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 
I am posting MY public statement about the issue surrounding Captain Humayun Khan who is considered an American hero who risked his life and died defending America and fighting for our American FREEDOMS, we humbly thank him;
LIKEWISE, I believe Donald J Trump to also be an American HERO who is risking HIS life to defend ‘us’, the American People, and AMERICA. He also gave up a lot of HIS money and willing donors, operating his business, and he laid his past, present, and future reputation, (and his wife and children’s lives), before a corrupt and lying media to rip apart;
He has sacrificed his ‘life of peace’, with media invasion of his families’ privacy to step into a dangerous position to try to save this country from doom and financial collapse. IN FACT, so dangerous, that he needs to have a team of security agents THAT SURROUND HIM EVERY DAY to protect him from violent crazy thugs when he is ‘out and about’ and among the population. He should be seen only through bullet proof glass, you nincompoops.
You are gravely mistaken, if you think that Sir Donald isn’t facing danger. Every day, he is facing danger, by standing up to both corrupt parties of this government, (with many dropping dead around the Clinton’s); the corrupt Republicans are worse than friendly fire. DT is facing incredible danger by standing against the new world order, and standing up to the drug cartel with their drug wars, and mob bosses that ‘assassinate’ to protect their money laundering shenanigans; He is standing up to our domestic terrorists, our violent ILLEGALS, (many of who are criminals deported several times) and protesters, and the radical Islamic terrorists who have put out ‘hits’ on his life.
He is risking his life and the lives of his family for this country and its people. We should get on our fricken knees and be so flippin’ thankful for his incredible bravery and steadfast dedication. HE SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND SHOWN R.E.S.P.E.C.T. SIR DONALD J TRUMP IS A ‘HERO’.
And you can’t vote for him because he insulted someone for FREE PRESS COVERAGE? Really!! I don’t give a crap, I am voting TRUMP.
You idiots judge him on some kind of ‘premonition’ of what YOU THINK he may possibly do ‘in the FUTURE’? That’s malarkey! LOOK at the record that shows what HILLARY HAS DONE!! Listen to her LIES. What, you’re voting for HILLARY because you don’t LIKE Trump’s lack of tact, or personality? You turncoats can get out of this country, anytime!!!
WE NEED LAW AND ORDER! AMERICA NEEDS TRUMP MORE THAN HE NEEDS US. HE DOESN’T NEED ALL THIS MEDIA ABUSE!
Come January 2017, God Willing, HE WILL BE THE NEXT POTUS. So, ‘shut up already’ and ‘get with the program’~.
Where did you get your brain? You should go back and ask for a refund!
When you find yours then you can advise others without one
I didn’t even read her post, but yours was ridiculous. Typical liberal “argument”. No substance, no logic, just attack what you don’t agree with. Smh.
Carol Casper,
At least he has a brain that’s more than any one can say about you!!!
Are you mentally challenged? Trump has done nothing for us Vets ever, he disrespects us, tried to get fellow vets moved off of 5th Avenue in NYC, He disrespected a POW. Oh by the way, a hero is not a draft dodger and since your head is so far up the ass of Trump ask him what he was sacrificing when he was dodging the draft when my dad and uncles were drafted or volunteered to go to Vietnam because they were raised to be military at any cost.
Are you stupid? What has clinton EVER done for the troops? Abandoned the service men and women in begazi!! She is nothing but a traitor to this country no American Flags were permitted at the dnc and the democrats paraded some smerks upon stage to praise her give me a brake. I AM A AMERICAN VET AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN AND WILL ALWAYS FLY THE FLAG ALWAYS.
SO, didn’t Obama disrespect thousands of REAL American slain soldiers? Why, is his son “special”, because he is a Muslim? Does he deserve special treatment anymore more than others? And Trump did no wrong about mentioning mother not speaking because it is a Muslim foolish belief woman
are less value.
Bill Clinton was a draft dodger and he and his wife were protesters during the Vietnam war. I was in my early 20’s and witness their hatred for this country
Where was Bill Clinton? Draft dodger and admits to using drugs. If he was fit to be president, so is Trump. Hillary is to blame for the Benghazi massacre. How is that supporting our military? Bill was responsible for the BlackHawk incident in Somalia. The Clintons have more skeletons in their closet than a Halloween haunted house. Trump had college deferments and his draft number was 356 out of a possible 366. So the chances of him being drafted was almost nonexistent. Bill Clinton did receive an induction notice and his family pulled in every political favor to avoid him being inducted as a private. So slow your roll about the draft dodging.
