The Washington Times has an article on a Virginia National Guardsman called up for active duty, along with rest of his unit, to serve in Iraq. The wrinkle? He's a Muslim.
Mirza Mahmood Ahmad of Great Falls, Va., recalls his uneasy feelings about his son's deployment to Iraq in January, though he is proud of the young man's service in the Virginia National Guard.
"I said, 'Bashir, you want to go? There is no confusion in your mind? You are a Muslim. You may have to fight against other Muslims.' "
His son was annoyed by the question, Mr. Ahmad says.
"He said, 'First of all, I'm a medic. I won't be fighting.' 'Second,' he said, 'I can't back out' -- because of his loyalty to his fellow soldiers," says Mr. Ahmad, 47, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen who owns his own international wireless company.
Muslims make up a small minority in the U.S. military and have been regarded with suspicion by other Muslims at home and abroad, as well as by fellow members of the armed services of different faiths who question their enthusiasm for fighting fellow Muslims.
This is illustrative of still another difference between Islam and the West. When it comes to international relations, our various religions and those of our counterparts don't play a significant role in our viewpoints here. During my Naval career, had I been called upon to serve in a war against a "Christian" nation (is there such a thing as a "Christian nation," at least outside of U.S. allies?), I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I know there are Christians who don't have the same view of Christianity that I do. Some I would call Christians in name only (CINOs?). But the religion of somebody on the other end of the gun isn't something I would think much about as an American serviceman.
Not so with Islam. The religion tends to supersede everything else, although it doesn't seem to matter much when there's a dispute between Muslim nations. I suppose there are times when Islam is important to Muslims, and times when it isn't.
Maybe I would feel differently if I were a Christian serving in a Muslim nation's military. Ow! That one hurt my brain. I don't think I can conceive of that.
