A soldier’s viral post sheds light on Islamophobia, and he is applauded for it. Chris Herbert, a soldier, who lost his leg while fighting for England in Basra, Iraq, has shared a Facebook post where he revealed that his tragedy has not made him racist and advised people like Donald Trump to get a grip on their lives and to hug someone.
A soldier’s viral post scolding people with anti-Muslim sentiments was probably meant for Donald Trump, who has plans to ban people of Islam faith from entering the United States.
Chris Herbert, a British soldier, who had his leg blown off by a bomb while serving in Iraq, wrote a lengthy post explaining all the reasons why he has not become racist towards Muslims despite the horrible tragedy.
In 2007, at the age of 19, Herbert not only lost a limb, but he also watched fellow soldier Private Luke Simpson died during an attack in Basra. Sick and tired of people’s requests to start hating on an entire religion and angered by the fact an Islamophobic group contacted him to be the face of their organization, the soldier took to Facebook to explain once and for all, the reasons why he appreciates Muslims.
He revealed that a Muslim was also injured when the bomb was detonated, another rescued him, and a third cared for him. He wrote:
Getting frustrated by some people expecting racism from me, because I got blown up. Here it is:
Yes. A Muslim man blew me up, and I lost my leg.
A Muslim man also lost his arm that day wearing a British Uniform.
A Muslim medic was in the helicopter that took me from the field
A Muslim surgeon performed the surgery that saved my life
A Muslim Nurse was part of the team that helped me when I returned to the UK
A Muslim Healthcare Assistant was part of the team that sorted out my day to day needs in rehabilitation when I was learning to walk
A Muslim taxi driver gave me a free ride the first time I went for a beer with my Dad after I came home.
A Muslim doctor offered my Dad comfort and advice in a pub, when he didnt know how to deal with my medicines and side effects.
Contrary to that,
Herbert, who is an ambassador for Toe in the Water, a competitive sailing team with the goal of motivating injured servicemen and women, went to remind his readers that people – no matter their race can be kind or cruel – but that is not a reason to hate an entire group. He added:
A white brit spat in my girlfriends face for ‘fucking a cripple when you could have me [him]’
A White brit pushed my wheelchair away from a lift so he could use it first.
A White brit screamed at my Dad for parking in a disabled bay when I was in the services coming home
(Although, alot of people helped in my recovery! I dont hate white brits either! hahaha)
Point is, fuck off. I know who I dislike, and I know who I dont. I know who I appreciate, and I know who I dont. If you want to hate an entire race of men and women for the actions of a few dickheads feel free, but don’t push your views on me, thinking I am an easy target because one douchebag decided it was my day to die.
Blaming all Muslims for the actions of groups like Daeshe and the Taliban, is like blaming all Christians for the actions of the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church.
Get a grip of your lives, hug your family and get back to work.
The soldier’s viral post on Islamophobia has over 100k Likes and has many Englishmen talking even more about GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump‘s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering America. Britons are getting fed up with some of Trump’s divisive rhetoric, prompting over 400,000 of them to sign a petition demanding that he be banned from getting in the UK.
In case you were wondering, this is what the soldier thinks of Trump:
“He’s a fool, first line of the U.S. constitution declares (paraphrasing) that people cannot have rights taken away due to their religion. Even if he gets in, he has no legal right to do half the stuff he says.”
What are your thoughts on Trump’s proposal? Is the soldier right?
Getting frustrated by some people expecting racism from me, because I got blown up. Here it is:Yes. A Muslim man blew…
Posted by Chris Herbert on Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Chris Herbert from @toeinthewateruk explains why @EndeavourFund is so important. pic.twitter.com/YJDXsg2bZB
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 11, 2015
Toe ambassador Chris Herbert @HerbiePegLeg graduated from @portsmouthuni today Well done couldn't be more proud x pic.twitter.com/XBnrIpMIiH
— Toe in the Water (@toeinthewateruk) July 14, 2015
Great to have first Toe patient and now proud Toe Ambassador @HerbiePegLeg join to Toe crew for racing this wkd pic.twitter.com/iqEgKQbnxU
— Toe in the Water (@toeinthewateruk) October 26, 2014
