.
Khan was in the military himself, having served more than 21 years. He now works as an engineer in Shreveport and is active in the local mosque.
“I am. I hope to have some meetings of different religious leaders in the Shreveport community about the climate of intolerance. Good people of conscience cannot afford to allow this type of thing. It is not what America stands for, after all.”
There are presently 180 Muslims serving in the military at Fort Hood out of 54,000 active service members and a total of 3,540 Muslims out of 1.5 million total in all branches of the services, according to military statistics provided the Washington Post. Those Muslims considering military service or presently in the American military can find support services at this website: Muslim Military Members.
- Carol Forsloff is a writer for Vancouverite.
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Posted by Carol Forsloff
on Mar 25 2010. Filed under U.S. and World.
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