An Open Letter to Khizr Khan July 31, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Army, DNC, Humayan, Kahn, Khizr, Muslims, Navy, Trump, USMC
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Please read “An Apology to Mr. Khan, Mrs. Smith & Gold Star Families”
Dear Mr. Khan,
I want to preface this letter by stating that I respect your son’s sacrifice for this great nation. By all accounts, he is a true hero that sacrificed himself in service to our country. For that I am thankful.
As a veteran, I watched your comments at the Democratic National Convention with a mixture of sadness, and anger. The United States has a military comprised of volunteers. Every single member has made the conscious choice to join the military and serve. There is not a single service member who has been forced into service. It is important for all service members (and apparently, their families) to understand that service to this great nation does not imbue one with special privileges or rights. I found your comments troubling when you said: “Have you ever been to Arlington cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one.”
Does it matter whether Mr. Trump has sacrificed “…nothing and no one?”…has Ms. Clinton “..sacrificed” for this nation? How about Mr. Obama? Your comment stating that Mr. Trump “…has sacrifice no one” is alarming. Are you intimating that YOU sacrificed? Sir, your son willingly sacrificed himself. As a father I cannot imagine the pain you must feel but his sacrifice is his own. He was not forced to serve.
I am troubled that you would allow a party that has little more than contempt for the US Service Member to parade you into the DNC to denounce Donald Trump. Did you watch when protesters at the DNC booed and heckled Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Florent Groberg? Did you notice your party interrupting the moment of silence for slain police officers? Your own hypocrisy in not denouncing these acts and instead using the DNC as a platform to make a political point is disgraceful. The simple fact is that whether one served or sacrificed does not give greater power to their statements. One vote is as valuable as another. That sir, is why our Country is great. Your condemnation of one person for a statement while standing idly as your party disparages veterans and police officers is the height of hypocrisy.
To conflate the need to prevent potential terrorists from entering our country with the belief that ‘all Muslims’ should be banned is simply wrong and disingenuous. As a reminder, Mr. Trump said: ” “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” The irony of your son’s own death at the hands of these very people in Iraq should not be ignored. I have little doubt that your son would have recognized the need to protect our country from these very people. In fact, he held is own troops back so that he could check on a suspicious car. Your son understood sacrifice and how to protect “his people”…’his soldiers’….’his fellow Americans’…
As you continue to make the media circuit and bask in the glow of affection cast upon you by a party that has little regard for your son’s own sacrifice, and veterans in general, I would ask you to consider your comments and your position more closely.
Respectfully,
Chris Mark
US Marine and Navy Veteran.
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 
Respect!
Thank you for your service.
I thank your parents for raising a son who is intelligent, respectful and honorable. 👍🇺🇸
Thank you Mr. Mark love this letter my two sons served this great country. It’s man live you that has made this country great and thanks again for your service.
Since your brain has been so brainwashed by people who control the filth and thuggery of those like you, we know you cannot see, hear or comprehend any truth….please do no propagate.
Are you trying to say ‘pro-create’…wow..you are a wonderful human being. thanks for commenting.
Dear Mark, I for one want to say, Thank You for your service to our country! I admire and respect You chose to enlist in the US Marines & Navy! You knew the responsibilities, dangers and unknown possibilities of all it entailed in your duty! Yet you enlisted! For me each time I am matched with a professional Mixed Martial Artist opponent I Know the risks, dangers and fears of the unknown…yet the satisfaction I maintain from my conditioned body and mind not to mention how it places me in a position to keep me right with being an Anti-Bullying Advocate! I know what I’m doing and here’s the wow factor…I’m 12 years old! Ok I’m 12 years old with an old soul…I’m told wise beyond my years. I’m a thinker but more important getting back to your message here. I’m fair…I’m accepting and I make it my business to learn both sides of any issue. Yes, I heard Mr. Khizr Khan’s speech regarding Mr. Donald Trump! Though I’m truly sorry for his lost because I am I gave to 100% agree with your inspiring, truthful & needed to said message through your open letter Mr. Chris Mark! Why, for many reasons, however, the most obvious you said exactly what should be taken into account! NO ONE made Mr. Khan’s son enlist just as NO ONE made my grandfather enlist in the US Military during the Vietnam War…however, he choose to enlist!! He was a brave and honorable man sacrificing his sanity, health and body to serve during war time to protect all of us! Mr.Khan is directing his misguided anger and grief towards Mr. Donald Trump and for that I have to say…”Shame on you Mrs. Hilary Clinton… Shame on you for using the DNC as a platform to attempt to shame Mr. Donald Trump asking what he had sacrificed!!!”
