Frank Domenico Cipriani
A worthy son of Bangladesh
Rais Bhuiyan, has spent the last several years recovering from a gunshot wound that left him without vision in one eye after an attack by Mark Stroman. Stroman attacked Bhuiyan and two other men in what he saw as retaliation against Muslims for the 9-11 terrorist attack. Now, Stronman has just 2 days left before his scheduled execution in Texas. But Bhuiyan has come to attempt to rescue him citing his Muslim faith as a key reason. Photo: Reuters
On July 20, barring a pardon from the Governor of Texas, killer Mark Anthony Stroman will get the death penalty. I say, “Good riddance!” After all, the man seemed unrepentant, and even made obscene gestures at the victims’ families as he was being sentenced to death.
In the transformational journeys which are our lives, most of our days are spent flying on a sort of autopilot mode that the seasons of our lives help establish, and vary only those days relate to holidays, special occasions. If we are lucky enough to have jobs, we go to these jobs each day, live the routine stresses, deposit our pay-checks and return home. We impart our values to our children, usually by the example we set in the course of our everyday lives, and hope they will do us proud. Children imitate example more than they follow our lectures. Eventually, barring tragedies like the horrific bus accident in Mirsarai, Chittagong last week, our children grow up, go to work, and the cycle continues. For most of us, we never raise monsters, and we are not victims of tragedies.
* * *
This summer is the first one wherein all my children are employed. My youngest son, thirteen years old, just found his first job. He is working on the beach at the Jersey Shore, fetching and carrying for an entrepreneur on the boardwalk, and making popcorn for the nightly movies on the beach. He has only been working for a week, but the experience has already changed him. He walks a little taller. He has already acquired a cell phone.
On his day off, when I was driving him and a friend to a water park, he rolled down the back window of the car, peeled off some dollar bills and passed them to the gas station attendant to help fill the tank. I know that his motivations were twofold: He felt it correct to contribute to the gas money, since he and his friend were being transported, and also he wanted to impress his companion. She was duly impressed. My son gives me many reasons to smile with pride.
* * *
Religion, school, friends on the street, jobs, they all influence the development of character. Just last week, I wrote about some of the characteristics I considered defining qualities of the Bangladeshi people. This week, I was made aware of a particular hero from your homeland whose conduct exemplifies those qualities. We can all live our lives, and as long as things are going well, as long as our character has not been tested, we can only hope that our values will carry us through the difficult times, when our routine lives are interrupted by tragedy.
So I imagine a young Bangladeshi student, Rais Bhuiyan, recent immigrant to the United States, going to work at a gas station each day, hoping to gain the funds to establish a good life for himself and his fiancée, so he could fly back to Bangladesh, marry her and take her with him back to Texas. I imagine his life in Bangladesh, his Air Force training, the lessons taught to him by his parents, their values, and the values of their Muslim faith. I imagine what he must have thought upon winning the immigration lottery and gaining the right to follow a path to permanent residency.
Ten years ago, Mr. Bhuiyan was on top of the world. Partnering with a friend to run a gas station, he lived his everyday life and dreamed his dreams.
Then, on September 11, 2001, a white supremacist in Texas watched as the Twin Towers fell. His half-sister, who was working in New York, died as a result. The man, Mark Anthony Stroman, motivated by thirst for revenge and ignorance, went on a rampage. He entered Bhuiyan’s gas station, asked him his nation of origin and consequently shot him in the face, leaving him for dead. He killed two other people as well, both Southeast Asians, one from Pakistan, one from India.
God saw fit to spare Bhuiyan’s life from this random act of domestic terrorism, and that is where the remarkable story begins.
The ignorant racist, this frustrated criminal was caught, and he proudly confessed to his crimes, claiming he was a “True American and had done what every True American wanted to do but was too afraid to pull off”.
So there was no doubt. Mark Stroman, 32, confessed to the murder. And one thing as sure as High School Football on a Friday night in Autumn, cowboy hats and the Alamo, if you kill someone in Texas, you will be executed.
So, it is interesting to note how different individuals, Stroman and Bhuiyan, each reacted to an injustice done to them. Stronman lashed out, acting like a cornered animal, and attacked innocent people. He ruined many lives, including those of his victims’ and victims’ families, but also his own life and that of his family. Stroman has three daughters and a son.
Bhuiyan convinced the families of the victims to forgive Stroman and work to change his sentence from death to life imprisonment. I don’t know how I would feel if I were the victim. The Governor of Texas does not want the execution stayed, so if all appeals fail, Stroman will indeed be execute this week. Whether or not he dies, the incident speaks volumes about the nature of forgiveness.
Revenge necessitates a backward-looking mindset. Our national thirst for revenge after 9/11 cost us dearly. We squandered our peace dividend, we curtailed individual freedom, and sacrificed the lives of many soldiers. Had George Bush been more like Bhuiyan, or Jesus, for that matter, perhaps he never would have been re-elected, but perhaps we wouldn’t be in the economic situation we are in now. We would have been forward-looking, and we would never have spent so much time looking back over our paranoid shoulders.
