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September 11th, 2012
12:33 PM ET
Mom wants Muslim son’s name moved to be among first responders at 9/11 memorialBy Susan Candiotti, CNN You won’t find Mohammed Hamdani among the names of the first responders that are etched in a wall at the 9/11 memorial in New York. But on the day of the 9/11 attacks, the 23-year-old certified EMT and onetime NYPD police cadet skipped his job at a university research lab to rush to the World Trade Center. Not long after, his family posted Hamdani’s picture on a wall of the missing. Six months later, his remains were found - in 34 parts. "They gave us his jeans and his belt, which my husband identified were his clothes,” says Hamdani’s mom, Talat. "He was a prime example of what it is to be a human being,” she says, recalling his decision to go to the World Trade Center 11 years ago. “He went in there to save humanity." Atheists fight against ‘9/11 cross’ at World Trade Center site When the 9/11 memorial opened last year, Talat wanted to see her son’s name grouped among the first responders who lost their lives trying to help others. Instead, the Pakistani-American’s name is positioned in a separate section of the memorial, among those considered loosely connected to the World Trade Center. His mother is convinced her son’s Muslim religion has set him apart: "They are discriminating because of his faith and that is not right." “He did not stop to wonder are they Christian or Muslims or are they Jews or their ethnicity or their color,” Talat says of her son’s actions on 9/11. “It's just humanity.” World Trade Center returns to New York skyline The memorial denies discrimination, saying Hamdani was no longer an active cadet when he was killed and that he had not received a presidential medal for valor, which the memorial says were the memorial’s criteria for “first responder.” “So many of the names on the 9/11 Memorial represent individuals — both in and out of uniform, known and unknown — who displayed extraordinary bravery on that horrible day, and that includes Mohammed Salman Hamdani," a spokesman for the memorial said in a statement. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter "While this case did not meet the criteria for the ‘First Responders’ section of the Memorial, that in no way diminishes the courage and bravery Mr. Hamdani and hundreds of others showed on 9/11,” said the spokesman, Michael Frazier. At the same time, the NYPD calls Hamdani a hero, having honored him in 2002 with a police funeral that included full honors from New York’s mayor and police commissioner. "The fact that it was acknowledged in a very, highly honorable fashion was gratifying,” Talat says, remembering that day. “I was very satisfied at that moment." On the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the NYPD gave Hamdani’s family a badge. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories Talat says she’ll keep fighting to move the name of her son, who grew up in New York and dreamed of becoming a doctor. She has contacted public officials from her congressman to the White House seeking help with her fight, but to no avail. "I want to see it in my lifetime,” she says. “It's a very - it's so intense pain that is indescribable." “He's not here to speak for himself,” Talat says. “I have to speak for him. And I will till the day I die. "
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Good ole racist CNN trying to stir up another racist debate. The man wasn't excluded because he was Muslim, we was excluded because he doesn't qualify as a first responder. But I guess "Man not qualified to be 1st responder is excluded from 1st responder list" doesn't make as good a headline. This is horrible journalism CNN, shame on you.
it's CNN's sole purpose in life, seeing as how they're totally incompetent at objective reporting. They might as well behave like the propaganda mouthpiece that they are. So just own it, CNN !!!
See the legal definition of "pretext"...
hinduism, hinduism, hinduism, reason, reason, reasons, excuses, excuses, way of hindu's, deniers of truth absolute, to justify hindism, denial of truth absolute, no different than a hindu criminal justifying his hinduism criminality to be free from punishment by the law. way of hindu sanatans, criminal Goons by their hindu Judaism, filthy secularism. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Yep,,cnn is a totally racist,propaganda machine. They will hoar themselves out as long as they can provoke people
Having read the story over a few times all I see is CNN reporting a very sad story that is very personal to the family who lost a son with what seemed to be a great future. I agree that this may have nothing to do with racism and there is a legitimate side that the poor guy does not meet the criteria but the family right or wrong is still grieving and CNN reported the story and what the family believes should be done. So go back to Fox news with 10 distortions and fact free reporting every hour and you will find the comfort you are looking for in the right wing bubble echo chamber
Right, CNN posted a story that contained statements from the mother, how the NYPD honored her son and the reasons given by the authorities for omitting his name. HOW DARE THEY. How dare they not editorialize the facts, give snide and personal comments on the legitimacy of the mom's concern and condemn her for caring how her son was remembered. That, however, is FOXNews (sic) methods, not other agencies idea of reporting. You're all just ticked off because CNN just reported, you want anyone not a WASP knocked down.
