Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan Gave His Life for a Country In Which Some Discriminate Against Muslims

Gen. Colin Powell reminded that our ethnicity should have no bearing on how we are judged. I have to echo his question, "Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?" I have often posed that question when many have labeled Barack Obama as one. It is racial discrimination, which is something the "greatest nation on earth" still grapples with. It is okay to send an American who is a Muslim to fight a war that we have no business being engaged in, but aspiring for the highest office in the country is off limits. America is a melting pot and that young Muslim American children should not feel that they are not worthy of reaching the same heights are their white counterparts.

Gen. Powell said the he felt particularly strong about this because of a picture he saw in a magazine. "It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."

That was a very profound statement made by General Powell and we all should take heed to his words. It is a sad commentary when it is okay to discriminate against someone because of their faith. I have asked this question before, since when in being a Muslim a crime in this country? The acts by one small sect of Muslim extremists should not bar one from dreaming big. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan thank you for serving our country honorably and with great dignity.