*No American Flags were permitted at the dnc and the democrats – wrong – and has been proven wrong many times in the last week.
*Abandoned the service men and women in begazi!! – GOP has proven 7 times and spent $4m on proving that Sec Clinton and anyone else could have prevented or stopped Benghazi (but it was ok for the GOP to parade a Benghazi Mom and I see no backlash from the Dems over that)
*Trump did no wrong about mentioning mother not speaking because it is a Muslim foolish belief woman
are less value. – Mother released a statement that she was to upset about her sons death to speak, she did release a statement and many of my Muslim friends who are women speak, get your facts correct.
*How has Obama (BTW not running for POTUS), disrespect anyone?
*The DNC has not made Trump the idiotic maniac that he is, they have not forced him to disparage women his whole adult life, the Libs did not make him racist and not rent to blacks in the 70’s. The libs did not cause Trump to attack fellow GOP and call them names. The libs did not cause him to go bankrupt 4 times, and being part of the problem in Atlantic City. The libs have done one of that Trump made his own bed and now he is destroying a great institution called the GOP.
*Trump was friends with Billary, donated to campaigns, said that Hillary was a good senator.
So don’t try and sell me on your crap, I served both the Army and Navy, my family has many members who have served since the US started. I know what it is to be a proud republican, but anymore both parties disgust me.
I never voted for Bill, and dislike him for being a draft dodger.
10/4
Well said Jillian Bjork!!
Clinton and the DNC has a lot of emails (the leaked ones) where they talk about cbs, nbc, msnbc, reuters, buzzfeed, and so on being in their pockets. They talk about smearing Trump and making him look “dangerous, too dangerous to be president,” “racist”, “misogynist” (they posted a fake now hiring job ad from trump to make him look so), and they tell the media what questions to ask. They also speak of hiring fake protesters to send to Trump’s rallies, speeches, and so on. There’s one email where they were speaking about the hired protesters didn’t show up on time so they had to use their own interns to fill in. Trump isn’t what people think he is, that’s the doing of the DNC and Clinton using media to make him look bad. There’s so many things in her emails it’s frightening.
This gentleman hit the nail on the head!
Amen.
You’re disgusting. Get Trump’s tiny wang out of your mouth, you shill.
Another classy response from the liberal left. Now making homosexual references. You sir, are a class act.
What about the 200 Marines that were abandoned in Kuwait, because they couldn’t get a flight home. If I remember it was Trump that sent one of his planes over there to bring them home. Trump has done more than Killary has, for our troops.
Here’s your problem- if a rude comment is made to you suddenly it’s the “liberal left”, when in reality it’s just some immature anonymous fellow named Andrew. Don’t equate one rude fellow with an entire political spectrum.
I have posted all of the comments as many are NSFW…on that note…don’t equate one person with the right
You are a joke and a disgrace to this country. Your tiny inept mind to come up with such a response show how much dignity the liberal party has….none.
very special ed of you, we all least know where billerys wang has been,
God Bless U, Chris Mark!
Chris,
Thank you.
I am also a veteran USMC and now retired Navy CPO. I have been spent my time in Afghanistan and other middle east countries. I find this letter divisive and hateful, It only shows you lack understanding and compassion for those that are not like you. It does not represent the freedom we fight for.
I agree that the DNC has failed it’s people, but that doesn’t make everybody on that side totally wrong. The RNC has also failed us. The fact that a decent candidate cannot get nominated, and most decent candidates will not even try because of the constant hate we are encouraged to have towards them. This letter only builds on that hatred.
Thank you Chief, fellow squid PO2
Also a Veteran, and also agree with you. Not saying Clinton is a better candidate, neither is worth a damn, but this letter is way off base. Like or Hate the DNC, the statement “Your own hypocrisy in not denouncing these acts and instead using the DNC as a platform to make a political point is disgraceful.” IF not at a national convention for a political party what other platform is more suited to a political statement? Your mistake is assuming that he has not denounced other acts. We all have our pet issues that are most important to us. This person obviously is going to be most effected by the death of a child. Given Trumps statements since all this only goes to prove what this father was saying. I disagree that Clinton is a better choice, but that is another argument. Apologize to these grieving parents.