i agree with josh and cynthia, but in addition... um... this is not the homepage of CNN.com. this is the religion blog of cnn, therefore, any story that has a faith angle will be on this blog. cnn is not the one who claims that the poor man was not on the list because of his religion, the mother is claiming that. so cnn reports the story, because yes, it is a good story and it is touching in its humanity, and decides to post it on the religion blog because it has a question of faith in it.
CNN, you horrible, mean network for doing such a thing, how dare you!
TO MY SISTER AND BROTHER MUSLIMS:
THE PEACEFUL AND EASY SOLUTION IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES:
From the studies of Armstrong, Rushdie, Hirsi Ali, Richardson and Bayhaqi----–
The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:
Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism..
( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)
Are you ready?
Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.
The First Five of the 77 Branches:
"1. Belief in Allah"
aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc. should be added to your self-cleansing neurons.
"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."
Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".
"3. To believe in the existence of angels."
A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.
"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."
Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.
Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.
Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.
"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
be upon him) alone."
Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.
Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!
Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.
hinduism absurdity of a hindu, ignorant in following of hindu's deniers of truth absolute as reference, find some one credible to make a point hindu, crook. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
More crap,more cnn,more rag heads you democrates are living the life you deserve
I have a solution for you - get a job
For those who are reading-challenged: (from a PowerPoint slide)
SAVING 1.5 BILLION LOST MUSLIMS:
THERE NEVER WERE AND NEVER WILL BE ANY ANGELS I.E. NO GABRIEL, NO ISLAM AND THEREFORE NO MORE KORANIC-DRIVEN ACTS OF HORROR AND TERROR LIKE 9/11.
SAVING 2 BILLION LOST CHRISTIANS:
THERE WERE NEVER ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY BODILY RESURRECTIONS I.E. NO EASTER, NO CHRISTIANITY.
SAVING 15.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS OF JUDAISM:
ABRAHAM AND MOSES PROBABLY NEVER EXISTED.
Added details upon request.
This is completely unacceptable. He was a first responder period! His name should be included with the other victims. This attack was on the country as a whole, not an attack on religion. This is discrimination at the hightest level. Keep fighting mom, many are behind you!
Did you even bother reading the article? Or just read the headline and first paragraph before typing up your rant?
While this man showed great bravery and heroism he just does not meet the criteria of a first responder. The term first responder is not simply someone who was first to respond and provide aide it is a person who is actively employed as a fireman, police, EMT, etc. Just because he was a "former" Cadet which even if he wasn't a Cadet is still not a first responder as they dont send Cadets to make house calls or raid a drug dealers house, and being EMT certified does not make you a paramedic. None of this has to do race or religion what so ever it has to do with the fact this man does not meet the definition of first responder.
That said he is still a hero and has been given a hero memorial, and a badge from NYPD even though he was never really a police officer. I know it is hard to lose a loved one and I think this woman has made this her life mission because it give her something to connect her to her dead child so that she feels she isn't moving on without him.
How do YOU,,KNOW ? Were you there with him,,fool
How do you honor a muslim first responder? The same way you honor any other first responder.. full stop.
So if a white or black person had committed the 9/11 tragedies, then all black and white's persons name would not be included. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS CHILD'S NAME......
All rescuers who committed to helping the survivors and dead in the 9/11 incident should be included regardless of race. This is total ignorance. You hate the acts of individual and not the whole race. No one is responsible for the evil acts but the individuals who committed them. This is a racist act to not include him. He died a hero; please honor that.
I agree with the mother. Move his name to be with other first responders.
I visited the site about a month ago.
I found it filled with foreign tourists, hucksters and conspiracy theorists.
I wonder how many generations it shall take until it is a decaying relic like Grant’s Tomb was?
Alas I suspect only after the next tragedy shall we find out
what a horrible thought!!!
Demuth's just a troll trying to pull you chain and he's best ignored.
WOW.
