The infamous beard: Act of defiance, act of self-identificationThe judge is treating Hasan as if he were a delinquent American soldier, which in a technical sense he is. But Hasan’s beard is his assertion that he is not an American at all, but a Muslim and a jihadist, and someone who regards America as an evil enemy that must be fought against as a matter of divine principle. It is his silent declaration that he is an enemy combatant, and that it is ludicrous to try him as if he were in any meaningful sense an American soldier who has even the slightest degree of interest in following any of the rules of the U.S. Military. And it is. “Hasan found in contempt of court for the third time,” from KXXV.com, August 9 (thanks to David):
FORT HOOD – Alleged Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan is being held in contempt for the third time after showing up to court on Thursday with a full beard.
Hasan has been told to shave multiple times and has received three fines totaling $3,000 for showing up with the beard that is against military standards.
A judge told Hasan at a previous hearing that if he has not clean shaven by the time the trial started, he (the judge) would shave his beard off himself.
That will be something to see.