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 
A brother down.. Gone. God help the selfish self serving pigs that distract from the reality of war What matters remember the men to your right and left. Who fight with and for you.
I see so many bitter shit talkers the keyboard warrior on here. Fk man be a fucking human
Yes they endorsed who the fuck they want they lost there child.
Take a minute. If you have a child. He lost his life. For our country. In service have some respect.
Over watch
You will see tonight…I have listened to people. I understand this position. It is not my life..but..at 46 I have learned. Thanks for your comments.
Dear Chris Mark:
Your article was read with mixed feelings .
You have a right to go along with any political party of your choice and it’s obvious that you favor the Republican Party.
Mr. Khan was mainly against the idea of banning a whole segment of the world’s population from entering the United States.
Assuming he is able to do this, how does he monitor the millions of Muslims who are already here, most of them citizens like you? Do you trail Kareem Abdul Jabba, Farrakhan etc everywhere they go? How many FBI, CIA operatives are we going to need?
Are they going to be interned like it was done to the Japanese during the Second World War, but not to the Germans?
Are you comfortable with voting for an avowed bigot openly endorsed by the KKK; a narcissist who sees only himself as the solution to the world’s problems and most worrisome, a hypomaniac who cannot keep his mouth shut without saying vile things?
It seems you have decided to put Party above country and that’s a big shame.
“Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses…”
Which effectively means “never”. Or at least, for years and years, probably decades, until we have rooted out the extremist form of Islam that has sprung up in the last 30 years. Maybe when the Muslims get tired of fighting over religion, the way Europe did after the Thirty Years War.
But in any case, not during Trump’s four (or eight) years in office — assuming he manages to get elected.
I can recognize a dog whistle when I see/hear one. I thank you for your service, Chris Mark, but in this case you’re wrong.
Omg, point on. Thank u chris mark.
I totally agree ……
I thank you for your service, though I am from a foreign land. I don’t claim to know Mr Khan’s exact motivations for addressing the DNC but I would submit that you’ve missed the broader point.
Trump wants to ban all Muslims from entering your great nation – he, his wife and his deceased son are/were Muslim so I submit to you that that is why he was addressing Trump and the DNC in opposition to Trump and his stated policy platforms.
I dunno, maybe you have to walk the path or the mile in the other person’s shoes??
I think the author of this hit piece missed the mark.
Starting here: “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.”
Another person actions have a direct effect on those that surround them. Sacrifice is not limited to the person, who in this case decided to serve his country. Mr Khan, no longer has his son, this is all part of the shared sacrifice that is shared among family and friends.
Mr Kahn is derided for taking Mr Trump to task about his sacrifices. This is a valid point, despite what the author claims here. It goes straight to the heart of character. Obviously the author disagrees with the policy of Obama and Clinton, but he wrongly accuses them of never sacrificing anything either. The facts do not bear this out. Long before either could profit from their work, both had a long history of working within their communities to make life better for others.
Finally going on about a litany of things that should be addressed buy MR Kahn if he truly loved America, only shows the author can’t see beyond his own bias and examine life from other perspectives.
The question remains. When and where has Trump sacrificed anything to make the world a better place.
Your points are fairly well stated but you miss the primary point of Mr. Khan’s speech to express patriotism and concern that Trump is not deserving of the highest office. He had the right to criticize Trump as you have the right to criticize Khan. Trump’s response was not that of a potential leader of this country. You made a good but flawed effort to defend him.
Very well said.
Thank you mr. mark, your letter was well written. Thank you for your services.
