Colin Powell Invokes Image Of Fallen Soldier

Colin Powell has officially endorsed Barack Obama for President. But the big news is that this was not even his most important endorsement of the day. As it turns out, the most important thing endorsed by Colin Powell today was an America that's worth leading and worth fighting for, an America that encapsulates the idea of what some might call a "more perfect union." To that end, Powell invoked a picture to illustrate his point.

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might have an association with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

I feel particularly strong about this because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith.

And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."

This is the picture of Elsheba Khan, taken by Platon for the New Yorker:

So, yeah. Sometimes, America does benefit when we share our wealth with one another. And some people, in fact, do have it harder than Joe The Plumber.

Comments

[boogiewoman]

Thats right. Nothing wrong with being Muslim. Nothing wrong with being Arab. But I guess I'm preaching to the choir. I just hope a few people heard Powell today. Fear and ignorance is the fuel to this fire. Education is the key to unlock the racist mind set in this country.

[functor]

Oh so only the uneducated Americans are racist?

[Omidal]

Powell surely redeems himself.

Had John McCane told this story and continue on the positive path he would have been able to save his campaign.

[Knowledgeseeker]

I hope Obama select him to be part of is cabinet,..­.. Obama needs a man like Colin Powell as part of his team.

[peterperfect]

NO WAY.

[demofem]

My heart breaks for Cpl. Khan's mother, and for all the parents who've lost their children in the service of this country; the very least we could do for all of them is to uphold the ideals on which this nation was founded. And that means embracing the unity, diversity, and strength of inclusion that is at the core of America. I am deeply grateful for what Gen. Powell had to say today.

[wanttruth]

Thank you to the Khan family, the other brave soldiers and public servants of our nation!

[trubluelefty]

I will be forever touched by this image. Thank you Colin Powell for so much, including giving us the gift of sharing with this family the loss of their son. God Bless him and the family and America.

Obama 08

[wanttruth]

I was moved by Gen. Powell's eloquent words and the beautiful, but sober picture of the solder's mom at her son's grave.

[letsgetrealpeople]

Thank you Mr. Powell for saying what needed to be said at last.

[misty1]

This picture makes me cry for all the lost men and woman serving their country. I don't have
family in this war but I think of all the people at war and their family. God bless all of you. and
God bless all the troops who are still there.

[riafern]

When 9/11 happened we ran a small business in a local mall ,my hubby did not even ask me but donated blood when we had a blood drive in the days that followed that tragedy y ,I was raised Catholic & moved to US b'coz it would give us religious freedom .Every year it is a terrible ordeal to live without dignity married to man who did no harm .I had to make a decision to not use my hubby's name as middle name for my son ,as I did not want my son to go through what we faced .Although my son is raised as Catholic .If this is what happens to a tolerant couple in a great country like USA ,what is the use that we loved this country over our 3rd world country to start a new life filled with hope .we were shattered by the blind idea that we could be looked upon as terrorist or people who could harm others .I hope my fellow Americans will stand up and help heal the wounds and work to build a country that will be an example to the rest of the world.
I spend every day being a good eg from where I have come from & hope I am given a chance to work hard for my son's future here ,one as Americans ...
division brings us doom ,pls vote for change .Our childrens future depends on it .

[justafarmer]

Gen. Powell was and is amazing.
This is a man who really understands the adage "fool me once.."
He was, Sunday morning, also the epitome of bipartisonship.
Thank you Colin Powell.

[wwoody]

It is sad and shameful to think that we have people like Palin / Bachman in our government , to question one patriotism base on religion, creed, and color. the picture of the mother laying her head on her son headstone speaks volume, we're all American regardless what color, creed, or religion. McCain still don't get it.
I'll be voting for Obama/ Biden.

[LemonMeringue]

Thank you Colin Powell for doing something nobody else has done:

Question out loud why we would condemn someone for being a Muslim in America.

And something else he mentioned that nobody else is talking about:

That the word is watching and our religious bigotry is hurting America.

McCain/Palin are harming America by encouraging the bigotry.

[harriettubman]

That's one of the qualities I look for in any politician and that is INCLUSION of all people. It took white Democrats a while to learn it and Republicans can't do it because they don't want to.

Obama had over 100,000 people go see him in St. Louis, MO yesterday. I couldn't believe my EYES!!!! America is hungry for change.

[jja]

I was so touched and happy to hear Colin Powell's comments this morning on Meet the Press. He articulated how I have been feeling during the last several weeks of this campaign. I used to have respect for McCain, but now I have been so turned off by his campaign. The campaign and other repubs are trying to divide us as a nation. That is the last thing that we need right now. We need find common ground to come together to defeat our enemies and be battling against one another. Thank you for the picture and thank you to Colin Powell for his sentiments.