Ft. Hood Victim's Family Speaks Out Against Anti-Muslim Sentiment (VIDEO)

Army chief of staff Gen. George Casey said this weekend that he is concerned that the deadly shooting at Ft. Hood last week could "cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers."

"I've asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that," Gen. Casey told CNN on Sunday, stating that "as great a tragedy as this was, it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well."

On Monday, the family of one of the victims offered a hand of support to the Muslim community. Michael Cahill, a physician assistant at the base, was the only civilian to be killed in the attacks, and his family spoke to CBS News to denounce the scapegoating of Muslims.

"You can't blanket a whole group of people. There's extremists in every religion, and there's extremists all over the world," said Cahill's daughter, Kerry. "And I don't think that we can blanket a whole group of people when this man obviously was ill, I think."

Cahill's other daughter, Keely Vanacker, expanded: "The death of our father, or any of these victims, shouldn't be an excuse or reason to begin to hate an entire group of people."

WATCH CBS's interview with the family here:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Comments

[Arrech]

03:32 PM on 11/10/2009

Nobody has ever been able to conquer hatred with more hatred. Why does this country have always have to learn the hard way?

Only forgiveness conquers hatred. Sometimes, turning the other cheek makes sense,

Right, Jesus?

[LuvzAmerica]

10:19 AM on 11/10/2009

While they have every right to speak out and say what they feel... this is only 1 family.. and I bet the majority of these victim's families would probably be very very angry and call them what they are... T E R R ORISTS!!!

[WakingLife]

01:26 AM on 11/10/2009

Wow. I have nothing to add to what's been said here. These women had more right than anyone to be bitter and angry. The fact that they put their grieving aside to try to protect their fellow human beings...that's class and honor. If only there were more people like them in all cultures and religions.

[Christopherl]

12:30 AM on 11/10/2009

treat2day, do you care to talk about the "equality" of non-Muslims under Islamic rule? Of course not.

[BabuS5]

11:33 PM on 11/09/2009

only if conservatives had 1/10 of their intelligence or heart.

[Freenation]

11:24 PM on 11/09/2009

i wish hasan is able to see this family's pious heart so that he can realize what mess he has caused...was this something he set out to achieve?

[ECT]

11:07 PM on 11/09/2009

What a beautiful family.

In their sorrow over the death of their beloved father Michael. They share their belief of / on hatred that can / does affect the Muslim people and many other groups in nearly every community...across the USA.

The Cahill family represents what every USA citizen should stand for.

[skatoolaki]

11:19 PM on 11/09/2009

I concur, absolutely. Favorited.

[Truthosaurus]

10:05 PM on 11/09/2009

Clearly all Muslims are not behaving like Hasan and killing people, and it shows strong character for the victim's family members to speak out at this time, for which they should be commended. But the religion of Islam should definitely be strongly critiqued, along with the other Abrahamic religions (Judaism and Christianity). First, because there is not a shred of credible evidence that the Abrahamic gods exist. Second, millions of children are being indoctrinated into these supernatural falsehoods on a daily basis. Third, followers of these religions create a climate where gods supposedly exist and tell people what to do, either through holy books, clerics or voices in ones head. In this way, religious people legitimize people like Hasan, because at most, they can tell Hasan that he was observing the wrong version of a god. Ironically, for many religious people, the response now is to advocate that we all turn to some other version of a god and pray. And so the band plays on, unless people who see through this speak out.

[treat2day]

09:58 PM on 11/09/2009

We deserve equality for everyone.

Do we throw out militants from hard right groups? Or hate against gay groups?

I wonder if it was a Catholic, Jew, Mormon, etc. kills someone in the military. Would this guy would say they shouldn't be in the military either?

[MarkInEugene]

09:31 PM on 11/09/2009

The Cahills are a smart honorable family. My condolences to all of them.

[Godstuff]

09:16 PM on 11/09/2009

All religions are equally absurd. It's amazing that anyone in these times believes in mystical beings and fairy tales as the answer to everything. No proof no existence.

Allah Ackbar and Praise Jesus

[jukesgrrl]

08:54 PM on 11/09/2009

My deepest gratitude goes along with the sympathy I feel for Michael Cahill's wonderful family. This stand you have taken is a great gift to your loved one. Many, many thanks for speaking out.

[Victoria Winslett]

08:47 PM on 11/09/2009

What this family is doing is nothing short of heroic, speaking out for the good of others in the midst of such loss. Someone give this family a Nobel Peace Prize.

[amazinggrace]

08:43 PM on 11/09/2009

Dear Michael Cahill family members:

MIchael must have been a wonderful person to have a family like yours. Thank you for being such amazing adults. You have set a high bar for all of us to try to attain. God bless. Wish there were more like all of you........................................

[Gasparilla]

08:34 PM on 11/09/2009

OK fine. But let's also not pretend that this guy shouldn't have been investigated and probably removed from the army for his statements. Statements such as saying that islam took precedence over the constitution and praising suicide bombers. This attitude of "tolerance" goes too far if it insists that no one can be questioned solely because they are a muslim. His complaints of discrimination probably had to do with the fellow soldiers who reported his statements.