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On Thursday, August 8th, Muslims around the world celebrated\u00a0Eid Al-Fitr<\/a>,\u00a0marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.<\/p>\n On that day American Muslims also gathered in mosques across the country to attend Eid Al-Fitr prayers.\u00a0Eid Al- Fitr is a three-day feast that commemorates a month of fasting, retrospective contemplation, repentance and prayer. During Ramadan Muslims reflect\u00a0on\u00a0their personal deeds and their family and community relationships. Throughout the month Muslims are reminded that the past is behind them, but the future is theirs to shape. Meanwhile during\u00a0Eid Al-Fitr prayers, worshipers are told that to be forgiven, they must be willing to forgive.<\/p>\n This Ramadan, American Muslims\u00a0reflected\u00a0<\/a>on Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s upcoming trial. Hasan is the American Muslim army psychiatrist accused of committing the\u00a0deadliest<\/a>\u00a0mass shooting ever on a U.S. military base.<\/p>\n Major Hasan is well educated. He was born and raised in Virginia and from all accounts\u00a0he loved his country<\/a>. Hasan’s violent actions are inexcusable and beyond comprehension, but his voluntary admission of guilt absolves Americans from proving or disproving his criminality. Considerable effort has been expended determining the reasons that may have contributed to Hasan’s radicalization and alienation. American Muslims have also mulled over the\u00a0possible impact<\/a>\u00a0of Hasan’s trial on their community.<\/p>\n They are relieved that Hasan has taken\u00a0responsibility<\/a>\u00a0for killing 13 unarmed US military personnel and the wounding of 31 others. They hope Hasan’s\u00a0admission of guilt\u00a0<\/a>will give him the chance to reflect on the immense harm he has inflicted on the families of his victims and our nation.\u00a0Hasan’s admission also provides Americans with the opportunity to explore the factors that caused his violent radicalization, learn about his mental and emotional state that allowed him to sanction the brutal killing of fellow Americans, and assess whether or not his incomprehensible crime is linked to America’s post 9\/11 s political climate.<\/p>\n Fear not, understanding Hasan’s reason for acting violently is not synonymous with agreeing or justifying his horrendous\u00a0brutal crime.<\/p>\n Needless to say American Muslims do not understand why the\u00a0US government and military\u00a0<\/a>chose to publicly try Hasan on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. U.S. entities are not abstract institutions separate from the people; rather they are administered and run by its citizens. Our national policies and military decisions are not born in ether; they are a reflection of a belief system that is mirrored in the operational functions of our government. So why did the military court choose the first day of Eid Al-Fitr to try Hasan? Why is it difficult to be courteous of American Muslim sentiment on their holy day? Why not spare American Muslims the predictable injurious insults hurled at them by America’s\u00a0\u00a0Islamophobic pundits\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0on their first special holiday?\u00a0Why are the practices of Muslim faith excluded from America’s social and cultural consciousness?<\/p>\n Contemplating these questions can help us understand the communal social beliefs that guide our national civil discourse and government practices.<\/p>\n We can no longer ignore the impact of 9\/11 on our national character, the\u00a0rise of Islamophobia<\/a>\u00a0in the U.S., the role of hate peddlers in stoking Islamophobic sentiments to advance\u00a0narrow political objectives\u00a0<\/a>, and the psychological and emotional toll of wars on the\u00a0military\u00a0<\/a>and country. Furthermore, we have to evaluate the forces that shape our\u00a0national<\/a>\u00a0and international polices and the role they play in shaping our culture and civility.<\/p>\n Are we ready for a genuine authentic assessment of our\u00a0irrational fears<\/a>, commonly\u00a0held biases<\/a>, and\u00a0exclusionary policies<\/a>\u00a0that are fermenting frustration and isolation among our young? As an educator I cannot help wonder how a simple ride on a bus is a provocative experience for young Americans (Muslim and non-Muslim). Our young are unable to make sense of the\u00a0stream of negative ads<\/a>\u00a0plastered across city trains, buses and stations.\u00a0Unchallenged these racist messages are weakening and compromising the ethical compass of our young who\u00a0need help in navigating the bigoted messages they encounter.<\/p>\n