Help for all U.S. service members mourning the “horrific outburst of violence” at Fort Hood

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 07, 2009 – President Obama said the November 5 massacre at Fort Hood by a Muslim U.S. Army Colonel was a “horrific outburst of violence.” Early press reports said that Nidal Malik Hasan told friends he had been abused as a Muslim following 9/11 and recently had posted web messages praising suicide bombers.

On that day every American of every nationality and religious belief experienced that same dull aching cavity in their hearts and the pit of their stomachs as when they had heard “Breaking News” of two planes hitting the World Trade Center and former U.S. Army veteran Timothy Mcveigh setting off a giant bomb that killed 168 people in Oklahoma City.  In the first 48 hours following 9/11 the Council of American Islamic Relations reported receiving more than 300 reports of abuse against Muslims. Some were spat upon, told to “go back home where you came from” – apparently forgetting that most of these Muslims were Americans who were home. Some Muslim businesses were vandalized.

     We have every right to condemn the “mentally twisted monsters” among us such as Hasan and Mcveigh. If we single out any race or nationality group for the madness of an individual, we risk creating a growing Petri dish of hatred that breeds future martyrs.
When I was president of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), I traveled though many countries with large Muslim populations. I met some who were rude and arrogant. I met many others who were kind and thoughtful. I attended a seminar of the International Union of Official Tourism Organisms in Turin, Italy and led a group that included Muslim tourism leaders from Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia. Our assignment was to create a new resort in Morocco, from infrastructure to marketing. We argued, laughed, and played ping pong at night. On weekends I traveled around Italy with the tourism director of Indonesia who was the former head of the Indonesian Marines and Sukarno’s body guard. I never felt more secure.

In the week following 9/11, SATW learned that 80% of hotel staffs across America and the Caribbean were laid off because airplanes and tourism were frozen in place. Many clerks, maids and cooks  who had just climbed out of welfare on the “Hospitality industry ladder” were suddenly jobless again. There was an even bigger problem. The American Red Cross urgently needed funds for New York and D.C. victims. SATW decided to use an outburst of love that attacked both these problems, joining forces with Ebay for a “Freedom of Travel” auction of unused hotel, cruise and tour spaces. In two weeks $44,000 was raised and contributed to the American Red Cross – with no deductions of any kind.
What if everyone in this area performed their own outburst of love to honor the Fort Hood dead and survivors and all American servicemen everywhere, getting the names of veterans from friends and families and sending them a holiday gift with a letter:  “This letter commemorates the Fort Hood victims and is our sincere thanks to you for what you are doing for America.” Send this to U.S. service members of all nationalities and creeds.

Thomas Jefferson said it clear as a bell more than two hundred years ago.  “All men are created equal.”

What you can do: Start a national movement to help American veterans suffering from the Fort Hood tragedy. Send your own letters and gifts to veterans you know. Post this article on your blog and emails and encourage any organization you belong to – Kiwanis, Lions Club, Veteran clubs, schools, etc.  to distribute this  idea all over the country to thank the men and women who are doing so much for us. Example: This article appeared Nov. 7 in the Virginia Gazette, the beginning of what is known as “viral marketing” to spread an idea person to person with the speed of the internet.

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