what is wrong with america, part 2

in class this morning:

student: "did you hear about the muslim guy who killed thirteen people yesterday on the military base?"

me: "i'm a little upset that the first adjective you used was 'muslim,' not 'doctor' or 'soldier.'  he is an american citizen who is an army doctor and his religion is islam.  but yes, i heard about it.  and i'm really sad and disturbed that it happened."  [oh, i am on my high horse.]


you'd never hear a christian or jew or nonbeliever in america who killed someone referred to as "that christian guy" unless he perpetrated the crime for religious reasons.  and there is no evidence this american soldier in texas did.  but apparently some media outlets (my student watched good morning america) are focusing in on his religion and putting that information side by side with the fact that the crime was committed, and if their viewers want to create causation there, the media isn't stopping them.  NPR?  not so much...a passing reference to the fact that he was muslim and a quick quote from his imam back in virginia WHERE HE WAS BORN BECAUSE HE IS AN AMERICAN.  i feel like i have to focus on that detail in class because my students will go off the deep end, and pretty soon they'll be talking in the halls about how this is an act of terrorism.  and i can't deal with that.

can't we be upset enough that a soldier is accused of killing other soldiers?  or is this not enough, media outlets?

rant over.  deep breath.  happier topics tomorrow.