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NAME:
Gary M. Farral
Branch: US Navy
Service:
Vietnam
Veteran
From:
Gary M. Farral
Subject: Re: We have to choose wo and what we want to be!
I am reminded of the 1967
Arab-Israeli conflict.
Two of my bunkmates were Jewish.
One was a jokester, the other studious and serious.
While going to mid-watch I encountered the jokester in the passageway. I
said, " Hello!"
He responded, " I cannot
talk to you we are at war! " That pulled me up short for a second.
In rebuttal I said, " Yes I know we are at war. We are some twenty
five miles off the North Vietnamese coast " " No ", was the
response, " We are at war ". Now I was puzzled. He noticed
my puzzled look.
The next couple of exchanges I do
not clearly remember. I told him I was just going on watch. He told
me to read the message boards out countries were at it again! Then the
light came on!!! "Again!", was all I could say.
I went to CIC and read the message boards, including the report on the the
attack of the U.S.S. Liberty.
A day or so later when we met
again, he told me he was thinking of going to fight in
Israel
, would I be going to
Syria
or
Lebanon
.
My answer was quick and firm, "No, this is my homeland now and this is my
war that I volunteered to fight.
My twin had a similar incident
aboard his ship. We knew who we were and what we wanted to be U.S. Navy
sailors like our dad!
_________________________________________________
We have to choose who and what we want to be!
January 28th, 2005
Written by Jamal
S. Baadani
I wanted to
personally reflect on, and share my thoughts with you about issues that affect
Arab Americans in
America
– specifically, as to how we (Arab Americans serving in the military) are
perceived by some in our own communities.
Most
recently, APAAM has sent out articles and letters regarding subject matter
relating to Arab Americans in the military, whether it is related to the
desertion of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, or the loss of Arab American lives, or
injury of those brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines serving in
Iraq
. The criticisms to our e-mailings that have been received have been
greater than any other period since the founding of APAAM shortly after 9/11.
We have
received so many hateful comments and so much negative criticism by Arab
Americans living among us in our communities. I am amazed at the extent of
“hate” and “anger” that is directed towards us by those who are
displeased and angry with Bush Administration’s
Middle East
and Iraq Policy. The specific criticism directed towards the death of
Sergeant Rostum, and the injury of Lance Corporal Al-Thaibani, while serving in
Iraq
, is in my view wrong and crosses the line of citizenry.
“Sgt
Rostum’s and LCpl Al-Thaibani’s sacrifice is a testament to their courage
under fire, responsibility of duty to both their country and the Arab American
Communities in
America
.” Their sacrifice reflects the true sentiment of the majority in our
communities. However, to those within our community who criticize our
“Duty”, I say to them….,
We have to
choose who and what we want to be!
I’ve
always said this and will continue to say this to my fellow Arab Americans and
others of differing ethnicities in
America--
“If
you live in
America
, and you want to prosper in
America
, then you have to contribute to
America
.” “Duty”
is an obligation that is required of everyone who is a citizen of this great
country. Duty, as an obligation, dates back to the earliest historical
days of mankind. Those who serve in the military could have chosen to be
fireman, policeman, members of the Peace Corps, America Corps, or civil
servants, as their “Duty” to our country. But they didn’t.
They chose to serve in the military, recognizing that the ultimate sacrifice is
to serve in the defense of freedom for one’s own country. As an example
of the ultimate sacrifice, 228 years ago, a young Arab American Syrian Immigrant
to the American Colonies understood the obligation of “Duty” to country by
joining the 18th Continental Army; he helped fight for and win
freedom for America from the tyranny of England-- Nathan Badeen gave his life in
the revolutionary war so we could be free today.
Those
serving in the military don’t always agree with the policies of the
administration that guides our country, but do support the obligation of
“Duty” to their country. The policies are left to the citizens of this
country. Those who don’t agree with the current administration’s
policies have a chance to affect change at the voting booth every two years.
I serve my country on behalf of Arab American communities, honorably and
faithfully, as a US Marine. I’ve served for the Reagan, Bush I,
Clinton
, and Bush II administrations. There have been numerous policies
throughout my service in the military, yet the following has remained constant
– that I volunteered to serve in the US Military and that I swore to uphold
the constitution of the
United States
.
I know what
it is to live abroad in a third world country, because I was born and raised in
the
Middle East
. I immigrated to
America
at age 10. I am proud of my Arab culture and am proud of my heritage and
Muslim religion. But that doesn’t excuse me from military service just
because the
US
is engaged in war in the
Middle East
. Nor does it excuse me from military service because the
US
, for the past 25 years, has been engaged in some type of military operation in
a Muslim country. I served in
Beirut
,
Lebanon
to help ensure peace of passage for the Palestinians in
Lebanon
in the early 80’s. I have served in operations to provide humanitarian
assistance to citizens of
Algeria
and
Tunisia
, as well as serving in the Persian Gulf in 1988 to protect world-wide shipping
from bombings and attack by
Iran
. Most recently, I served in the Global War on Terrorism, as part of
Operation Enduring Freedom, to help rid the world of terrorism - terrorism that
threatens everyone in the world, even those who criticize us for serving in the
military.
In the
90’s, the US Military helped give freedom to Muslims in Kosovo and conducted
humanitarian operations in Bangladesh – a Muslim country - when it was hit
hard by a catastrophic typhoon. Today, the
US
military is involved in helping the victims of the Pacific Tsunami providing
the largest humanitarian operation the world has ever known.
Semper
Fidelis!
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