Now I am a troll?
I guess it is easier to labe mel than to think independently?
Another mindless automaton, soon to be replaced I am sure!
It will never be a 'decaying relic' This is Manhattan.
It will, in time, be another city park, surrounded by office buildings and residence high rises. With a museum, we have a lot of those in this city. a 2 story underground shopping center. A subway and train station, and a performing arts center. (That IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN the plan for the WTC grounds. )
Of course William D. is a troll. I mean, really, isn't it just a bit obvious? Like the big, slimy, weeping wart on the end of his
nose.
Obvious.troll.is.obvious.
What about those of us who watched these horrible events unfold on television. I was so distraught I had to call in sick from work. What about us?
Learn a lesson, not to be a hindu, denier of truth absolute. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Hi hindubot
(hinduism source of hindufilthyracism) You only strengthen the notion that Islam is an ultra right wing fanatically intolerant cult bent on ridding the planet of those who don't buy into the Islamic faith. I think that there are a great many Islamics out there who take the same stance as Christians who actually FOLLOW the teachings of Jesus Christ-peace, tolerance and love your neighbor as you would yourself. I mean, how many Hindus have been convicted of atrocious war crimes or terrorism?
Islam is not hinduism corruption of truth absolute 360*, but Theen Allah, consti tution of truth absolute, every thing stems from, proven by Quantum physics, source of judicial system around the globe. AL, the LA, limit H, most high or absolute, and hinduism is denial of truth absolute by hindu Judaism, filthy secularism, by hindu sanatan, filthy goons. My post has nothing to do with hinduism, racism, as you hind lie in your post.
Word hindu is based on Latin word hindrance, negativity, HUN, great, HAN to be in greatness and hin, to be negative to both of them, hindu, a noun in negativity, hinduism, way of negativity or consti tution of negativity. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Actually, that is false etymology. 'Hindu" is a British word that refers to anyone who lives east of the Indus river. It was later applied specifically to the group of religious sects that are non-Judeo-Christian/Islamic that have their roots in Indo-Aryan Vedic culture (Buddhists were originally also referred to as "Hindus" by the British).
"Indus" is a general term for "river" in Sanskrit, likely from the root "sidh", to keep off.
hindu, negative is a way old word than British arrival, no need to hind, lie to make a pig, self centered, secular Kosher. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
He was a true Human Being and that is all that matters. He has indeed done his good deed and we know it. Names on a memorial make no difference to people who truly are Human Beings as well.
He was a Human, "HIS" desire and he did will of "HIM" truth absolute, "HIS" blessings be upon him. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Do you admire the humanity of it? Because the human beings, my son, they believe everything is alive.
Death, end of choice is end of being able to make a choice, gift of truth absolute, God, spirit never dies and spirit will never die, but soul, desire of a hindu, ignorant dies with his body. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Hinduism is awesome.
Mohamed should be listed in the Memorial For First responders. This is racism... .
hinduism racism of follower of hindu Mithra ism, pagan savior ism under their hindu pagan faith in sign of hinduism, racism, cross besides Swastika. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
oh go away HSOH, you are a nasty racist piece of crap.
Hi hindu-bot
I understand she misses him to the depth of her being...but, his name IS on the monument and that is what matters.
Not as a hero who gave his life to save that of others, but one of thousands of victims.
bull. if his name was peter jones i doubt that it would be 'just important his name is on the memorial'
It's at the very least petty and mean beyond comprehension not to include him in the First Responders section. He ran towards and into a burning building to save others. It was not his job. He was not obliged. He did it because he was a hero and should be remembered as such. I agree, if his name was John Bob Smith he would have received the Presidential medal and he would have been listed amongst the First Responders. Anyone who says otherwise is just making excuses for a very bad and likely racist decision. I hope it's reviewed and I'm sorry his mother has to deal with this on top of her pain. She clearly did a wonderful job and raised a wonderful man, not common these days in America.
"I agree, if his name was John Bob Smith he would have received the Presidential medal and he would have been listed amongst the First Responders."