Your response does make a few good points. But did Donald Trump make any of these points…no he made a racist joke. You say the Democrats have contempt for the military well Trump has show through his response that he has contempt for people. Sure you can make the argument that this father didn’t sacrifice but did you listen to trump. He claimed he has sacrificed has Hillary or Obama claimed that? You claim hypocrisy when your one yourself. You speak against a vets parents yet stay silent on the racist hateful response of Trump and by staying silent showing support…
If I was in Trump’s shoes, first I would find it awfully peculiar that Mr. Khan had a long drawn out prepared speech that he pretty much put to memory. Second, Mr. Khan claimed that Trump/me repeatedly disparaged Muslims. Third, his speech was used on a night that a whole host of Democrats issued fiery attacks. I would seriously consider that Mr. Khan had been groomed for the convention for an extended period of time. Politically, I would have taken a different path to voice my displeasure with the speech. Basically, Donald has been denigrated most thoroughly by the media and some Republican men and women, but not all for assuming that his wife was asked not to speak at the podium whether it was by her husband or the DNC. I suggest that Donald issue an apology to the parents for presuming a Muslim tradition of female subservience to men. However, I would also maintain my stance that the convention appearance was not based on their son’s loss of life in the Iraq war but solely based upon the fallacious belief that Trump is racist towards Muslims. The son should be praised by Trump, and a request made to meet the parents in person in order to at least try to mitigate the entire situation. Trump needs to learn how to be humble !!!!
Do you think maybe he was speaking to the sacrifice his son made, a Muslim, who now Trump want’s to ban from entering the country and wants them to wear a brand in public so they can be identified as such, even though Muslims have been leaving in peace in this country? And to make matters worse, Trump compared the sacrifice his son made, (which even when you volunteer to go into the military, giving you life for country is the ultimate sacrifice,) to building a business and hiring people, basically making money. You should feel more ashamed about that, than a grieving father trying to make people understand that Trump is trying to trample on people’s constitutional rights.
It is very hard to believe that any solder, Sailor, Coast Guard, or Marine retired, Reserve or active duty can support Hillary Clinton. She is only for herself. Trump is not much better. The shame is that America has not got a candidate who is a True American. Wake up America stop voting for criminal and others who want to be on the government teat. We all know that not all Muslims are bad guys, but the big problem is Muslim terrorist. Muslim religionist leaders are not helping to stop terror activities.
I want to thank you Chris Mark for serving our country, also I want to thank you for writing this to Mr Khan and letting him know how you and all Americans feel , he has trashed Trump and continues to do so on CNN .
Wow, how incredibly tunnel visioned is this letter? Ok, so let’s take it from the top. Yes, the parents of the slain soldier did sacrifice if I’m not mistaken, unless Captain Khan’s not really dead, I don’t know maybe hiding out in the basement somewhere?? Sorry I say this with much respect as you pointed out you are a Veteran. One who can’t imagine what pain they’re going through losing a child which you said yourself, so kind of brings into question what sacrifice did you make exactly to warrant this disdain against this family?? And I say that with much respect.
Also the point of them getting up there and making this statement is probably because families like the Khan’s who value and uphold the American way of life and hate terrorists, who are being unfairly attacked by platforms set by people like your beloved Donald Trump, because the terrorists he’s focusing on are the Muslim ones only. Which is what the Khans are and for some reason that’s enough for them to get treated this way. So it makes me wonder if you hate Muslims why you felt the need to write this letter which kinda makes you sound a bit racist really. I mean that with all the respect considering you are a Veteran.
As you are a Veteran, I’m not sure if that somehow prevents you from being an asshole and a racist. Again I’m just wondering and as reiterated throughout this I say that with much respect.
As much respect as you have said several times in your letter with I’m sure the same degree of sincerity.
I think the misunderstanding states on the real message. The parents and their child who died while he sacrificed his own life belong to the ethnic group that has been hated by Mr. Trump. The real message is: don’t generalize don’t raise hate and don’t suggest radical nationalist politics. We, who are from Europe and old enough to have the memory of Naci then the kommunist regime we feel the demagogue behind his campaign message. This is the country of free speech and free act. While the father was wrong to use the example in a political fight the topic received the right attention. Don’t be blind sided: it’s about you and you and me and us. The future which should not lead us back to dictatorship.
Wonderful speech, Sir, and I commend you for standing up for all Americans. THANK YOU.