Perhaps Mr. Khan should I agree be asking what Mrs. Hilary Clinton or Mr. Bill Clinton sacrificed! A son or daughter…No! How ridiculous to point a finger at Mr. Trump in that manner!
I did my research and discovered a few years ago when military men and women were being sent back to the USA at the ending of Desert Storm there were so many being returned many had to stand by and wait until a plane could be sent in for them. So they wouldn’t have to wait a lot longer, it was Mr. Trump that sent in his private air craft to arrange to fly these US military soldiers, Marines & Airmen home much sooner then able without Mr. Trumps help. The only thing he accepted price for was the fuel. They flew back at no cost! That is a sacrifice of a means in my opinion. Never found any data that the Clintons arranged such help! Because it didn’t happen!
Let me just say again, thank you for sharing your letter and opening further eyes as need be! No one needs to make this personal and be rude towards you or anyone else for bringing information we all need to consider to the fore front!
I wish you the best in all of your endeavors!
Sincerely,
Ethan Alexander
My post was to Khizr Khan, sorry didn’t that clear.
Well said Chris!
Mr. Mark, apparently some of your readers get themselves so fired up they feel the need to attack you. You did praise the soldier that died and his sacrifice. Your comments were directed toward the father, and I understand why. He is being used and doesn’t see it. I have found that when you point out the obvious, the liberal minded folks don’t have a reasonable come back so they attack instead of debate.
Kris I think your worse than Donald Trump, Everybody knows your just saying crap to a fallen hero family. Wonder what your family would be saying at the convention its Hillary’s fault my son is dead keep your politics out of it
can not keep politics out of it mr khan made politics part of it, and mark was very respectful of the sons service and saddened for parents loss, and killery bush bill obama all had a hand in this game not Trump soooooo yeah
*you’re (both times so we know it was not an accident)
I so agree with u . Talk about hypocrisy that letter is about politics , I am guessing he is Republican from his words, and he is basically doing the same thing as Mr. Khan how dare he presume they are using him. I honor all our military for they protect us and our freedom. PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW POLITICS TO COME BETWEEN THE MILITARY FAMILIES, for one persons sacrifice is as great as the next persons and politics is not going to change that.
But you have no problem with Trump calling the armed services a DISASTER and worse?
What a hypocrite.
Did I say that? I have a problem with much of what Trump says. This was a letter focused on one 2 minute diatribe at the DNC. Please do not read more into the post. The AS ARE a disaster at this point. I agree with that.
trump has never called our soldiers a disaster, what he has said and is the truth, is that our military is being run like a disaster. trump loves our soldiers and our police. it is hillary who is campaigning against them.
Trump responded by saying, “I’m very angry because our country is being run horribly and I will gladly accept the mantle of anger. Our military is a disaster. Our healthcare is a horror show.”
Trump “loves” our military? Why? Because he applied for (and received) FIVE military draft deferments avoiding service? Because when discussing Sen John McCain (a decorated Vietnam War veteran), he said “He is a war hero because he was captured? I like people that weren’t captured.” Is it because he says he’s “going to make our military so powerful that we’re never going to have to use it?” Wouldn’t that be lovely! But two comments…. First of all, the very premise that we are too tough to attack requires that our enemies be rational enough to recognize our strength and be dissuaded from acting against us; but non-conventional warfare doesn’t follow those rules…the 9/11 highjackers didn’t compare their strength to the US Military and back out. Secondly, we already have the most powerful military in the world (we spend more on military and defense than the next seven top countries in the world combined, 3x more than China, 6x more than Russia). Pointing out the “military is a disaster” isn’t the same as caring about it, nor is it making suggestions to fix it. Case in point, Trump claimed to have learned more at a military high school than people learn in the actual military. I beg to differ.