No he wouldn't have. There are countless names of people who ran into those buildings and help people who died that day. They were all brave. They all deserve to be recognized. However, he was not a recognized first responder. He was a former police cadet. Even if he was a current cadet, he would not have been on the first responder list. This is a glaring example of trumped up religious discrimination. The only way he would have been on the first responder list, and the only people who are the list, are people who were legally employed that day in a response roll who lost their lives. He wasn't, so he isn't on that list. End of story.
Wait, police CADETS get badges now?!?! Wow, the bar has been set low....
I'm not sure about police cadets, but military cadets who die 'in line of duty' are usually posthumously commissioned. I assume the same would be true of police cadets.
I could care less where they put his name. Is it included at all? Then I guess he's accounted for, isn't he? Or is this about death benefits and/or lawsuits? It's absurd that they even have the first responders listed seperately to begin with, as though the folks who just got incinerated when the planes hit or who for one reason or another weren't able to vacate the towers are somehow less precious as lives than the firemen, etc. They were all murdered. End of story. This need to distinguish one from another is pathetic.
No one started hinduism, clasification, but hindu's racist, just to make a point, hinduism absurdity of hinduism classification, racism is the way of hindu Jew's, criminal self centered and thier hindu pagan follower of hindu racism sign Cross, Christians to cause mayhem among humanity. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Hello hindubot.
The problem is that you ride the Jesus horse, and that stops you from seeing truth. That is why atheism is needed.
Show some heaven sense, height of knowledge, truth absolute, no hinduism, denial of truth absolute. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
I hate to be the one to be forced to say this, but here goes.
I think it is time we put this "Cult of 9-11" behind us.
I am not saying to either forgive, or even to forget, just to move on.
This has become both a crutch and a boondoggle for so many that any sense of the "real story" is so relative that it has manifested into dozens of interpretations, many of which are no longer based in reality.
I believe we need to stand down from this pattern we are developing and begin to apply some historical perspective to these events, and begin relegating the tragedy to the realm of history, where it ultimately must rest.
It is almost as if my beliefs have come full circle from the “We must never forget” crowd, to the “get over it and get on with your life” side.
I recognize I may be premature in being honest about this, but watching some of the fire department coverage this morning, I was reminded of the film “ Triumph Of The Will”.
Frankly, I feel we are being manipulated.
Does ANYONE out these have even an inkling of similar feelings?
@William,
Yes, I do. I would even say that while the people who lost their lives were a great tragedy, that the men and women who tried to save what lives they could should be remembered as heros, and the families who lost loved ones to this attack should be comforted however they can, a billion dollars on a memorial is excessive and frankly unreasonable.
We should never lessen the importance of the day, or forget the lives lost, but we ABSOLUTELY must move on. Losses of the past should not be clung to to the detriment of the still living.
No more than we can move on about Viet Nam, World War II, the Third Riech..... the Battle of Tours.
Of course, but you are arguing against the status quo which is fanatically and psychotically defended by the rich and powerful.
You see, William, the Caliphe has not "moved on" as you put it for more than a thousand years. The Caliphe holds a grudge from long ago, and speak of that time as if it were yesterday. Although two wrongs do not make a right, it is imperative that we Westerners understand this culture in order to be aware of the threat. None of us in the West want this, of course, however, frankly, unconcious apatheticsts, such as yourself do nothing to contribute to our awareness.
@Thor. Actually Vietnamese have moved on, and have good relations with us despite the millions of civilians including children that we burned alive thru our napalm bombs.
Thor
You are poorly informed.
I often espoused the idea that the attack warranted a nuclear response. Given my druthers, a dozen suns would have risen over Afghanistan on 9-12.
My concern is more with a false war footing we maintained for 11 years now, while we never even actually fought the war.
This is the dark side of capitalisim, and it dishonors us.
Yes, William, this exactly.
And Thor – the best 'revenge' is to live well. To remember, but move on. Rebuild. Grow.
@William:
I feel that not only the government, but in a very large part, the media, has gone to great lengths to keep us in the realm of 'never forget' and to stop us from healing and moving forward to the realm of ‘historical tragedies’.
They should have declared a government memorial day, I still can’t wrap my mind around why they have not declared 9/11 an official …I can’t say holiday because that’s just wrong….but day of remembrance might be more appropriate. Spending a billion dollars on a memorial that still isn’t complete, and it over budget….and how many of the victim’s families will EVER make it out to see this grand monstrosity if it’s ever completed? A wall with names would have been more imposing, and a park or something. A place to remember. The money they’ve wasted on this THING could have gone toward survivors care.
