Loading ...For Muslims in the U.S. military, a different U.S. than the one they swore to defend
The Washington Post
U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Emir Hadzic was a Muslim refugee.
“The way Americans welcomed us made such a huge impression on me that I felt like I owed something back,” said Hadzic, a Bosnian-Muslim who fled Sarajevo in 1995. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Hadzic joined the Marine Corps as an infantryman — hoping to help peacekeepers deploying to his homeland.
“I thought I would sign up and pay my debt and on behalf of my family,” he added.
Eight deployments later and still in the Marine Corps, Hadzic has become disturbed by the rising anti-Muslim sentiment in this country after the recent Islamic State attacks in Paris and last week’s San Bernardino shootings. GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, a candidate Hadzic used to support, has called for barring Muslims from entering the United States.
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump said on Dec. 7 that he was in favor of a ‘”total and complete” shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. (C-SPAN)
“We used to be a balanced people. We used to be true to our values, but now we’re willing to betray our values because of a sense of fear? That’s not American,” said Hadzic. “What the hell happened to that America I immigrated to?”
Many American Muslims say they are living through a difficult time in this country. For the Muslims who are former and current service members, the prejudice and anti-Muslim rhetoric is particularly painful. Those interviewed for this story said that hateful comments have driven a wedge between them and the country they swore to defend.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com