Buhiyan had the right, literally, to demand an eye for an eye. The assault not only left him blind in one eye, disfigured and swimming in medical debt, but the stress that it subjected his family to caused his father suffer a stroke. But Rais didn’t waste his time thirsting for revenge. Instead, Buhiyan decided to view the tragedy as an anointing from God to teach Americans about the nature of Islam. By embracing forgiveness as a tenant of Islam, he belied the very prejudice and ignorance that had caused the hate crime in the first place. If forgiveness is truly a fundamental pillar of Christianity, (and we are taught that it is) then this Muslim is a better Christian than most of us.
A man goes to work each day and returns home. He dreams his dreams and faces the future, driven by his forward-looking motivations, or fuelled by his wish to redress past wrongs. Our politicians, and yours as well, hold onto to power, often by manipulating our fears and suspicions. They become hard liners because they are afraid of what could happen to them if they compromise. They hold personal grudges and want to exact their vendettas. But imagine a world in which we could forgive the wrongdoings of the past, no matter how horrendous, and allow ourselves to be motivated by the promise of a better future.
This week, in Texas, people will go to work, to school, to their daily lives. And an angry man, who allowed himself to be motivated by a blind thirst for revenge, will die, as people often do in Texas, of a lethal injection. He will have paid for his misdeeds, and I, for one will not mourn his passing. Another man will go to work with a clean conscience and a forward-looking vision. God will smile upon him and the Texas rednecks will have a deeper understanding of Islam because of him.
Rais himself says, “Once the prophet Mohammed went to Tayef to teach Islam to the people, who treated him so brutally that he was near death. The angel Gabriel appeared and told him if he wanted, God would destroy these people. Mohammed asked, “But if there are no people to whom will I spread God’s message?”
Consider the words of the killer himself (he’s actually blogging his last days, of all the weird things the internet allows!) “Fate has joined us together in a very strange way and I am honoured and touched by your (speaking to Bhuiyan) strength and forgiveness. There is one man who has every right to hate me for what I did. This one man, Rais… shows… how compassion overrules the human nature of hate… He is an example that the human race should follow.”
Understanding and forgiveness, not drones and wiretaps; these are the true terrorism counter-measures. These are weapons best wielded by peaceful men and women of all nations. Rais Bhuyan has proven that opening one’s heart can open even the narrowest of minds, and can make even a mad killer see the light of reason.
I pray that God will spare us the tragic tests of character that were inflicted upon those whose lives have been defined by suffering, including Bhuiyan and Strohman, but also your own leaders, who had to see their dear ones die.
But if God decree that such suffering is necessary for my own children, I hope I have taught them the necessary wisdom that will help them to choose forgiveness and forward progress. If they are tested, I hope they will have the faith to be able to recognize blessing in adversity and to echo the words of your countryman:
“Perhaps God kept me alive so I can pass this message onto others. I feel more love and compassion for human beings than I ever did before this accident. Sight is gone from one eye, but my vision has never been clearer.”
Bangladesh, such a son gives you a reason to feel proud.
———————–
Frank Domenico Cipriani writes a weekly column in the Riverside Signal called “You Think What You Think And I’ll Think What I Know.” He is also the founder and CEO of The Gatherer Institute — a not-for-profit public charity dedicated to promoting respect for the environment and empowering individuals to become self-taught and self-sufficient. His most recent book, “Learning Little Hawk’s Way of Storytelling”, is scheduled to be released by Findhorn Press in May of 2011.
Russel Ahmed,
Please check your sources before commenting on people like Dr Yunus.
People like you and me would need a lifetime to reach Dr Yunus’ stature. Don’t make a fool of yourself by just saying whatever a section of the biased media carries out.
First try to know the fact and then open your mouth. Otherwise, just keep shut.
We were talking about politicians and their corruption in our country; why not also look around the world. Corruption is everywhere — USA, UK, where not.
Lastly, people don’t need to be Nobel laureate to make a difference, you just need to be honest and sincere in your daily life. Just remember the basic rules of human decency that were taught in elementary school textbooks.
Amen.
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Stroman was killed a few hours ago. Done.
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At least Raisuddin tried.
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Strohman was executed at 7:40 PM on July 20.
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Justice is followed in Texas. Clemency could weaken the justice system. But in Texas it has taken its own course.
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An inspiring story in a long time after the Hasan Askari incident – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1572752/Muslim-takes-a-subway-beating-to-help-Jews.html
Not to mention the countless honest New York cabbies from Bangladesh returning millions of dollars worth of jewellery, etc to their rightful owners.
Bangladeshis have truly heightened our reputation in America!
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Mr Russel,
What is your idea of corruption, anyway?
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Dear Mr. Rezwan,
I hope you know about our renowned Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus. What will you comment on him? He was the greatest men until we found about his activities in Grammen Bank.
Real ‘noble’ people are very rare to find.
To know better idea of corruption in Bangladesh, all you need to do is take a look at our politicians.