kim thats what happens when they only watch news instead of getting full info, amazing how missinformed those people are
Well first of all yes mrs. Clinton has served she was first lady of Arkansas. Then she became senator of New York. Then she became Secretary of State. So yes she has served. II her husband was President of the United States and governor of Arkansas so she was serving then. 3rd yes President Obama has served as a state senator and then US senator and then president of the United States. So he served Donald Trump has done none of those. And the fact that you don’t know that shows that you are just as disgusting as Donald Trump. But thank you for your service. Oh and by the way you’re there a lot of Christians that are coming to this country that are cause for some concern as Nazis and others that are just racist bigots. So do you want to ban them too. Of course not just Muslims until we know better you’re just as much trash As Trump. But again thank you for your service
I think you are confusing “served” with “sacrificed”. Neither of the Clintons have “served” in the armed forces. Neither of the Clintons has “sacrificed”. They chose to run for office and have been rewarded handsomely for it.
I believe Mr Kahn was upset about Trumps comment about his race and his son serving like everyone else not that his son was special. Very well said by John McKnight
I don’t recall any of this post or the original topic referring to race. Islam is not a race, it’s a religious and political affiliation.
And without knowing their exact ancestry, I feel pretty safe in pointing out that, despite their skin tone, the Khans are almost certainly predominantly Caucasian. But thanks for playing.
being elected to office is not serving in the same way as being a soldier. as for the fact that Trump has never run for office before, so this somehow makes him less of a person than Hillary, or Obama. Being a politician is not, in any way, the same as being in the military. Hillary and Obama have used our country as a way to become filthy rich. The Clinton foundation has been used as a way for foreign governments to pay to play. A foreign gov’t pays the foundation millions and in turn Hillary granted them what they were asking for from State. As for the foundation itself, it is simply a way to launder money. Only 10% of all money that gets deposited in this faux charity ever gets used to help others, 90% gets used to support the Clinton lifestyle. HOW ANYONE CAN STILL SUPPORT THIS WOMAN IS MIND BOGGLING. IT SHOWS THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE TRULY CREATED A DUMBED DOWN MENTALITY IN OUR COUNTRY. TO STILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HILLARY SHOWS EITHER A PERSON IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR THEY JUST DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. EITHER WAY, IF HILLARY IS ELECTED OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER KNOW PEACE AGAIN, IN THEIR LIFETIME.
You are a shining example of “dumbed down.” You use rumors, innuendo and unattributable statements and purport them to be facts. Your parents must be so proud.
John McKnight,
Neither Obama or Clinton has worn the flag on their shoulder and sorry but sleeping with the governor or president isn’t serving. Also she bought her senate seat , her time as Secretary of State was a disaster.
All of your service points are poor, unless you have served like I have and many others you have no clue.
True Trump had not worn the uniform either but he respects us and what we do. Obama leaves a small force behind in Iraq against his generals advice, Clinton holds back forces in Benghazi because she doesn’t want the appearance of an American presence. Blood on their hands, unnecessary blood.
Our military is in trouble , being dangerously downsized and hamstrung. Police gunned down in the street, All Hillary talks about is free this , free that; I apologize for my rant
Dan siegfried
U.S Army and Air Force Veteran
@John McKnight. I feel sorry for you. Defending the Clintons for their service, comparing Christians to Nazis, and calling a military service member trash? You’re either a poor excuse for an internet troll, or so detached from reality that you are a danger to society. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a bad experience in your life to feel the need to latch onto and defend any political party as hard as you are here. Especially one that has treated you like a mushroom = kept you in the dark and fed you full of sh*t.
Please consider this open letter to this father. From an American Veteran…https://globalriskinfo.com/2016/07/31/an-open-letter-to-khizr-khan/
So having a job in politics is “serving”?
Being a politician does not in any way compare to the sacrifice of serving in the military! You sir, are a moron!