While I feel for Mr. Kahn it is a shame that he stood up and denigrated Donald Trump. Mr. Trumps statements on the muslim ban have been clarified several times. To think that he has been talking about a blanket ban is pretty ridiculous. The unfortunate death of Capt Kahn is a tragedy but has nothing to do with the fact that he was a Muslim but rather the fact that he was a patriot. The family is grieving and that grief should not be exploited for political gain.
Capt Humayun Khan did not die as a result of a JIHAD as suggested by the writer of the article, but because of an ill begotten war built on lies . A Jihad is a Holy War IRAQ was not a Holy War.
Well said. Thank you Chris.
Thank you for your service, but I am sorry, you totally so miss the point of this controversy. It is not about Khan at all. He has the right to speak his mind, just as we all do and just as many vets and gold star families have for the Republicans (Khan has some republican leanings, btw). The point is: TRUMP’S RESPONSE and what that says about his ability to be President.
George W. had the exact some issue and responded with the statement below. You don’t have to watch it, I’ll summarize and it is soooo simple and obvious. “I appreciate your sacrifice but disagree with your ideas about the problem and the solution.” Not, like your glorious leader’s reply, “you’re wife can’t talk and you are an asshole.”
So, address Trump’s apparent personal attacks. Except for feeling his pain, this not about Khan even a little bit.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/how-george-w-bush-responded-to-criticism-from-a-gold-star-parent/
Unbelievable. I don’t even have words to respond except to say that Trump supporters have brought out the worst of our country. I’m totally disheartened.
Strange that just because you served in the military makes you an expert on all things and persons involved in the military. Having lost a brother in Vietnam Nam, I feel both empathy and sympathy for the Kahn family. His loss still hurts after all these years. And just because he voluntarily enlisted, became a Seal, and was killed doesn’t mean that ANYONE can diminish what he did or stood for. And as an aside, how ironic is it that Christian Natzis killed Christian Allies in WWII. You’re way off base, kiddo, and I feel sorry for you.
The word sacrifice is meant many ways. I think this man and his wife were used by the democratic party. I think things in this country are going to get much worse if some major changes aren’t met. Good luck to all of us.
Mr. Mark,
Thank you for your service. I have to completely disagree with you. First, conservatives always say to us do not use the noisiest members of our party to represent us. I would say the same. I am very proudly liberal. I also appreciate people who serve. That does not mean that I am not vehemently against war. I believe the Iraq war, the Afghanistan war,the Korean War and the Vietnam war were total bullshit. I fully understand and appreciate the sacrifices people made for these wars, that does not mean I can’t condemn the wars. Many of my liberal friends feel the exact same way. We are a larger majority than you know.
Second, about the police. Inherent racism in the system does exist, does that mean we treat all the police as enemies, no. But until more police officers stand up and call out to their brethren to quit it with the violence and the assuming the black man is a criminal (afterall you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty), the police are allying themselves with the wrong side. Conservatives are always saying that Muslims do not condemn the terrorists so therefore they must be part of the problem. We need to find a place where we can correct the problem (and there is one, the numbers and facts do add up to that) and still be able to protect our police and be grateful to them for the job they do.
Thirdly, you say Democrats are the ones who are against the armed forces. I cannot even begin to tell you how off you are. Let’s look at what has happened in Congress lately. It is Republicans who have refused over and over, to stand behind its veterans. It is Republicans who have voted over and over gain to reduce pay to serving members. It is Republicans who took away some of the jobs on bases and gave them to civilians. The party who is anti-armed forces and anti-veteran is the Republicans. Also, the number one thing to show respect to an armed service man/women and veteran is to try and insure that another of his brethren does not have to die on a distant shore.
