Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fort Hood Massacre
Last week, a United States Army Officer of the Muslim faith entered an Army Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas, where he shot and killed 13 people, and wounded an additional 30 people.
Subsequent reports indicate that the shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, had been in contact with Anwar al Awlaki, an American-born cleric now living in Yemen, where he operates a website advocating attacks against the United States.
The United States Army, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement entities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the massacre, and have not yet made any determination as to the specific charges that will be brought against Major Hasan.
I hope that he will be charged with treason against the United States. However, “political correctness” may prevent a charge of treason from being brought.
Regardless of the charge or charges eventually brought against Major Hasan, there are more important issues to be considered.
If an individual cannot set their country of origin, ethnic background, or religion second to their loyalty to the United States, should we permit that person to hold United States citizenship?
In a similar vein, should we permit a citizen of the United States to concurrently hold citizenship in another country?
Personally, I don’t feel that holding multiple citizenships is in the best interests of the United States, since its always leaves open the question of the national loyalty of the individual.