Mr. Mark didn’t ask if Mrs. Clinton had SERVED, he asked if she had SACRIFICED. Considering the nature of the scandals that the Clintons have been involved in, and indeed have created, the character of her service is far from honorable. And if you really think that “Nazis” are coming into the country at a greater rate than radical Muslims, you have some screws loose, and should seek medical help.
You are not of sound mind if you think, for one minute that holding office is serving this country the same way a soldier does. The Clintons are thieves, liars, and she murdered 4 American Hero’s. I didn’t see her donning a helmet and gun to save our Hero’s. She wouldn’t even send someone to help. “No Time”, was her response. Well, Mrs. Clinton, the fire fight lasted 8 hours, I couldn’t have gotten there in that time. If I could have I’d have gone to help. Immigrants, ALL immigrants need to be vetted. Looks what’s happening in France and the other countries that are getting blown up by such people. Study up, get the real information
You must have left the marines for a reason then joined the navy. Body weight perhaps ?
Once again some moron tries to make it sound like I couldn’t ‘hack it’ in the Marines. Did you read my BIO? I was selected as a SEAL Officer in 1999 after completing my USMC time as a Recon Marine and Scout/Sniper. (no I didn’t finish as I was injured) OUCH…truth hurts. now…ready to keep measuring?
Hmm, your intelligent for sure, the Marines are in the Department of the Navy. That being said he could claim both even if he stayed in the Marines.
How ’bout an open letter to your High School? how the heck did it let an obvious moron like you graduate? Tell us, clown, who paid you to write this BS
Your a clown. Look at my bio fool.
read my bio clown.
TOM YOU ARE A PIECE OF SHIT LETS SEE YOUR BIO HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING BUT COLLECT WELFARE??
Its very humorous that Chris only responds to the comments that he feels are from less intelligent people than himself. Every comment that made a solid point or that made him sound like a complete bafoon he just ignored. Whay sad sad GOP drone.
Send your comment
You’re an idiot. Who got us into Iraq to begin with? Over lies about WMD’s. It’s not our job to police the world. If you want to kill yourself or your family wants to, just go off into the woods and do it. Don’t push your stupid ideals on the rest of us. Fucking war machine mongering Republicans. You blame Obama for everything, regardless of the actual facts. Comes is the one with all the order, you idiot. And what have your parties TRAITORS done? Denied Obama every single thing he asked for, strictly for political purposes. That’s TREASON.
Wow…you really have it figured out don’t you. You are so articulate..you should be proud of your grasp of the English language. Now…got get your shinebox boy.
Chris Neather Hillary nor Obama said anything offensive about the Kahns Trump did.Trump doesn’t know when to let something just be.His father taught him that if someone says something you don’t like attack attack attack.As president this is not allowable.If he gets in the whole world will be saying things he doesn’t like. He’s got to learn to just let it go.
Excellent. This should be published in the neespapers. Expensive but necessary to put the proper perspective in play.
What a line of bullshit from a loser!
Good one…clearly you are an intellectual giant.
Your a JERK; I’m ashamed for you Chris Mark! I would ask you to consider your comments and your position more closely!!!!
Young man I appreciate your honor to this country. The only thing Mr. Khan is referring to is Donald Trump disparaging words against all Muslims. The broad brush in which he uses to paint all Muslims as Terrorist. He wanted the world to know that is not true. He wanted him to know that his son gave his life protecting him. Certainly you as a decorated soldier know this to be true. No one questions your religion nor paint whatever it is with a broad brush when others of the same might do something horrible. You can’t equate the hurt Trumps words add to the pain they are feeling. Obviously you don’t either.
Chris Mark
To paraphrase part of your letter, you stated the service members are all voluntary: it was each persons decision to enlist and their sacrifice is of their own making and is not shared by family members. This service does not imbue special rights or services to these members.
I have always felt uncomfortable with people thanking non-conscripted veterans for their service. I actually would prefer to apologize for the lack of employment opportunities that left no other avenue to make money and hopefully learn a skill that could be used as a civilian. This is not to say that is the only reason people join the military. The commercials for veterans do the very thing you say veterans can not expect: special rights and privleges.