[…] Mr Americana, Overpasses News Desk August 1st, 2016 Overpasses For America VIA GLOBAL RISK […]
What an idiotic letter!! Let’s deflect blame onto Obama and Clinton or accuse all Democrats of hating cops instead of focusing on the narcissistic, demagoguing a-hole that the Republican Party has nominated this year. You, sir are what wrong with this country today and hiding behind your service gives no credibility to what you wrote in this disgusting partisan piece of crap. Shame on you !
I would say the same about you.
I say shame on YOU! get your head out of your butt and look how the real world is!
i challenge you for proof or evidence of your slanderous words towards Trump or are you just reiterating what is spewed to you about Trump from the media??, you would call him a demagogue, what would your name for killery be? now have at it lets see the proof you have to back your statement, by the way before you call me a republican think twice, ill give you a hint only the people are republican or democrat those in office are just shady back room dealers
Asshole
Another logical response from a liberal.
ok – Asshole from a confirmed registered republican
sure. Stay classy.
lol i guess thats what they consider a complete thought, same every where i go, when a liberal is losing or cant win resort to name calling, threats, and talk of grammar. i swear they all have 3×5 cards telling them what to do next, sheep to the slaughter, looks like you have won Mr. Mark because they have resorted to all 3 against you lol. ill have your championship belt mailed post haste, wish i could tell a liberal shut up and color but they may actually think that means color
As a vet, I am amazed any vet could support either candidate especially Trump. He has nothing and done nothing for vets other then use them for his own gain, spoke ill of a POW, lied about donations, only to donate when caught in lies, tried to have the vets removed from 5th Ave NYC because they were a eye sore. It is ok for the RNC to parade out a Benghazi Mom to only discuss false information that the GOP has already proved incorrect. But if the DNC parades out a parent of a war hero, they are wrong. Please also let’s not forget trump was a draft dodger as was Bill.
The point so many of you seem to be missing is that Trump has spoken at length about banning Muslims from entering the country and creating a database for those already here. This can have extremely dangerous consequences. The Holocaust being an obvious example. The Kahn’s are American. And because of the sacrifices they have made in honor of OUR freedom, they deserve the respect and dignity all Americans are afforded. His speech was less VOTE FOR HILLARY and more NEVER TRUMP! To him, their lives are at stake. #nevertrump #imwithher
So monitoring the very people responsible for Orlando, Boston and San Bernardino as well as those destroying Europe “could” cause problems? They’re lucky to be here at all! If they don’t wish to go through the proper channels in which Americans are safe, they can go back to the countries they CHOOSE to leave!
you forgot 9/11 and the bombing at wtc also plus many other issues, and the things Trump speaks of already exists in the patriot act, you think fbi cia nsa hls and other officials dont have folders on every single person who has uttered anything they deem anarchist then stay in the dark, all Trump has asked for is temporary measures to insure our safety, but by all means you believe them so safe go vacation in syria but let me buy life insurance on ya first
Excellent letter, thank you. As a Democrat myself, I am disgusted by our nominee. More importantly, I am disgusted our our stance for our military. I’m also angry at what we believe about Islam and terror. As an American-Syrian, I know all tool well what real Islam is. This Saudi reporter deserves great respect finally acknowledging her people and religion are to blame.
https://youtu.be/WeJj–eJmH8
you are the very first from that side of the world, for me to ever hear say what is being done is wrong and that reporter is very brave to call it out and be female also, i wont claim to know all about the ideology of islam but i spent time in iraq and afganistan, kwait and saudi, i never felt safe or easy there even from the so called friends and interpretors, i dont even know why they are so angry, i always thought they should look with in there own countrys if it was from being poor maybe the wealthy there who use them should pay not people half across the world who knows only they do
WOW!! I wondered how the spin would be put on this to make trump the victim……just wow. He really could shoot someone in the middle of the street and you all would follow him blindly…..how sad.
Trump was attacked viciously on national television by a man to whom he had done nothing wrong! He has the right to defend himself against an unwarranted and slanderous misrepresentation of his policies. Mr. Khan is being disingenuous and complicit in a partisan strategy of character assassination and he has no trouble using, and cheapening, the sacrifice of his own son to do so. Using their own children is what we see Muslims do in the cause of Jihad. Mr. Khan is an immigration lawyer and follower of Sharia law. He should hate the people who killed his son but instead he wants to bring them here. Would his son have given his life for his country so his father could import his own killers here? THINK.