Fourthly, Donald Trump is the most disrepectful towards the armed forces and veterans than Hillary anyday. You need to step up your research. Forget how he has treated Mr. Kahn, let’s talk about how he treated John McCain ( I personally am not a fan of Mr. McCain, but I respect his service and would never ever disrepect that). Mr. Trump though was an ass toward Mr. McCain. It was horrendous. I should expect this blindness since Republicans thought it was okay to trash Mr. Kerry too. So do not ever ever try to picture the Republicans as armed forces friendly ( I have purposely used armed forces rather military, since Republicans love the military industrial complex), or veteran friendly, thier voting record and their on again, off again respect shows the exact opposite. Democrats are not perfect on this record either, but in the last 20 years or so, honestly have been doing much better than Republicans.
If you truly want to stand beside your brethren, you may want to rethink your championing a man like Donald Trump, who shows careless disregard toward your fellows. He has stated that boots on the ground is the only way to go, in Syria. Syria where chemical weapons are being used, Syria where it is so hard to tell ISIS from freedom fighters they are constantly killing friendlies, Syria which is shitstorm so huge, most likely our soldiers would come back so damaged, either physically or mentally a generation of men and women would be condemmed. He has also stated that China can’t push him around he wouldn’t hesitate to put a stop to them. What does that mean another war, with CHINA?????? Come on, I understand you guys hate Hillary, (fine) but seriously Trump??? I cannot even begin to fathom what you see in him. He has no ideas, except Hate, Misogyny, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Racism and Islamaphobia. You can restate his words all you want or say he meant to say one thing, but what he says clearly follows these paths.
With Respect,
Tara
You’re a fucking disgrace to the Uniform fucker. I’m a Veteran and I’m a liberal. You fucking cuntservatives don’t hold the monopoly on being Veterans. I don’t fucking like shilary but at least she isn’t bad mouthing Veterans and lying about giving them donations. Trump is a fucking cunt. And all you fucking trump chumps are no better.
What was Obama’s sacrifice? Hillary’s? Just wondering…..
as a Vietnam Veteran this Kahn is a Muslim die hard and friend of hillary & obama along with the Lying Liberals does not speak for the Millions of our Military veterans dead or alive but is ONLY speaking for his son.You are alignedwith these Evil liberals and that is all. You are their paid spokes person.You do not speak for me or any other American with your Muslim Trash talk.
The reason for the serious enlisted soldier is not to attack protesters in America, but to protect. They are there so that we can do just that. America takes on all comers and protects equally under the law. Everyone now looks back with distaste for the protest of the Vietnam war when it was the only way apparent that we would bring the nightmare to an end. 58,209 dead, 153,303 wounded.The staggering number of American hero’s dead and wounded and how we put a divided country back together with the memorial. There were fallen hero’s as well in the form of protesters, i.e. Kent State. I realize that there are very sharp elbows in such a conversation searching for room, but the point everyone is missing here is the Constitution. While it does not protect all aspects of dissent it does allow for freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, and free speech. Mr. Khan was well within all of those perimeters. Therefore American soldiers are duty bound to protect him. He is an American citizen and American soldiers are honor-bound to protect him and his wife. My grandson is now serving in the Army and I am very proud of him and hope he has that “Band of Brothers” with him. But I would be just as proud if he were to be a protester in protection of our freedoms. Thank you for your service and I hope we can find a middle if not higher ground Mr Mark.~ Allen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hlYNU6xPJc
Muslim-American Rebuttal to Mr. Khan
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Having watched the emotional speech of my fellow American, Mr. Khizr Khan speaking of the sacrifice he made by losing his son in Iraq, I could not help but sympathize with him and his wife’s loss of a brave American hero.
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As a Muslim American, I realize that when a person decides to immigrate to a new country with a new culture, he/she must realize that the country has rights and responsibilities. Mr. Khan’s son chose to enlist in the armed forces, as any other American has, regardless of race or religion. I salute his patriotism and his sacrifice.
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One has to understand that America is not a pot of gold for immigrants to milk. America has a set of values shared by its Native Americans, European Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans. It is these values that bring us together as a nation of melting pot immigrants. The values of honesty, giving generously to charity, hard work, respecting all peaceful beliefs, separation of church/synagogue/mosque/temple and state, innovation, living and let live, promoting peace and rejecting dishonest corrupt politicians.