They try to guilt trip the public into donations for veteran programs. Why do you hold these sentiments about sacrifice and special rights and privileges when it seems to fly in the face of the public, government and veterans programs?
Sorry, but I’m a Army veteran as well and I have nothing but contempt for Trump. Draft deferments for college where he played sports. But when college is over, 4f. Wtf ever.
You don’t have the right to inform any Gold Star family on how to present their opinion or their grief.
You stated your opinion. This is mine.
That is the beauty of our great nation.
I’m pretty certain the Democrats have more respect for the armed services than republicans. Republicans always say they do, but democrats act the part
The problem is, the Republican Party likes to act like they respect and care for the members of our military, but they don’t.
They say great things about our military and those that have served, but they vote against your interests time and time again.
It’s all public record, look up any bill that would improve the lives of veterans, and republicans vote against it almost every single time.
The DNC has a better track record of supporting our troops. That all being said, we have a problem in this country of degrading and berating others when they state their opinion.
We need open dialogue and exchange of ideas to make things better for everyone.
Best wishes.
20 American came back home because of this hero sacrifice and making his family and gold star family someone to still come back home because of a sacrifice someone els did and write a letter like this is sad the mom said come back home as my son not as a hero and he came back home has a hero ….. the only reason Americans come back home is because of those many that sacrifice and give the more important thing anyone has their lives sad…. yeas the father and mother did sacrifice a son that they gave a home gave bath to and faded gave a last name to and now he won’t be there …
“Dear Madam: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln.”
So then based on your rebuttal is Abraham Lincoln wrong?
My commentary was not about this. It was about Mr. Khan’s use of his son’s death. Period.
Someone needs to send this speech to Megyn Kelly and then to Bill O’Reily, so he can have this guy on as a guest and have an intelligent conversation about his talking points. Megyn is swayed so much by emotion and maybe this letter would Help her rationally sort out her thoughts on this subject!
What a powerful and very true letter!
Thank you for your service.!
I dislike Trump immensely and was on the fence regarding what to do when November comes around. His comments about the Khan family pushed me off the fence. I will write in my choice and vote down ticket for decent conservatives in the hopes of averting anything Hillary might try to do to us.
That said, I want to say that your comments are the most thoughtful and well expressed of any I have seen in regards to the subject of the Khans. I appreciate that you did not call them “dogs” or suggest that the family be deported. You sympathized with their loss but made it clear that it is an accepted and expected part of military life. You reminded me that most of our military do not see themselves as heroes (although the rest of us “normal” people do) and that they are by and large humble about their service and the sacrifices, true sacrifices, that they and their families make. Thank you for your service and your comments. They gave me a very different perspective on this subject. God Bless You
I respectfully disagree with you. Mr Khan said what many Americans have wanted to say to Donald Trump. In reference to how President Obama and Mrs Clinton have sacrificed both have been public servants for years that in some aspects is the greatest sacrifice especially fighting for human rights and the rights of those who do not or cannot have a voice. So yes they have sacrificed, more than Trump though is the question. Honestly yes they have sacrificed more than Trump and Trump has an abismal track record , bankruptcies stiffing contractors, scamming thousands with Trump University, stiffing the girls that sang and danced at his convention, that sir is not sacrifice, not even close. Trump is a snake oil salesman and he has poisoned the masses with his hate speech and rhetoric. Trump has zero class and has sacrificed nothing and no one as Mr Khan said.
Thank you for your well thought out comments.
Thank you for your service. I would point out, consistent with a previous poster, that the reason for the Khans to call out Trump is that he stereotypes Muslims and and calls for their exclusion, where Clinton and Obama do not. I would note that Trump called for the ban of all Muslims. He also suggested that we should surveill Muslims in the US in their place of worship, so be careful trying to make his opinion out to be a highly nuanced one. I would also note that Clinton and Obama have given many years in service of the country, though not in the military. Their families have made sacrifices, though not the ultimate sacrifices made by the Khans and others who have lost loved ones. I don’t say that to trivialize the sacrifices of soldiers and their families, but to point out that Trump has never devoted a day to public service, and that the sacrifices he talks of making were all in the interest of building his own wealth. Finally, by listing moments in which Dems are disrespectful to service men and women and LEOs, you are confusing individuals with the party. The people who are truly disrespectful (and not merely critical of certain behaviors) don’t represent the whole of the party anymore than KKK represents yours. (Btw, you can probably tell I am a Dem — my husband is a LEO, and one of my brothers and my grandfather served in the military.) But when the nominee for president says things that are really disrespectful, it should be ok to call that person out and not hold your tongue simply so as to be loyal to the party that claims a monopoly on respect for military and law enforcement.
