Powell Honors Fallen Muslim American Soldier
The New Yorker, Elsheba Khan at the grave of her son, Specialist Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan.
Colin Powell ended his endorsement of Obama by referring to the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The Lede at NYT has more details.
He and three other soldiers, including a corporal from Washington Heights, were killed in Baquba after a bomb detonated while they were checking abandoned houses for explosives. They served in the Stryker Brigade combat team of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, based in Ft. Lewis, Washington.Mr. Khan graduated from Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin in 2005, and enlisted in the Army a few months later, spurred by his memories of the 9/11 terror attacks. "His Muslim faith did not make him not want to go. It never stopped him," his father, Feroze Khan, told the Gannett News Service in a story printed shortly after his death. "He looked at it that he's American and he has a job to do."
Powell framed the entire "Obama is a Muslim" debate in striking terms with his reference to this fallen American soldier.
"Is there something wrong with being Muslim in America? No, that's not America," he said."He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could go serve his country, and he gave his life," Mr. Powell said. "Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way."
The highly charged rhetoric used by McCain and Palin to tie Obama to terrorism and Islam is once again an affront to all Muslim Americans. We saw this type of fear and backlash just after 9/11. We see it also in the McCarthy-like invocations of Michele Bachmann. I challenge Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin to tell this grieving mother that her son is anti-American because of his faith.
The answer to who is evil is NEVER as neat, clean, and easy as a label. Thank you, Colin Powell, for reminding America that those who serve in our military represent the awesome diversity of faithful and patriotic Americans.
Thank you, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, for your service and your ultimate sacrifice. I am humbled to honor you and your fallen comrades.
Kareem's Legacy page.
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As a father of a young boy, my heart breaks for you Ms. Khan. Peace be to you, my fellow American.
Your article would sound much better if the Republicans were speaking of Spec. Khan! But we are very careful to speak of those who would do our country harm, and you know it full well. There are a great number of Muslims in this country who have no love for America, despite America's nurturing of their families. It is of them, and of the tremendous number of radical Muslims around the world that Republicans are speaking.
I, too, have served with Muslim enlistees and officers during my 26 years of service. Good men all, the best. They believe that America is the best country in the world, and know that it is not they who are the subjects of the warnings given by the Republican party. It is the Democrats, many of you here, who seem to insist that as long as there is one good Muslim, we dare not speak ill of Islam. How wrong you are!
Semper fi
Our beautiful Constitution says there shall be no religious test for office.
There is no exception carved out for Islam.
Thank you Colin Powell for inspiring us and trying to stop the GOP from tearing us down and feel like we have ont made any progress with being prejudice against people becasue they don't have the same faith. I am in Iraq now and it pains me when I hear some of the things that the McCain-Palin ticket say about the country that I love and will give my life for. They both have children in the military so that only reason I can think of as to why they would say such hurtful and divisive things is that they will say or do anything to win because they can't win on thier platform and/or merit alone. Go DEMs, I am switching tickets because we don't need to go back, only forward.
Thank you for being a true American, for making the ultimate scarifice for me, my children and this country. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
I cried when I heard General Powell tell this story. And after it was told I went out on the Internet and found the story, it's powerful. The republicans forget that America is about inclusion. Their fear causes them to exclude what they deem the 'other'. They lose that way. We all lose when we let them. The one time I thought GWB was right was right after 9/11 when he called on us(Americans) to not lash out at muslims in the US. He was right then. Powell is right now. And I HATE admitting Bush did something right, but my own sense of self has to admit he was right at that time. This young man who never got a chance to really LIVE is why we must elect Obama. So other muslim children can have hope in fairness. And so other mothers will not have to bury their children.
I AGREE 100%!! This is why I am Voting Democrat this time! TOO MUCH Republican disgraceful Race Baiting!!
I served with Arab and Muslim American soldiers during the Gulf War. They were Americans and they risked their hides just like we white, black, and Hispanic Christians. Gen. Powell is a real American and he makes me proud to be an ex-Army medic and a current Obama supporter. This anti-Islamic rant is unbearable, un- Christian, and un-American. God bless Obama, God bless Gen. Powell, and God bless the United States of America.
The only thing honorable Powell has said or done in years.
I wrote a post about this part of Powell's brilliant endorsement the moment he gave it. To me the most profound part of this endorsement is the question: "so what if he was a muslim"???
I was watching Powell's live comments on MTP and I cried the moment he stood up for those of the muslim faith by envoking the image of this grieving mother. It was one of the most powerful sentiments expressed in this country since 911 and the deliberate effort of some to demonize ALL muslims.
I am extremely glad that Powell pointed out that no matter your faith, we are all human beings and pro-American
Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007..He died in defense fo HIS Country. No greater sacrifice could have been made by this young man or his family. He died a PATRIOT. The SCUM at the McCain/Palin rallies that poses the BS "us against them, Joe the plumber is our kinda American" crap do this young American warrior and his family the greatest disservice and dishonor. It is downright shameful and frankly un American
Sadden by McCain - who I respect did not stop his running mate from making remarks...
Because of Senator McCain - your choice of running mate... several of us, professional women left GOP/ We thank you for letting us to get to know Obama/Biden... what a wonderful professional and efficient team. General Colin Powell... with all our respect... Thank you again for reminding America and Americans... our value...
Mrs. Kahn... I like to share... ever since I was a child (brought up in Japan)... my family taught us respect and equality. The foreign community in Japan was small then - I joined model united nation where we became brothers and sisters - kids from all over the world. Our different customs and cultures - never was an issue/obstacle... because... we respected each other.
With all respect, you are a wonderful mother with a great son.
Your son will always be in our heart and will remind America and Americans of our value.
Thank you.
Just Beautiful! I joined the military right after high school. Serving in the military you meet people from all different backgrounds. I consider us military members some of the most progressive people in our society. I always respected the man or woman next to me. It's a feeling unexplained! Great job Gen. Powell, I respected him after reading My American Journey, and yesturday I was reminded why!
I can't believe it... Finally, someone said what needed to be said. It's pathetic how far this country has deviated from the ideals that we claim to possess.
"Is there something wrong with being Muslim in America? No, that's not America," he said."
Well put Gen. Powell, well put. I don't want to jinx this, but I'm cautiously optimistic that sanity may be returning to the US, because as a country; since the end of the Cold War, there was a progressive but nonetheless chilling disconnect from reality. It's a shame that it took the collapse of our economy to finally wake up a good portion of the country to the issues that face us.
I'm thrilled that Gen. Powell endorsed Obama, IMHO his repudiation of the petty culture war nonsense and the racist demagoguery that the Republicans have been peddling against Muslims, especially since 9/11, will be of much greater importance. I don't want to jinx this, but someone of Colin Powell's stature reminding people of what America's ideals are will go a long way in terms of ending the demonization of a Muslims in the US and will definitely improve our standing with the people of the Middle East, as long as there are no huge missteps. It's been a reality check for sure though. 2008 will definitely go down in history...
"E Pluribus Unum"- Out of many, one. If as a country we keep that in mind, we'll be fine.
Obama/Biden 08'
the photo of Khan's mother is iconic, i have to say.
Reading this, I wept at the sacrifice made by Cpl Khan and his family. I wept further at the ignorance of so many who fail to recognize his sacrifice or the sacrifice of so many who are "other."
My gratitude to the Khan family and to General Powell for his courageous words.
As a soldier in the US Army, I appreciate the recognition of all of us, regardless of any qualifiers, cause when it really gets down to it, it doesnt matter. The only thing that matters is that you can trust the guy next to you to cover your back, and trust me, you can...
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