I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in 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 headstone, it didn’t have a Christian cross; it didn’t have the Star of David; it had crescent and a 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 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life.
-- General Colin Powell
The quote was given in the context of claims that then candidate Obama was a "secret Muslim," but I think the point is still valid here - Muslims, like Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists were all killed by terrorists on 9/11. And members of all of these faiths (and no faith in particular) have all fought and bled and died for our country. None of them are more American than others. None should feel obligated to apologize for their heritage or faith. They're Americans. Full stop.
You Tube Video Photo