Chris,
Thank you for your service. You sir are another example of great Americans.
I just want to point out one issue that I have with your letter. While the disgusting DemoCRAPs openly disrespect those that served and sacrificed, the ReTHUGlicans do the exact same in a more heinous manner. The ReTHUGlicans talk about supporting veterans and their families all while they continue to deny funding that is desperately needed for that support. And of course the DemoCRAPs go right along. I have reached a point where both parties absolutely disgust me almost on a daily basis.
With much respect for your service, your family’s service and all your brothers and sisters in the Corps and the Navy.
Scott
A small number of Bernie or Bust people were chanting nonsense during Florent Groberg’s speech. It was dumb and ignorant, but it wasn’t directed at him, nor was it representative of the crowd at the DNC.
And have you given any though as to why Groberg—a Medal of Honor winner and a Republican—would have spoken at the DNC in the first place? He’s a smart and thoughtful man who understands that Trump would be a terrible President. He also understands that Hillary Clinton, while not without her flaws, has the experience and desire to go after ISIS. The only difference is that she understands that we can fight Islamic terror without the need to demonize an entire religion the way Trump has.
Thank you for your service to
Our country.
I’m sorry, you seem more offended by this family’s right to speak out than you do by Trump who cannot act as an adult?
Why do you defend Trump when by his actions with this family, bring any dignity to the RNC? Especially as a veteran, where is your letter to Trump, my good man? He has acted like a whiny bitter child (let alone a Presidential candidate) as he refused to apologize and let this go. But no, he CONTINUES to act as if he is suffering and has been offended more than this family.
How are you not offended by him? How are you more offended by this family, enough to write such a letter. He offended all military families, not just Mr. Khan’s. Now you offend that family, and because you are a Veteran it is all the more astounding and shocking.
The GOP had those killed in Lybia on the stage and we saw a VERY different reaction from Hillary Clinton. We saw an adult with compassion and understanding and empathy.
We have seen no such thing from Trump. As a mother, I can say that 100% Mr. Khan and Mrs. Khan HAVE sacrificed their son to this country and they deserve our compassion, love, understanding , empathy and respect and NOT
And open letter chastizing them and defending a thin skinned Trump!
We are so lucky to live in the US where we can agree or disagree and have the freedom to vote for whom we want . Imagine if we lived in
Iran, Iraq, etc. pat P.
Very well said Sir! Thank you for your service and in writing this letter, voicing the heartfelt thoughts of others of us who are of the same sentiments ! My first thought in seeing this father was that his fallen son would not approve of his mother and father being used in such a hypocritical and heinous way !
Wow, well said Chris Mark, it really makes me sad that a parent would allow the sacrifice of their child to be used as a political pawn in an election covention such as happened at the DNC last week.
Chris, I respect your opinion however I have to disagree on a couple of points. The Khan’s DID give the ultimate sacrifice when they gave their son…just as has every Gold Star family since they have been recognized. These families have always been held in high regard for that sacrifice. We have a national highway named in their honor. I cannot imagine someone like Donald Trump having the gall to have made such a comment in WWII or any other war. He is a textbook narcissist and a man whose moral compass only points to himself.
The Khan’s do indeed have every right to exercise their First Amendment Rights…that you fought for and their son died for…no less than the family members who launched much more vicious diatribes at the Republican Convention. The difference is that they spoke with many half facts and falsehoods…Mr. and Mrs. Khan have not.
