I can't, - I really can't - describe how completely astonished I am by this story. It's heart-breaking and inspiriing and tragic and sad and hopeful all at the same time.
I intended to write something completely different today, but those plans are on hold.
Cold. Full. Stop.
As much as we may obsess about the beltway news of the day, as much as we may go crazy over Casey Anthony or any other situation where life, death, forgiveness and death again is as at stake - maybe for once we need to take a moment and look on at awe at these people, because contrasted to the common dregs of self-aggrandization and claimed victimization by the ilk of Allen West and his bullying petulance.
It makes many of us seem small and selfish. Meager petty things.
With just one day left before his execution for murder, one of the surviving victims of a brutal homicidal attack on Muslims by a a admitted White Supremacist just a few weeks after 9-11 has called for leniency against his attacker.
And he has argued that he has been inspired to take such a stand of tolerance and forgiveness, because of his Muslim Faith.
Truly amazing.
On September 21, 2001, a 41-year old white supremacist from Dallas walked into a gas station and opened fire on people he believed to be Arabs. Enraged by the 9/11 attacks, the shooter, Mark Anthony Stroman, killed an Indian man who was Hindu and a Pakistani man who was Muslim.
Rais Bhuiyan, a 37-year old Muslim Air Force pilot from Bangladesh, was Stroman’s third victim. Shot in the face at close range with a double-barrel gun, Bhuiyan survived the attack, suffering now from partial blindness. After admitting to the attacks, Stroman is scheduled to be executed tomorrow in Texas.
Generally speaking, somebody shoots you in the face and kills two other people - a "True Blue" American would be looking for some
Pay Back.
Then again, maybe will just might still have something to learn from all the dirty freaking Immigrants on our soil.
Bhuiyan, the lone survivor of Stroman’s attack, is now trying to save his life. After the attack, Bhuiyan told the New York Times that he spent his time “simply struggling to survive in this country.” But pulling on his profound capacity for forgiveness, he has spent the last several months petitioning Texas to spare Stroman’s life. When asked why, Bhuiyan said his Islamic faith taught him not to seek vengeance and that what Stroman “did was out of ignorance” about Islam:
Q Mr. Stroman has admitted trying to kill you. Why are you trying to save his life?
A I was raised very well by my parents and teachers. They raised me with good morals and strong faith. They taught me to put yourself in others’ shoes. Even if they hurt you, don’t take revenge. Forgive them. Move on. It will bring something good to you and them. My Islamic faith teaches me this too. He said he did this as an act of war and a lot of Americans wanted to do it but he had the courage to do it — to shoot Muslims. After it happened I was just simply struggling to survive in this country. I decided that forgiveness was not enough. That what he did was out of ignorance. I decided I had to do something to save this person’s life. That killing someone in Dallas is not an answer for what happened on Sept. 11.
Q If you had the chance to meet Mr. Stroman, what would you say to him?
A I requested a meeting with Mr. Stroman. I’m eagerly awaiting to see him in person and exchange ideas. I would talk about love and compassion. We all make mistakes. He’s another human being, like me. Hate the sin, not the sinner. It’s very important that I meet him to tell him I feel for him and I strongly believe he should get a second chance. That I never hated the U.S. He could educate a lot of people.
Now it's one thing that a former victim of violent crime should step forward and offer the open hand of not just forgiveness, but redemption and survival directly to the person who harmed him - it's another thing when that person offers his own hand back in friendship and appreciation.
Q What do you think of Rais Bhuiyan’s efforts to keep you from being executed?
A “Yes, Mr Rais Bhuiyan, what an inspiring soul…for him to come forward after what ive done speaks Volume’s…and has really Touched My heart and the heart of Many others World Wide…Especially since for the last 10 years all we have heard about is How Evil the Islamic faith Can be…its proof that all are Not bad nor Evil.
Would that those who've railed against the Park 51 Islamic Center could hear this.
Would that those who've burned the Koran could hear this.
Would that Glenn Beck who asked Rep. Keith Ellison to "Prove to me you are not an enemy" could hear this.
Would that Rep. Peter King who said "Muslim's Aren't Americans" could hear this.
A White Supremacist finding common moral cause with a Muslim. Amazing.
But the truth is this man will die tomorrow.
Some will cheer that. Some will celebrate it. The potential and the promise of what he has (possibly) learned and discovered will be lost to us. The crusade of forgiveness and redemtion by Rais Bhuiyan to preserve the man who tried to murder him will soon be forgotten.
But some of us will remember. Some of will think of what might have been.
And some of us will still keep hoping for a better outcome with tomorrows of greater understanding, of greater compassion.
Someday.
We shall overcome the hate. We shall overcome the fear. We shall overcome the Evil.
Someday.
Vyan
10:19 AM PT: Video of Rais Bhuiyan on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman