I first heard about the attacks at Fort Hood in the car at about 6:30 p.m. and it didn't sink in until I got home and turned on the news.
12 dead and 31 wounded. The news reports said Major Nidal Hasan, a psychiatrist, was responsible.
There was some talk about Hasan being a Muslim. That saddens me because there is no evidence this was the result of some sort of jihad or revenge against the Great Satan, the United States. Let the authorities take time and investigate before we cast blame. Every time someone who is Christian does something wrong the media rushes to paint Christianity as a bad thing and that makes me angry, so I don't agree when other religions a judged with no proof.
But I don't want to get into a discussion of why. I want to write about the danger the men and women of our military face every day because they have the courage to wear a uniform that represents the United States of America.
I am glad they have that courage because I don't think I could do what they do. In fact, I know I couldn't. I can't imagine how frightening it would be to be in the middle of a battle. I've been very fortunate, along with millions and millions of other Americans, that we've had men and women sign up to defend our freedom.
It's easy for us civilians to think we understand the dangers of military service because we watch movies like "Saving Private Ryan" or check out the news reports about the war in Iraq. Until you are on the front lines, you have no idea what it is like. And, I am glad there are Americans willing to put themselves in the line of fire for their country.
What happened at Fort Hood will be discussed, picked apart and debated for a while, but what can't be forgotten is the people killed and how they were there to serve this great country.
May God bless our service men and women and God bless America!