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One cannot expect to bring his/her values from wherever he/she came from and impose it on our society. We all realize that the world is full of practices and habits rejected by our American values. The banning of female drivers in Saudi Arabia, the circumcision of females in northern Africa, self-crucifixion in the Philippines, Voodoo practices in South America, human trafficking in Indo-China and slavery in Yemen and Mauritania. ISIS, created during Obama’s first term and allowed to flourish in his second term, holds values in contrast with the entire western and peace loving nations of the world. Their self-righteousness giving themselves the right to assassinate, maim and rape any one they disagree with. It is those distorted values that destroyed Europe five centuries ago which lead them to realize that religion has no part in politics.
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As Americans; Muslims, Christians and Jews, we have the joint responsibility of promoting our shared American values to combat the rise of backward values that is threatening to invade our country which we have clearly seen in San Bernardino, CA, Orlando, FL and Waco, TX.
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Once again Mr. Khan, may your fallen hero rest in peace, and let us pray that America will not fail again to protect its borders from ISIS terrorists, drug dealers, human traffickers and cult leaders. The United States, must take the lead in building an international coalition to rid the world from ISIS savagery which killed more Muslims in Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Turkey, than any other religion in the world.
.
–mazin al-eshaiker
–irvine, california
Smart Marine
AMEN and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR!!
There’s another kind of sacrifice that I think Trump alluded to… it is certainly not the sacrifice of a soldier and the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier, or even the pain of losing a child, and the pain of losing a child to war… but it is a sacrifice that millions of people make every day and perhaps are ashamed to proclaim, as it may pale in the light of the soldier’s sacrifice, but it is a sacrifice all the same… people working very very hard, everyday, in a cubicle or at a cash register, because they brought children into this world, because they started a family and they mean to make the lives of that family as good as possible, working alone or with a spouse, long and hard, doing their duty to make money for the family… quietly, without much complaint, happy to put food on the table… are they well rewarded for their sacrifice? I think so. I think family is a wonderful return, though I reckon some of them still wonder what might have happened if they had instead went on that world tour with the band…
Working very very hard so family might prosper… and by extension, creating jobs so other families might prosper, perhaps even working hard to make the best conditions for those employees, I don’t know… there probably should be two different words, maybe there is, ‘sacrifice’ and ‘ultimate sacrifice’, for the differences between what the two men did… but for the type of sacrifice Trump may have alluded to, we all know parents who gave their lives for us, who worked work hard lives, to shelter and feed and cloth us, parents who sacrificed for us, parents who are our own personal heroes for doing that.
Simple put, I like to see the letter you wrote to Trump when he denigrated John McCain or are you being honest to yourself. The RNC had you up front but don’t misstep. You saw what they did to the FBI director
I think the man’s whole message which a lot of people seem to be missing was the Democratic Party use this man for his hurt of his son then the democratic Party turned around and spit in the military face and the officers that have been killed. By interrupting the moment of silence. He wasn’t trying to say anything else. I think each and everyone of our military for their sacrifices they do to keep our freedoms. I just sorry we live in a world that people done have common sense & want to play on words. Been so knowledgeable, Yet we have so many dumbasses in this world today. I know I’m probably get 1000 comments about this, but I just over look them, people can’t seem to help that they cannot pour water out of a boot without the directions right on the side. Before everyone starts ripping him & I apart look up the word Common Sense, & read the man letter again using it.
Trump called our military a disaster,meaning he called all of you guys who served a disaster and some still praise and defending him. What a shame ,no self respect.
Great letter, Thank you for your service and speaking up!