As a veteran of the US Navy, I read this letter and felt nothing but embarrassment that a fellow veteran could be so cold, disconnected, and downright wrong in his assessment of this situation. I wonder if Mr. Mark had the same things to say about Patricia Smith when she appeared at the GOP Convention and blamed HRC for the death of her son in Benghazi (complete to the chants of “Locke her up”).
It is both unfortunate and uncomfortable for all of us to be reminded that there are people behind the sacrifices we hear about on the news. Grieving parents make it real for us in a way that the news never can.
Gold Star families deserve our respect and our gratitude regardless of where we stand on Afghanistan, Iraq or Benghazi. The simple truth that the Trump Brigade cannot admit is that this man is simply not equipped intellectually, emotionally or diplomatically to lead our nation. At best he is a child and a tyrant and at worst his is a danger to our nation. Defending him is futile. The man is bankrupt morally as well as financially.
Please read ALL the comments.
Donald Trump will have a team and going on his excellent business past it should be great. Clinton has all those past experiences to explain to your Nation. I cannot believe after we in the UK have completely upturned the government by our dissatisfaction that there isn’t a sense of ” wipe the slate of old name politicians and their back scene clubs for a complete new run at your countries politics.”.
Same as UKIP was distrusted and slagged off but now after leading us out of the EU Nigel Farage is seen in a different light.
Basically the guy did wrong in his comments but no need to slate Trump ( not bad for a beginner we’re saying here in Scotland, and will get better. Better than that Clinton with her downfalls. Clean slate the Parties and start again, we did).
The guys comment obviously emotionally charged. Think before you speak Mr Khan.
Dear Mr. Mark,
I appreciate your frustrations as a Republican and veteran who has served this country in the military. However your characterization of Democrats as a party of citizens who all hold American military service members in contempt is as insulting as it is flat out IGNORANT!
Most members of the Democratic party honor America’s servicemen as much as any Republican. Moreover, the party backs up that sentiment with a commitment to funding veterans’ benefits and other legislation that seeks to continue honoring veterans once they have come home from battle or retired from service by seeing to their needs, rather than merely giving lip service and plastering bumper stickers on their cars while slashing veterans benefits and voting huge appropriations for military hardware contracts that enrich industrialists and garner votes for politicians but do nothing to improve American security, while scrimping on funds needed to properly house, feed, care for and properly arm soldiers themselves, provide for their families, and provide adequate troop strengths.
Moreover, plenty of Democratic voters serve or have served in the military, and if you sift through the ranks if the US Congress and other elected officials, you will find far more Democrats who’ve served than Republicans, many of whom like former VP Dick Cheney famously had “other priorities.”
My late father himself lied about his age at 17 to enlist in the service as soon as he finished high school and persuaded the army to take him despite his flat feet and other ailments that would have classified him 4F because he was so eager join.
He served as a navigator bombardier in the Army Air Corps on WWII, was shot down over Italy, and spent nearly a year in a body cast in an army hospital to save his leg after shrapnel wounds to his thigh caused a serious bone infection. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, and to say that I don’t honor his service or that of any other US military members just because I believe in liberal political values is a grave insult and if you would ever like to confront me directly, I would be happy to discuss what I think of your ignorant and scurrilous statements with you face to face.
There are times I have passionately disagreed with our government’s decisions to employ military force in specific situations, but I have NEVER felt anything but respect and gratitude to the men and women who have offered their lives or just their time and energies to serve our country.
Moreover, you might consider that there are other ways as well to serve the American people, such as caring for our citizens who need help at home, or working hard to educate our children, despite the pitiful lack of respect and pay accorded to this important profession. And these are areas where many Republican voters and politicians can be accused of demonstrating contempt or lack of respect for people who also serve their nation at home.
Lastly, whatever your thoughts on whether the parents of lost soldiers deserve to be considered as people who’ve lost or sacrificed for this country, I’d like to know what you think of Trump’s comments that he, too, has “sacrificed” for this country by working “very, very hard” at his business and creating lots and lots of jobs. Without deflecting to comments on Hillary Clinton or any other public figures, just tell me plainly if you consider Trump’s comments and appraisal of his own sacrifices as appropriate and accurate.
Or his comments previously that his sexual promiscuity and risking STDs in the ’70s as a result was his own personal equivalent of serving in the military in Vietnam, and made him feel like he was some kind of “brave soldier” just for sleeping around like a rutting hog?
Are these the comments of a person who seriously respects our military servicemen and women?
Best and most appropriate comment I’ve read on this ridiculousness! I see Mr. Mark didn’t take the time to respond to you.