While I have always been a strong supporter of the ‘never forget’ , and I feel should be so for all our great losses, we also need to remember that there are survivors. The lives left behind need to be honored, and allowed to move on and grow. Dwelling on what was lost means that what was left behind will never prosper. You have to remember the past to learn from it, but to move forward from it, you have to be willing to face away from it, too.
Every time America wants to face away from our greatest tragedy, the press or the government is right there turning our heads back, “wait, look, did you see this?” Grabbing our arm and turning us around again.
To honor the living, we MUST move on. To respect the dead, we need to let them go. To never forget, we need to have an official day of remembrance.
I know where they can move that name and they can take it with them ON THE WAY OUT of this country and stay out.
Right behind you hindu, ignorant. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.
Buckshot, you're an ass.
You are a jerk. Get a clue you racist idiot.
I'm quite sure Buckshot, that if your life hung in the balance and someone came to your rescue, you wouldn't be asking their religious affiliation first ...
I would rather that YOU and all other racists move out of this country.
your problem buckshot is you are no different than those that say the same about the west, though you would deny it to your dying day.
Were you in Wisconsin Sikh Temple?
Sounds like she has a good case.
She should be thankful his name is there at all. I would have left it off completely.
@Ed. Yet you do not understand what your problem is. I bet you are a Jesus freak.
She has no case whatsoever. He was not an active first responder. He was a FORMER police cadet. However, he was not a first responder, and therefore does not have a place on the first responder list. There are countless non muslim civilians who died trying to help people out of that building on 9-11. Non of them are on the first responder list because they were not first responders.
too much bigotry and blind hatred. let's judge people on an individual basis. and not collectively label a community of 1.5 billion people of this world in one light.
No person's religion should dictate who they are or what they do (even if the rules of that religion guide their morals) it should be the actions of that person. His name NEEDS to be put up there. It's good his story is being shared. It's a prime example of how, despite living in a country with freedom of religion, still discriminates against people's beliefs in more subtle and no so subtle ways. People seem to not realize that it wasn't only white/black/asian/latino people that were killed...arabs were too.
"People seem to not realize that it wasn't only white/black/asian/latino people that were killed...arabs were too"
Any and all arab and or muslim first responders who died that day are on the list. He was an ex police cadet. He was not a first responder. He did a very heroic thing that day; as did others who are not on the first responder list.
The list is reserved for active duty first response personnel who died doing their job.
So any off-duty firemen, policemen, paramedics that weren't given a PMV weren't considered first responders?
That's a load of crap.
He wasn't off duty. He was a former cadet, meaning he did not finish training. He was also a "certified EMT" which does not mean that he was employed as one. It's incredible that he answered the call in this way, and in some ways his sacrifice is even more meaningful because it was not his duty. None of that, however, makes him a "first responder" as defined.
Guest, that wasn't what I was talking about. With him, obviously the City of New York considered him a first responder, or they wouldn't have given him a policeman's funeral.
I was just talking about the article in general. In particular, this part. "... he had not received a presidential medal for valor, which the memorial says were the memorial’s criteria for “first responder.”" So everyone either had to be on-duty or given a PMV to qualify. That sounds like any off-duty or unemployed policemen, firemen, EMTs (like him), paramedics, etc. that weren't awarded the PMV aren't included.
And that's a load of crap.
HIndus are awesome.
Nope, and they would love to push that cross down mom's throat too. That is the way of the Lord.
Way of follower of hindu Mithra ism, pagan savior ism Christians by their hindu Judaism, filthy self center ism, secular ism hindu , in denial of truth absolute, foundation of American consti tution of USA. HE is a Hero, in following of truth absolute and hindu's deniers of truth absolute, follower of hndu racist sign Cross are hindu Zero, filthy by denial of truth absolute by their hindu Judaism, filthy self center ism, secularism. to learn more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html
Hello hindu-bot.
Show some heaven sense, height of knowledge, truth absolute, no hinduism, denial of truth absolute. for more visit limitisthetruth.com/blog.html and click on word choice to open file.