I AM A US ARMY VET SERVED. IN GERMANY FROM 1956 TO 1958. NO ONE HAS ASK ABOUT BILL CLINTON’S DRAFT DODGEING DAY’S DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. WHILE OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE DYING IN NAM, HE RAN TO ENGLAND TO GO TO SCHOOL AT OXFORD. WHEN HIS DRAFT # CAME UP AND WAS TOLD TO REPORT TO THE DRAFT,HE HAD PEOPLE IN HIGHER OFFICE GO TO BAT FOR HIM. WAS SUPPOSE TO JOIN ROTC SO HE WOULD BE DRAFT DEFERED.HE NEVER FILED THE PAPER WORK AND STAY IN ENGLAND. GO TO GOOGLE, PLENTY OF INFORMATION, IF INTERESTED.
Amen
You missed the whole point. The point was the MUSLIMS have made the same sacrifices as Christian, Jewish and other parents. These parents represented many Muslims that have fought and died for our country. So for Donald Trump to call out a whole group of people like he has, is unfair and not according to our Constitution. Also for you to say to all service families- eh- they volunteered, get over it already, is heartless at best. Would you say that to a Christian family? I doubt it Stop watching Fox News and have a little empathy.
8/02/2016
Mr Trump:
In the past few days, you have disrespected the father of a soldier who died in combat in Iraq. You not only disrespected him but you disrespected his wife, a woman so filled with grief that she could not speak. You know absolutely nothing about the pain of losing a child to war. You disrespect thousands of parents who. like Mr. Khan and I, have paid the ultimate sacrifice–our child’s life in the name of American freedom and democracy.
You have said that Mexico sends criminals, rapists, and drug dealers. You either have bad information or your handlers are lying to you about immigration. Thousands of us who are of Mexican origin have paid the high cost of giving our children’s blood for all of the wars prosecuted by the United States around the world. Are you aware of how many ethnic Mexican soldiers and Marines have received the the highest honor this nation bestows on its fallen heroes? I can give you all the names but you would not understand their courage and sacrifice; their love of family and country.
I am but one more immigrant who came from Mexico to work–not to rob or rape–but to work and provide for my family. What did I give in return? The life of my son Jesús A. Suarez del Solar who died in Iraq “defending our freedom” including your right to insult us. My son died a U.S. Marine in the illegal invasion of Iraq and you mock and disrespect that fact when you say that you have “sacrificed a lot” by creating jobs with your shady businesses. Clearly, you do not understand the word “sacrifice.”
Millions of immigrants from all over the world chose to come to the United States and adopt this country as our own. Many of us have given our children’s blood in return. You never served and have never known war. Your sons have not served and only use weapons against defenseless animals. And yet you insult us by claiming to be the only one who can fix America’s problems.
Stop being cynical. You have no moral authority to speak on democracy, sacrifice or heroism. We thousands who are Gold Star parents do. If you were a man of integrity, you would apologize to us now and give up your insane scheme to become President of this great nation.
Fernando Suarez del Solar, Father of Lcpl Jesus Suarez del Solar, KIA Iraq
I’m a Vietnam Veteran with 28 years in the military and I find your remarks, Chris, very disappointing. Trump is nothing more than a draft dodger and so are his “entitled” sons. He disrespected Senator McCain, a hero that spent 3 years in a POW camp. I don’t like McCain’s political stance but I would never insult hit. You are WAY out of line and if Trump were to get in office you might as well kiss your benefits goodbye. I usually call all past and present veterans my brother/sister but in your case I’ll have to make an exception.
LtCol Richey!!!
Because of a blog post? No offense taken. I don’t care to call you a brother if that is your perspective.
Ok, so President Obama and Hillary Clinton may not have lost family members in a war, but they also did NOT insult or disrespect the family or memory of those who did! And this is not the first time Trump has done this (John McCain ) Apparently, he is a very slow learner! Yet, he claims to LOVE our military and veterans! Is this the guy we want as commander in cheif? I know I dont!
Mr Khan is a REAGAN REPUBLICAN invited by the DNC to speak on behalf of Muslim Americans attacked by Donald Trump’s racism. The topic of his speech was not Iraq, it was against Trump’s xenophobia and unconstitutional stances against immigrants. Donald Trump is a wealthy and powerful man, he will be just okay if he apologize to Americans who are not White like him.
