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| WA West Point grad: American, soldier and Muslim |
| 2007-05-26 |
| On Saturday afternoon, in the 209th commencement at a historic campus dotted with monuments to famous generals, Faraz Bala will graduate from West Point. The Snohomish man is a rare Muslim in his class of 900 cadets, whose four years at the U.S. Military Academy overlapped with the war in Iraq. His father, Marysville restaurant owner Shabbir Bala, thinks the government unnecessarily targets American followers of Islam. In the fight against terrorism, the elder Bala said, "the people you really want on your side is a Muslim." But Faraz Bala -- a 22-year-old distance runner who enjoys snowboarding, bowling, cliff jumping and watching foreign films -- views himself as "just a normal guy like all the rest of my classmates," not the face of Islam in the military. That sentiment is embodied in one of his sayings: "I'm an American, I'm a soldier, and I just happen to be a Muslim." Bala knows of four other Muslims in his class at West Point, where Islam is accepted along with other major religions. When the New York academy opened a new interfaith building last fall, it included a prayer room -- designed to face Mecca -- for Muslim cadets and their volunteer imam. A West Point spokesman said the academy has about 30 Muslims among its 4,300 cadets, including some from Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. No official count is available because the academy does not ask cadets their religion. "All cadets know about Islam since it is essential to understanding the war we are fighting," Bala said this week from West Point. "There are those who do not know any Muslims, so they see Islam as pretty foreign, whether in a positive or negative light," he said. "Then there are those who do know a Muslim and see that we are regular people who think and act like everyone else." Bala said some cadets made "insensitive" comments about Islam in class, not knowing he was a Muslim. "Things like Islam being violent or being suspicious of the religion," he said. "But no one ever said anything derogatory to me personally." He fit in his five daily prayers and managed to observe Islamic holy days, which initially caused him some difficulty because Muslims use a calendar different from the norm. "But these issues were resolved within the chain of command," said Bala, adding that he experienced "no real problem" in the past two years. He fasted during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan, which he said amazed his teammates on Army's cross-country team. He also competed in track. With no halal or kosher meat served in the mess hall, Bala changed his diet to include lots of fish and vegetables. "He made good friends with a Jewish cadet so they could (go out to) eat kosher meat," said Bala's mother, Ruqqy. His parents, who each emigrated from Pakistan more than 20 years ago, hold more liberal political views than their California-born son. "We don't talk about politics," said his father, who is not thrilled that West Point's commencement speaker this year will be Vice President Dick Cheney. President Bush spoke last year. Faraz Bala, who considers himself a moderate, said West Point has "definitely given me an opportunity to get information straight from the source. I've been taught by people who have worked in the White House and others who have first-hand knowledge of the war, so that gives an inside perspective most people don't get. "What West Point has taught me is that the answers to political decisions are never simple, and if anyone has a simple solution, they are most likely wrong," Bala, who won awards for maintaining a high grade point average, said. "There are always good reasons on each side of the argument." Bala's mother expressed happiness about her son's graduation but "at the same time, I'm scared, too, because now he's coming out of the safety net," she said. "That always worries the mom -- all the possibilities, ending up in a war zone." After graduating with a bachelor's degree in international studies and a commission as a second lieutenant, Bala will enter the military intelligence branch of the Army and study at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., until February. He then will be stationed in Vilseck, Germany, with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a Stryker Brigade formerly at Fort Lewis. "I'll serve where my country needs me," Bala said. "This is not a crusade, so we are not fighting Muslims per se. When I go, ...my mission will be to provide security and stop the bloodshed in Iraq." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #10 My thanks go out to Frank's son, Faraz and all those who will serve - and many more thanks to all those who have served or are doing so now. I could not have had the great life I have without them, and neither could anyone else I know and love. As for Faraz, I have higher hopes than some here. As someone who is clearly intelligent, he would be aware that openly making common cause with Jews while serving a "Crusader" army, will not endear him with Islamists. And if he were to explain that he was a Muslim himself, it would only make them that much more of a worthy target with them. Unless he is a deeply committed sociopath able to lead a double life flawlessly, he is putting himself at considerable risk with our common enemy - even without publicizing what he is doing in the press. Building a base of pro-democracy, reformist Muslims is crucial to winning the war on Islamist fascism in the long run IMHO. Let's hope Faraz represents the start of a trend that might build into something significant in the future. |
| Posted by: ryuge 2007-05-26 17:27 |
| #9 Others here have served, and/or have sons and daughters in the military (like DD's #1 son), and we should all say thanks to those who serve and risk on our behalf, especially this weekend Hear, hear! Well said, Frank. My gratitude to all who are serving and who have served. Without you all,and those who came before you, there would be no free United States of America; without those who served in Europe and the Middle East in World War II, I would not exist to type this. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-26 14:53 |
| #8 An officer can do much more harm than just fragging. |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-05-26 14:44 |
| #7 Frank, on behalf of your son, thanks. This does not sit well with me either. I believe a lot of the folks at the top are convinced they can modify Muslim beliefs. I don't. They've been brainwashed since their first breaths. I would never feel safe operating around one of these people, especially in circumstances where your life may depend fully on their decisions. We'll see when these people go to the front lines and have to decide whether to extinguish Muslims or Americans. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970 2007-05-26 14:32 |
| #6 Hope for the best---expect the worst. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-05-26 12:56 |
| #5 "I'm an American, I'm a soldier, and I just happen to be a Muslim." If he means what he says, and does as he sez, well, all right then. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-05-26 12:54 |
| #4 I am proud, TW. His next stop is either Ft Shafter on Oahu or Japan. Others here have served, and/or have sons and daughters in the military (like DD's #1 son), and we should all say thanks to those who serve and risk on our behalf, especially this weekend |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-26 11:31 |
| #3 Congratulations on your son's accomplishment, Frank. A young man to be proud of. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-26 11:24 |
| #2 I wish I could say I like this, but I don't. I hope this guy doesn't become another idiot like the one who fragged his officers in Kuwait. Wherever he goes, if he develops Sudden Jihad Syndrome it's going to cause a lot of trouble. |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-05-26 10:22 |
| #1 going to the 309th MI Battalion. My son's "graduating" from his AIT there next month. Faraz's got his head on better than his Dad |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-26 08:52 |