Again…for the benefit of Kim…1000 comments waiting in the queue…show me the comment and I will do my level best to answer. I obviously cannot answer all of them.
It’s not fair to tell him what to do. Spend some time criticizing that disrespectful,moron coward trump. He’s a fool.
M husband is a 100% Disabled Veteran…33 years of military service. Our daughter is now serving in the Navy on a destroyer our of Pearl Harbor Hawaii. We are all voting Clinton/Kaine….. As well as General Allen (who also spoke at the DNC convention) and thousands of other military members retired and active duty around the world. Why are we voting for Hillary Clinton? For the very reasons Khizr Khan mentioned in his speech: Donald Trump has no empathy…Donald Trump has no soul. He does not know how to take the higher road when he is questioned or challenged…. and he is not a safe bet to be the head of the US Military. Trump has a short fuse….HE WILL easily get into international conflicts just because of his narcissistic ego. He wants to leave NATO and he wants to arm Japan and SK with nukes in a very unstable Asia theater…..with North Korea ready to engage in war at the smallest provocation. Trump also judges all people of a certain culture or religion by the worst represented in that culture/ religion. The commenter who said above that Khizr Khan is FOR Sharia Law is showing his ignorance….the same as Trump ignorance. Really, this man above and Trump both judge Muslims and lump them all into one box. What if Christians were judged by all the extremists in our race/ religions who have over the years blown up buildings and abortion clinics? But but but….they are not like us, you say? Well….the same cry is being heard within Islamic communities….ISIS is not us…please don’t judge all Islam by ISIS. Trump has already lost this election because he has alienated blacks, Hispanics, and women by his divisive rhetoric…..Ironically…if he had been smart and not divisive and mean spirited…he could have won. That’s how unintelligent, unenlightened, and uneducated….Trump really is. He could have channeled the American anger and disillusionment into a win if he could have just been balanced and informed….if his rhetoric had not been so CRAZY….or if he could have kept his mouth shut and taken the higher road….but he is who his is and that will be his ultimate downfall!!
Well said.
Thank you for your service Chris Mark.
I completely agree with your sentiments on every point.
As a Father, surely I understand the anguish of these parents, nothing slams you with the reality of life like the loss of your child.
But for anyone to use that as a device for manipulating political sympathy, especially in such a hypocritical way, is so shameful.
This American Patriot should be honored for his sacrifice to America, not used by the Democratic party and others for their own selfish gain
This would have been a different story had they spoken at the RNC and not the DNC. The whole problem is not the Khans but the remarks for Mr. Trump on this subject. Very hypocritical to say the lest.
Please read all the comments.
It was ok for the RNC to parade a Benghazi mom out there to help the RNC. Knowing all along that the party that Trump is destroying has proved 7 times and with spending $4m that Sec Clinton had done no wrong and nothing could have prevented what happened and nothing could have been done to save the individual’s. But again it was OK for the RNC. Funny that many in the GOP are defending Mr and Mrs Khan and denouncing Trump. All these so called republicans are probably voting for the first time, I guess they finally found someone as hateful as them to support.
as a disabled combat vet from vietnam, i do have an opinion about service and sacrifice for this country. i do not believe clinton or trump can offer a qualified of an opinion as a true vet can. to me neither one is qualified 100% to be our next president. i also say this from a Christian point of view. however i believe that clinton has held office and has proved beyond any shadow of doubt that she would not even make a good dog catcher. so lets give a person outside the normal political realm a chance. even if he fails he may not be as much of disgrace as clinton has already proven to me. may God bless and protect all of our military and police officers and i pray that one day again that God would bless this great country…..gene
And let’s remember what Kahn does for a living. He’s an immigration attorney who doesn’t acknowledge the ties between terrorism and Islam. So he’s not coming from the stance of a grieving father. If he was, he’d acknowledge which of the two candidates VOTED for war.
“Sacrifice” is defined as “a loss or something you give up, usually for the sake of a better cause.” To say these people did not lose something for the sake of a better cause is saying that all of the fighting has been for nothing. While I hate to see this type of loss used as a political ploy, these parents have a much better understanding of what sacrifice means than Trump ever will.
Very well stated sir and thank you for your service. I don’t think there should be any guilt or condemnation for not serving in the armed services. Neither President Obama or Clinton served or Mrs. CLINTON. This man was way off base in his accusations. Mr. TRUMP has employed thousands and thousands of people of all nationalities and ethnic and racial groups over the years and has promoted women to high levels of management as well.
As a Navy veteran I agree with Chris Mark!
What a pile of crap…. How does he think his parents would have felt if he had died serving his country… He claims that the parents didn’t sacrifice, that only their son did… He obviously isn’t a parent who has raised a child and than had to stand over their grave. I can’t imagine something happening to my daughter… that is every parents nightmare. He also claims that the Democrats are not a friend of the military, what has this Republican congress actually done for the veterans of this country? Absolutely nothing… All you veterans need to check out history to see which party has actually passes laws that have helped them, I think they will be surprised…
Very well said, but you did miss Bill Clinton who served only himself,
Well written. Ignore the liberal trolls that will invariably crawl out of their caves to throw mud on you. Their sickening responses are not worth your time.
Thank you for your service Chris. You are absolutely right on with your statement. While I feel for the Kahn’s loss, they did thier son a dis-service by politicizing his death in the name of the democrat party. How many more people must die by Islamic terrorism before the left wakes up and sees the problem? We cannot continue to have open boarders and allowing refugees in, while keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that we will not be infiltrated by Islamic Terrorists. No one that is not throughly vetted should be allowed to enter our country. Yes like with any group there are good people and bad, but we have to be sure they are good, and stop being politically correct at the expense of the safety of the all of the people in the U.S. Donald Trump Gets This! And for the sake of the safety of us all, every person needs to get this!
Hey Chris, I retired from the Navy and Mr. Khan hit the nail on the head. The only military people that is standing up for Donald Trump are those from the good old boys club who think they are a law of their own. You talk about who disrespect who how many of you so call loyal vets Call the POTUS Obama like he is your equal. Please respect Mr. Obama he is the commander in chief even if people like yourself don’t like him you still as an active or vet respect him.
In our great nation the POTUS is equal. he holds a position but it elected by the people. He is not a king.
No, the POTUS isn’t King, but is deserving of respect. If it were a Republican in office would you feel differently?
Read some of my comments about Bush and Palin..and others. No I would not. I judge the person based upon the person.
Spot on! I was offended by Mr Khans comments toward Donald Trump. The way he attacked him and his anger were troubling. It was a terrible thing for the DNC to try to make a gain off of Mr Khans loss and shame on them for that!
Thank you for your service Chris and for putting things in the right perspective with your letter! God Bless!
As for the question “what did you sacrifice”, fair question – what did team clinton sacrifice?
1. 18 Rangers/SOF troops in Mogadishu by denying AC130 Gunships and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
2. The chance to take out UBL before 9/11 ordering a few cruise missiles into the middle of nowhere in Eastern Afghanistan.
3. Hillary’s death defying sprint under sniper fire in order to be presented flowers by a little girl…
Firstly, I salute you. Secondly, I absolutely disagree with you. I’ll post what I wrote on my own FB page . . .
With all due respect to the veteran who wrote this, this is nonsense. The entire political letter, which was directed at Mr. Khzir Khan who spoke at the Democratic National Convention about his son, a Muslim American soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2004, can be summed up as follows: Your son volunteered to serve in war, so he knew what he was getting in to.
Perhaps the most revealing part of the letter, once you get past the vacuous “I honor your son’s sacrifice” smoke-blowing, is when he writes this: “As a father I cannot imagine the pain you must feel but his sacrifice is his own. He was not forced to serve.”
“Not forced to serve.” That’s disgusting. And it has the actual effect of disrespecting Khzir Khan and DISHONORING the sacrifice of his son, Captain Humayun Khan. And it utterly dismisses the key reason for Mr. Khan’s and his wife’s appearance at the DNC: to demonstrate that Muslims proudly serve our country, a fact Trump could care less about considering his reprehensible and well-known anti-Muslim policy position.
As for the rest of his letter, it’s a politically motivated screed and nothing more. Does the Democratic Party honor the troops? Without question, yes!! My goodness, many troops ARE Democrats!! And numerous proud veterans who are Democrats were at the DNC, among them General John Allen who was former Commander of U.S forces in Afghanistan, and who roundly condemned Trump’s bigotry and obvious unfitness to serve as President and lauded Hillary Clinton as exceptionally able, committed, and ready.
To this, I recommend Senator John McCain’s letter today denouncing Trump, and properly honoring the Khans and their son. http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/01/politics/john-mccain-statement-khan-family/index.html
We will simply disagree on this point. I do appreciate your well thought and polite comments.