Very poorly expressed. Your conservative bias pours from your words. Trump is a Sociopath and all I care aboutbis he stays as far from the white house as possible
[…] Here’s another perspective. […]
Mr. Mark,
As a father, you *should* understand that while the son is the one who sacrificed his life, and volunteered, his family also felt that sacrifice and sacrificed themselves as well.
A wife who see her husband deployed feels the sacrifice because he is gone from her life, not totally as in the days before Skype, but still it is felt, and she goes through sacrifice herself because some military wives have to go on food stamps and get other assistance. That is sacrifice.
And the parent, while not usually impacted financially, still feels their son’s sacrifice and sacrifices themselves. They feel it because they have to watch their own flesh and blood deployed into a dangerous area, with the possibility of not returning. They sacrifice their health in the fear and worry they experience while their son or daughter is deployed. Every letter or email, every minute of any phone call is a joy, but the next minutes after they hang up, are heart-wrenching. That is sacrifice.
The children of those who serve, sacrifice constantly, even the little ones. The little ones only know that the one they love is gone and can’t understand why he/she isn’t there for their birthday party or Christmas morning. They don’t understand why, when they see that parent on Skype, their pleas to come home don’t work. The older ones have to deal with the fact that their parent won’t be there for a baseball game, piano recital or school play. They may understand better why their parent is gone but in that understanding, they also know the fear and worry of the older family members. That is certainly sacrifice.
As for Secretary Clinton or President Obama sacrificing… I believe that anyone in a position of power that has to make the decision to send military forces into harm’s way sacrifices. Maybe not anywhere near as those I mentioned above, but still feel the bitter feeling of sending another human being into danger. That is my opinion.
I didn’t serve in the military, I didn’t meet the requirements, but I don’t know if I would have had the guys that those who served have to do so, even if I could. However, while I honor someone who served, Iike yourself, I can disagree and with you and make my own statement. I am not a trump supporter, and only reluctantly support Secretary Clinton (as I was a Senator Sanders supporter) but I agree with the Khans in that trump has not known any of the sacrifices I listed here. He dodged serving and, as far as I know, has no one who served in his family. That is why I take the opinion of someone as articulate and well-spoken as Mr. Khan over someone like trump.
I wish you luck and thank you for your service.
Charlie O.
I’m sorry Mr Mark, I thank you for your service to this Great Nation, but you’re as clueless as Trump! ANY GOLD STAR FAMILY has sacrificed and has the right to speak their mind. Your lack of empathy is astounding sir. Having served yourself, I thought you would know the immense sacrifice you personally give; your family gives the same, namely YOU! Yes you are the one signing the papers, basic training, AIT, etc… but the family sacrifices too. And you know that! I don’t have to spell it out for you. So unless your position in the Marines and Navy was “behind the lines” and/or clerical in nature, where you still don’t fully understand the true nature of “giving your all”, I suggest you leave Gold Star Families alone.
In honesty..my family did not sacrifice. I grew up on foster homes so that likely colored my perspective. I own that. Please read my bio for information on my job.
I don’t know that I can get behind your line of thinking. Every service member chose to serve but let’s be real clear that choice started a chain of sacrifices for the service member and their families. Time apart, the service member missing out on who knows how many “firsts” with their children, the risk of emotional/mental health issues, physical harm, disability and realistically the loss of life. It is difficult for me to not look at how that choice to serve this country should ever be viewed as “well he knew the risks..” This country is the great melting pot and it is made up very different men and women. To call into question a person’s ability to serve due to religious beliefs is a slap in the face to the core values that this country was built on, Freedom of religion. I do not believe that Donald Trump wI’ll be a supporter of the armed forces, I do not think that he cares enough about people as evidenced by his lack of impulse control to choose his words more carefully. This is my opinion. Service is sacrifice and one that should not be diluted by anyone. Be safe, come home and enjoy what you have defended.