Indeed, had they been Mr. and Mrs. Smith from Anywhere, USA, they would be old news. They are not. They are Muslim. Their religion, integrity and faith have been repeatedly attacked by Trump. They were right and they are not being used…that is what is scaring trump and his followers. Like intelligent women, they are terrified of intelligent, well spoken immigrants who know our Constitution better than they do and who actually LIVE it, as opposed to a magnetic ribbon on their car and hollering “USA!” They are the patriots we should emulate.
I do not know if you have spoken out as much against the family members who spoke at the RNC. I would hope you do in fairness.
Conflating the protesters at the DNC to this is inappropriate. The video feed showed they were protesting war and drone strikes, not the individuals. I think they showed poor taste and poor judgement. They, as the DNC, showed that they believe in the exercise of the First Amendment…something Mr. Trump has repeatedly shown disdain for in words and actions at his rallys and in speeches, and the RNC at the convention.
Thank you for taking the time to comment in a polite and professional manner. We dont always have to agree but it is this type of discourse that is important.
Thank you Mark, for a truly inspired letter. Apparently not everyone understands what you wrote… but I do. I only wish I had written it… It said things that I only wish I could have enunciated as well as you. Thank you so much for your service.
Chris,
First and foremost, thank you for your service. My stepfather served in Vietnam and one of my brothers served in the Navy. Your comment was very good and informative. Through I disagree with your conservative bias (in which we all hold political bias), I do respect your opinion.
I do think some elements of the media are playing into this new feud (if we should even call it that). I think Donald Trump should apologize for his insensitive comments to a Gold Star family. I read where Trump honored the Khan’s son which is a great start. But, he should apologize, speak to follow Republicans powers and set things straight, and then go back to competing with Clinton. It is in my belief Trump is huring himself by focusing too much attention on the Khan.
I respectfully disagree that Mr.Khan should choose his words more carefully. Just like all of us, he has the right speak from his heart and that’s what he doing. I’m not for Trump at all and will vote against him. But, as long as Trump keeps attention to the Khans, I believe he will hurt his campaign.
I’m a liberal, so I disagree with your political stances against Clinton and our President, but completely respect your opinion.
Mr Mark,
First off, many thanks for your service. I think you are missing the entire point of Mr. Khan’s speech. The point of Mr. Khan’s speech was to ask a very real philosophical question of Mr. Trump: Is his proposed ban on Muslims worth turning away a potential hero and patriot such as Humayun Khan? You are right, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Obama…none of them has lost a child in battle, but only one of them is proposing a ban that would have kept a true hero out of our country because of fear of an entire religion.
No party or political view has a patent or lock on patriotism or service to this country. When you disparage a political party, suggesting that the party is unpatriotic due to anecdotal episodes of behavior you view as such, you dishonor those who serve who happen to be liberal or Democrats. Further, you fail to hold Mr. Trump accountable for the numerous examples of rhetoric which are unpatriotic and dishonorable – a double standard for sure.
I personally found your letter to this family heartless and cruel. How dare you disparage their intentions because you don’t agree with their political views. Instead, you should honor this family’s sacrifices, and their son’s service to this great nation. Your words are not representative of the spirit of service to this nation, the pledge to uphold constitutional freedoms, and are a dis-service to the US Military.
Chris,
Well written and thank you for your service to our country. Godspeed. God Bless this fallen soldier and his sacrifice.
First of all, thank you for your service. You, sir, have alot of nerve! This family has sacrificed and suffered for the country they love. They have lost a child that gave his life to protect fellow soldiers. Lost a child!!!!!! You judge democrats, and yet it is the republicans in congress that have voted down every bill in the past four years that would allocate funding to veterans. President Obama, Joe Biden and their wives have done more to help veterans than any former modern day president. I am a volunteer at our local VA, and I work with veterans, especially at the end of life. I want what is best for veterans. I will be voting for Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump has a history of disrespecting veterans and using them for his own selfish purposes. It breaks my heart that you would write an article disparaging the sacrifice of this gold star family.
