Hate Crimes and "Happenings"

"...a tragedy that happened..."

That is how President Obama dispassionately referred to the killing of two of our servicemen and the critical injuring of two others the other day in Germany. Scene: They are not in a war zone. They are in Germany. The bus they're standing near is labeled "United States" military. There is absolutely no doubt that this is a Greyhound or Trailways bus station. Shooting innocent people is horrendous enough, but this perpetrator was going for our military, America's protection force. He open fired, shouting, "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great"). So we're not talking about someone who is depressed or insane generally speaking. The perpetrator had gotten himself all jacked up on anti-American websites and with anti-American propoganda, the same way a drug addict gets all jacked up on meth before going on a rampage. He shot people on purpose, with the intent to kill as many as he could. In other words, this was not "a tragedy that happened" the same way that an earthquake is a "tragedy that happpens." It was a premeditated, well thought-out plan to assassinate many of our servicemen. The only reason more weren't killed was that the gun jammed and the servicemen who hadn't been killed were able to subdue this maniac. When our president spoke of this "tragedy", he did so while telling us about the sacrifices our soldiers make "in the line of duty". Huh? These guys were waiting for a bus. They were TARGETED for slaughter, taken completely unaware. This is not falling "in the line of duty." This is murder, this is a hate crime, this is bloodlust and Obama was afraid to say that. After all, that would be rushing to judgement, judgement against another race and religion.

Hmmm...let's think about judgement a little. I seem to remember a certain American citizen being called "stupid" a while back, a policeman in fact, when he personally judged a situation. I recall that our president wasn't at all hesitant to judge then, when he was judging an American that he personally thought was out of line.

My husband and I learned the other day that saying, "That's gay" in a sarcastic tone can get a schoolkid suspended. Many kids probably don't even know this, and while I don't want to condone offensive statements, I think many of us have completely lost our common sense. I remember when the word gay meant happy and carefree. Now, saying, "That's gay" is a hate crime, but shooting people is not.

God help us all.

Our president commented that this barbaric act toward American military who are not engaged in battle and are completely off guard is something that "happened" and we should remember how awful war is and keep our fallen heroes in our thoughts. Yes, it is and yes we should. But there is a clear distinction here that Obama fails to make. While touting his personal opinion of war, he neglects to give weight to the real hate crimes that are being committed every day against Americans.

And it's not by 3rd graders saying something is gay.

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1