A Fallen American Soldier

by: NavyBlueWife

Sun Oct 19, 2008 at 13:31:31 PM EDT


(From the diaries - promoted by Brandon Friedman)

Fallen 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.

Fallen American Soldier 2

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.
NavyBlueWife :: A Fallen American Soldier
Published at The Huffington Post on October 20.
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A Fallen American Soldier | 12 comments
Colin Powell on Michele Bachmann, et al... (4.00 / 2)


We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama
Salute (4.00 / 5)
Thank you Corporal Sultan Khan for your service, your sacrifice and your love of country. This nation owes you and your family nothing but the honor and humble gratitude your ultimate sacrifice deserves.

Alas, we also owe you and your family an apology for the brutal comments made by an ignorant and willful minority of a political party that has lost its' way. The best of America is not the sole province of WASP beliefs, nor Catholic, nor Jewish. The best of America is an all of us.

I recognize that, General Powell recognizes that, and it is high time we all recognized that. A bullet or bomb knows no color, race, religion, orientation or personal creed.

We are Americans together...thank you General Powell, thank you Corporal Sultan Khan for this handy reminder.

JCisneros
USAF (ret)

Thanks (4.00 / 5)
for this post NBW.  I hope you keep writing here.

Best.

JS

Iraq War Veteran

Chairman, VoteVets.org

Thank you, Jon (4.00 / 1)
I am humbled by the front page recs on this great site.  Tips to VetVoice and VoteVets.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama
[ Parent ]
Powells Comments (4.00 / 4)
About this Soldier and His Mother, you could read his Eyes, are what Really Got Me to Know his Endorsement was from the Heart!!

Thanks for putting this up!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

Honor for youngKareem's service and tears (4.00 / 5)
When I saw the picture of the mom holding the headstone and then read how old he was I started to cry. I cry for each of the soldiers, 4,186, who never came home alive.  I am so glad you posted this.

I have to believe that something extraordinary is possible. (Mrs. John Nash)
it is my humble pleasure... (4.00 / 4)
The picture speaks volumes...it tells of our fallen soldiers, our soldiers still fighting, our veterans, our military families...all that are affected by war.

I could not be more grateful to Colin Powell for reminding us of what it means to be an American--all faiths, all colors, all creds.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama

[ Parent ]
Reaffirms that (4.00 / 1)
A picture says a 1000 words.

Powell's reference to this picture sent me on my quest to find it this morning.  It brought me to tears.  Props to the photographer and the New Yorker.

Kareem's Legacy page.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama

I always (4.00 / 4)
felt Colin Powell was a good man and a good American and he has proven it here once again.
Thank You Navy Blue....... (4.00 / 5)
I t was plenty for me to hear Colin Powell this a.m. but these pictures also brought tears to me, but it also brought gratitude, pride, honor and love......to you and your families that serve our Country no matter color, religion or political party! We are first Americans as he said, it is sad to me that so many have forgotten this! Thank you again for posting these pictures NBW and I thank Specalist Khan and his family for their service to "OUR COUNTRY"!

Boots

you're welcome... (4.00 / 1)
Obama said it very well in his 2004 DNC speech:

There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.



We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama
[ Parent ]
We the Sheeple.... (0.00 / 0)
The problem is there is a wolf in the fold named Palin and McCain who are going sheep-to-sheep whispering in the ears of the uninformed and fearful. This brave young man didn't do it for Allah, or the Quran, he gave his life in service to this country.
McCain, as a veteran should stand up for this kid and smack those fake glasses off her head. Smack her hard enough so Todd feels it.
( ok I usually don't advocate violence against women, but this smacking os for comic effect only.)

McCain and Palin want to take us back to the Duck and Cover Days... ask yourselves why?

A Fallen American Soldier | 12 comments
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