Thank you for your comment. This is how to make a firm point without being vulgar or personally attacking someone. While I may not agree with your perspective I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Mr Mark
Because you are clearly a supporter of Donald Trump, you believe you have the right to question the veracity of this man and his wife. It’s true their son joined the service because he believed it was his duty, but for you to question the loss of their son as a sacrifice is insulting. If you saw active duty, you were lucky enough to come home. Your comments about the DNC not honoring veterans or law enforcement is disingenuous. It is Mr Trump that has made promises to veteran groups and not followed through. It is also the Republican congress that obstructs money for the health of veterans. If you want to back Trump, so be it, but don’t malign this family or other Gold Star families for your own political reasons.
You are wrong there. My right is derived from Mr. Khan’s politicizing the issue.
Perfect, this should be published in the newspapers so everyone can use that to clean up their asses.
Mr. Mark
Aren’t you doing the same thing? While your letter is addressed to Mr. Kahn aren’t you disparaging the entire Democratic Party for the acts of a few. You are correct, there were members of the Democratic Party at the DNC jeering certain members (if not all) of the armed forces. Yet when that happened the other delegates began to chant USA, USA or tried other methods to drown them out.
Personally I think our country would be better off if we all stepped away from our “party lines” and started communicating with one another.
I applaud you for writing a open letter and attaching your real name to said letter. Too often people create on-line personas to exercise thier First Amendment rights
I long for the days of Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neal getting together over a beer and deciding what agenda item they should attack together. They may not have agreed on much, but they found away to find common ground. Long before this election and long after I’m afraid our leaders will need to figure out how to accomplish this feat.
Christopher Fenton
Truth be told, after reading some comments I agree that I unfairly painted the Democrats with a broad stroke of a single brush. I should not have done that. Thank you for your comments.
Your assessment of the situation is spot on! I am not sure how most people can infer that if you disagree with Hilary, then you must be a Trump supporter. Feeble minds I guess.
Amen Mr. Mark and thank you all for all that you do! That includes the heroics of Mr. Kahn. As far as I’m concerned, some people on here hold no merit in their comments. I’ve never served. I’m not ashamed to admit it takes a special kind of man and woman to enlist in our armed forces. Including those that have posted comments here. Regardless of your beliefs or how this letter is viewed, thank you all. I wouldn’t be privileged to have the life I have without any of you. I love my country. I don’t doubt her. When I say my country, I’m referring to our men and women in uniform. Not our politicians. It’s my belief that a president of this country should have a military background. To have had the experience on the other side of things. As for sacrifice. Close friends have come back from wars with their own sacrifices. One lost an eye. 2 lost limbs. One lost his son to cancer while he was defending our country and never got to say goodbye. Families are sacrificed every time a soldier goes to war. When I was younger, I’d ask myself, “why in the fuck would they do that”? Now that I’m older, I understand and it’s the most simple reason in the world. They believe in what they’re doing and believe it’s the right thing to do. I was blown away to hear them tell me this. Sacrifice comes in all different forms and I believe every soldier has had to sacrifice in one way or another. So again, thank you ladies and gentlemen that have served and may God bless all your sacrifices to this great nation that I call home. Thank you Mr. Kahn. Thank you Chris Mark. Thank you Chris Kyle. Thank you Marcus Luttrell. Thank you Tonto, Oz, Rone, and the rest of the men and women of Benghazi. God bless.
Perfectly put, Chris.
Rewriting history already, eh? Shameful.
“‘Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,’ a campaign press release said.”
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-immigration/
And then the supposed “softening”…
“…the proposal no longer targets Muslims per se — but anyone immigrating to the US from… ‘areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe, or our allies.'”
http://www.vox.com/2016/6/30/11924940/trump-muslim-ban-work
Saying that Mr. Trump has not proposed banning Muslims is an out-and-out lie, Mr. Mark. Have you no shame? Have you no honor?
All the grammar issues within these posts are making my head hurt. Seriously folks, don’t vote for him. See, it really IS that easy. Now move along.
I find it amazing how you can nitpick what happened at the DNC (such as some moron yelling during a moment of silence) but can’t quite see that the RNC was four nights of trash talking and taking positions on absolutely nothing and having no plans to make this country better. Just a lot of talk. You make some good points and then just start to forget what your original point was with all of this. Reminds me of Trump actually. So, it makes sense now.
Read my comments. How many times do I have to say that…