As a Korean veteran myself and also having seen combat also I totally disagree with Mr Marks and his support of Trump. Trump responded as he usually does to any criticism by attacking Mr Kahn’s wife, a Gold Star Mother who was too grieved to even mention her son. I find it disingenuous that you support a man who used his connections during the Vietnamese War to avoid the service and a 4 F rating to avoid the draft.This is the man that you want as Commander in Chief, a man who disparages true war heros like John MCCain.
I find it reprehensible that you support this coward as a member of the armed services, He does not speak for me or for anyone from my generation and should not speak for you either.
Amen to that.
Don’t speak for an entire generation sir. I support Trump because I cannot support a lying theif and criminal. I am a long time sheriffs Deputy and I can tell you that I have spent years listening to loars feeding me bs. Maybe Trump doesn’t have experience, bit those with it have driven this county to the brink and don’t deserve the chance to push us over the cliff. My son is in the USAF and it was his decision. God forbid, if he should perish, it was his decision and no one else’s. I applaud the author as this article was spot on!
Mr khan talked about the Constitution but as a Muslim he surely puts the Quran and the Sharia law above everything else. So it is either he is not a Muslim or he is a liar!
I was so taken aback when I heard Mr Khan speech and more so how he is being praised by our media.I am the widow of. Vietnam conflict.He had 100 mission over the North.I have a son that was a Marine and a son that was an Army medic.I lived with my husband and sons in Iran for two years. Mr Khan son could choose to serve but not in a Muslem country.Is he living by our constitution or by the Koran?
Chris Mark, 1st, thank you for your service and thank you for a clear the clarity of your open letter that has gotten so much attention. I feel your comments were spot on.
I do find it pretty amazing how the left responds to someone that dares make a statement that doesn’t fit with their narrative and went they can’t come back with valid or meaningful arguments, they make personal attacks. You must have hit a sore spot. Thank you for writing and posting your letter.
I don’t get it. I really just don’t get it. He flat out called John Mccain a loser. I thought it would be over for him at that point. Nobody insults a war hero in this country and gets away with it. You can’t even say you disagree with the war and not be pegged a soldier hater. He was right. He could literally shoot someone in the face on 5th avenue and would not lose any voters. The former democrat, Clinton campaign contributor, reality TV star, Donald Trump could be our next president. Why? Just why?
Chris Mark…Most do not, and I hope never will, know the loss of a son or daughter soldier. I believe you point is spot on.
Father of a Fallen Eagle
SSG David F Day
KIA Baghdad 21Feb.2005
I am sincerely sorry for your loss. Thank you.
Your political affiliation is merely a matter of circumstance, when all is well with the world republican, when the shits hitting the fan, Democrat………yes you scoff, but wait till you need medical treatment for a preexisting condition, or legal representation for spurious charges or the safety net of welfare because you were fired………. Yea, republicanism is about self, and the brotherhood of military service is between those facing the bullets and bombs…….. And if you think the republican party care any more or less than the Democrats you’re tripping.
It has often been said that paying the ultimate price is not so great a price. You don’t have to live with the results.
In truth, putting everything on the line and having to live the rest of your life with the results can be in many ways a far more courageous sacrifice.
Thank you for your service. I think Mr. Kahn does have reason to stand and speak. They raised a child that wanted to risk his life. They nurtured his love for this country. They did sacrifice because they could have influenced him in another direction so they would not have given him up. I’m a mother. If my brother has died as a Marine I would say my parents sacrificed their son for our country. Any minority that stood up for their rights knowing there was a good chance that they would be killed was sacrificed by there parents. I think I will agree to disagree but still thank you for your service.
Thank you trump for your sacrifice to this great nation for your hard work and hiring of thousands, no, 10’s of thousands. Please explain to me again how this is a sacrifice and not an accomplishment.
This letter is both disgusting and embarrassing. It was both rude and disrespectful for Donald Trump to be condescending to the parents of a marine that gave his life defending his country in battle with enemy terrorists. It is also rude and disrespectful for a former military veteran to attempt to justify Mr. Trumps irresponsible behavior. In all due respect, being an American Patriot trumps being a Democrat or Republican. Before you ask or prejudge, the answer to your question is yes, I served in the United States Army 1965-1969.
I appreciate and thank you for your service to our country. But I ask that you consider your comments and position more closely, since you missed the point of Mr. Khan’s statement.
I politely disagree.
All of you talking about voting for Clinton seriously need to read and research a bit more about Benghazi. Trump is far from perfect and so am I but I will not let those murdered solderies death be in vain.
