As I've said in another post: 'Unfortunately', issues of loyalty to race, religion and country will indeed be raised and examined as a result of this tragic episode .
To die. Doesn't matter where: in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in America.
Big advantage to the US Government that it happened in the US.
- 13 people fewer on the unemployment rolls
- No expense for transferring the dead from the overseas.
- They did not die in action: less compensation for the families.
- Got rid of a guy with suspiciously sounding Muslim name who got poor performance evaluation - now his pay is gonna be withheld, and no compensation for his family.
- Excellent distraction from the economic collapse of the US, switching attention to the "Muslim terrorists" who are amongst us.
Look at how well just an army doctor is trained to kill - armed with 2 handguns managed to shoot 43 experienced soldiers, 12 of them to death. Now, imagine many more of that kind taking it to the streets.
When there are more dead US soldiers, there are less innocent killings in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.
MM Lee may talk about the strengths of an immigrant-based society. But let's not be blind to the disadvantages of such a society, like divided loyalties between the country and race and religion.
Let's not be afraid of being politically incorrect to ask the question: Can one readily dismiss the incident as a coincidence when the shooter is of Middle Eastern descent? If so, how about the recent report from Australia regarding a Middle Eastern-Australian who sent insensitive messages to the relatives of another Australian that died while he was on duty in Afghanistan?
Like it or not, ethnic or religious fault lines exist in non-homogenous societies. And as Singapore imports more immigrants from all over the world, we become less homogenous.
This shooter displayed many observable traits no different from the Korean boy who massacred 32 other students at Virginia Tech last year.
The US Homeland Security has over the years trained and deployed behavioural detection units to major US airports quite successfully, intercepting perpetrators before they could board the plane.
dustmask - "When there are more dead US soldiers, there are less innocent killings in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan."
Really naive to think so, with or without US soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq make no different to civilian casualty numbers because terrorist car/truck bombs will make up for the deficiency.
The really naive are those least informed, the sheeple. Before the Iraq War, there was no car/truck bombings in the country. After the war started in 2003, all kinds of killings happened. The US have committed too many wars around the world and millions of people die in their own country killed by US imperialism. Therefore it's good to see them seeing some pain back home, done by their own people. More to come really, just watch. They'll just kill themselves.
Let us not forget that, regardless of race, religion and politics, this incident is a tragic commentary of the human condition in the 21st century. We are all connected. Any incident that wounds human beings, wounds us all.
November 06, 2009 Friday, 06:52 PM