Imagine if Trump said (and I know this sounds ridiculous) “Everyone named Chris will be banned from entering the United States” and you have served this country. If you had died your parents would probably be on stage with to he same sadness and anger. To hear Trump say the remarks about Muslims and how they lost their Muslim son while he was protecting this country has to sting a little, yes? This would not be such a huge story if Trump hadn’t continued to be so ignorant and insensitive. Trump is no hero…besides being a raging narccicist he is also a pedophile..although nothing will come of this case because of statute of limitations (another way women are second class citizens) I believe this story. He was friends with Jeffrey Epstein (a registered sex offender and pedophile) and has called him a “fun guy”. I agree this election is a shit show, but to think this man is going to “save America” is really ridiculous…
http://www.snopes.com/2016/06/23/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit/
Snope has been proven to be a bit on the satirical end of the true go to a true fact finding site
To paint all Democrats as hating the military is so wrong. Doesn’t anyone remember that it is the Republicans that control congress and it is the Republicans that speak a lot of patriotism and service to country but continue to vote to reduce veteran benefits and deny them services. It is shameful how we treat our veterans, but it is the Republicans that control the funds and continue to reduce them. To glorify Trump when it is a proven fact that he is a liar and a scam artist, not that his supporters care. He is a divisive force that encourages hate and intolerance of others. Do some research, look at Hillary’s history from a fact-based source and do not base your information on the right-wing propaganda. Hillary has devoted her career to the benefit of children and the disadvantaged. Trump has devoted his career to building wealth, regardless of who he has to step on to achieve his mission. To elevate him to presidential status shows that little research is being done and the propaganda is believed as truth. The Democrats have done more to support veterans that the Republicans. Truth, not fiction!
Trump has also caused thousands of people to lose their jobs when he shuts down hotels and casinos and files for bankruptcy. He farms work to factories outside the U.S. and he refuses to pay people for services. He whines anytime somebody says anything about him, he is a tyrant and his arrogance and childish tantrums should be a warning sign. Hillary has stood strong in the face of all the criticism, which facts show is totally unwarranted. She has a life of service to others, Trump has a history of service to himself.
Read, research, don’t believe what you hear from the propaganda machine.
What reality do you live in? The assumptions and assertions this letter and the comments supporting it make are so close-minded. I know plenty of military men and women who see the true harm Trump and his dangerously “patriotic” supporters are introducing into an already brittle system. Success does not equal sacrifice. Trump saying his success is his sacrifice to the country is taking you for a fool. Don’t be a fool.
You do know that there were an estimated 500,000 to 1 million active duty military that went AWOL during the vietnam war. Thousands of people dogged the draft, some fleeing to Canda. Yet everyone is pointing at ONE guy. How many of those complaining and pointing your fingers served in our military?
Chris, you seem like a gentleman and I greatly value your service to this country. I feel you have confusion though, about what Mr Khan was speaking about regarding who they see themselves as in relation to their son and to this country. They are saying that they are just as much American, and therefore part of the fabric of this country as anyone. They raised their son with values and supported him to follow his choices, including serving in the armed services. They would have been there for him to nurse and provide resources for if he was wounded, I’m sure. He is the product of their invested energy in being part of this country.
They are citizens and their place in society has been threatened because of their nationality of birth or ancestry. We can’t just rip out segments of our country ‘until issues are resolved’ anymore than we can rip out portions of our flag, which represents the people of this nation, when we have disagreements between us. We have had great terrorizing crimes committed by whites and most recent attacks have come from deranged individuals, not countries or religions that want to do us in.
Donald Trump’s approach is the low-level, fearful approach and is short sighted in every way. Once we allow him to stamp out the rights of one group, even temporarily, he can easily decide to do it to others. Finally, there is no one political party that has asked more of our armed services and done less for them in recent years than Republicans. They started these wars on false pretenses and they are the ones cutting funding for veteran services and benefits. They also have not produced or signed a single jobs bill in the last 8 years, not because it was for the good of the people, but because they don’t like Obama. I feel what needs to be looked at closely is the underlying racism that gives wind to the voices that cry out to ban Muslims or anyone else from the rights the rest of us enjoy. That sounds more like mob rule than rule by the principals this country was founded on and for which I assume you fought.
Great response. Right on and without the name calling that is so common of both conservatives and liberals on blogs like this. You state facts and opinions clearly without the divisive dialog.