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By the way, you can get on Rais’ website and sign a petition to ask for clemency. Hurry, though, less than a day remains before the execution:
http://www.worldwithouthate.org/6.html
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Mark Stroman has been executed!
The Governor Rick Perry had ‘no time or inclination’ to meet Rais Bhuyian, or even read his plea!
Easy justice, the US way. Which may be called a summary justice, so that other jobs are not kept waiting. But at the expense of family and children of the murdered. Something they will endure lifelong.
But Stronman was a known criminal, since age 12! Boy, this is America, yet the land of dream merchants.
Good day!
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Society and its culture make a person a killer. A killer doesn’t know that when he kills someone he kills many people along with the victim. Because the victim is someone’s father, husband, relative, friend etc….shame and blame on those governments who are instigating their own people to kill others in the name of ‘clash of civilization’
—taju
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If you look at the killer’s website, you can see that now he considers the consequences. I hope that many people look at the video interview and see how the chain of death leads to more killing. I’ll keep everyone posted on this story in the next 48 hours.
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Man, we are proud of you! Salute to you.
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Mr. Azad, you sure can give bravado to one Bengali. But at the same time you can hate 100 Bengalis for their corrupt activities. Just follow the media regularly.
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Maybe someone should make a movie of his life. It would be inspiring.
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What a heart-warming story! It is the story of all stories! This had happened in 2001, post 9/11, and we didn’t know nothing of Rais Bhuiyan’s heroics till we read your piece!
Thank you Frank for telling us the story and making us all proud. We hope clemency will be shown by the Texan authority, as a result of the unusual plea and compassion shown towards the wrong-doer, by none other than the victim himself.
I quote here Edwin H. Chapin what he had said about situations like this:
“Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge, and dares to forgive an injury.” He had dared do so.
Rais has set an example of humanity in the US and also for the world.
Indeed, Bangladeshis in general are like Rais, dare I say? We are warm, friendly, god fearing and ‘egalitarian’ of sorts. A very few would act otherwise those who might be facing utmost poverty or are really confused, etc. Or by mischance has become a politician.
20th July, is only hours away. Are you also appealing to the Texas Writers Club (or any entity by that name)?
Rais Bhuiyan has had a good share of publicity of his initiative and I personally hope the governor will show unusual courage as well, to befit the case and rise above all permutations and combinations of decision making.
It is so inspiring to know how enterprising he is.
Thank you for the story of stories!
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Last week, I implied that Bangladesh’s most valuable export is its people, truly the cream of humanity. Texans don’t have much patience for New Jerseyans, but I think what you suggest is a good idea, and I will see what I can do on the strength of your comment.
In the meantime, read Rais’ story. I had to leave out details, but it is even more inspiring than everything I said.
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Dear Moderator,
In the line ‘We are warm, friendly, god fearing…..
Must be God fearing. That is what I had written.
I meant the Almighty, Supreme God, on whom all monotheists believe in, and seek solace from. Not “god”, that is the idols, or the multiple gods that some had believed in, as the legend has it. Even Hindus believe in Bhagwan, who is only ONE. Secularism is definitely protected by writing God.
I quote Rais Bhuiyan during his campaign:
“I’m praying (to) God to spare his life, to give him a chance. We all make mistakes as human beings,” Bhuiyan says. CBS News, 7/18.
Please forgive my humble audacity, unlike the Texans.
But yes, we are 100% human.
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I am sure the ONE Almighty, All-Merciful God will forgive our typographical errors. As long as we capitalize the letter “G” in our hearts when we consider God, God will know our intentions.
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Salute to you Mr, Rais Bhuiyan, we owe a lot to you!
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You truly have some heroes in Bangladesh. I’m proud that he is also an American now.
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But how can we judge Bangladeshis by the act of one man? One example cannot be the essence of truth. Most Bangladeshis here are corrupt. And that is bugging me drastically.
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I think that we have unattainable ideals to which we all aspire as a culture. Most of us are not able to achieve those ideals. Most of us fall short. But that doesn’t mean that the ideals which make us unique, which makes individuals within our society admirable, do not exist.
What I see is a pattern. In the eight months I’ve been writing, certain people seem to stand out and exemplify this character: Noor Hossain, for one, Yusuf the rickshaw-puller for another, and now this man, Rai Bhuiyan. Each exemplifies the best instincts, qualities I aspire to even if I haven’t attained them. This makes them heroes.
I am sure you can find hundreds more examples of everyday heroes who bravely live by the dictates of their conscience, and reflect the best of your society.
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Dear Frank,
Yes, we can find hundred more examples, but also the opposite news as well.
You can give bravado to one Bengali. But at the same time you can hate 100 more for their corrupt activities.
Just follow our media regularly, and you will see.
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Thanks Frank. May hope keep us alive.
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Thanks Frank. You keep hope alive.
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I think the storms will pass. What is that your cricketers sing? Amra Korbo Joy?
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Frank: Forgiveness! Is a shinning tenet in Islam. Rais demonstrated in the spirit of forgiveness, a virtue of excellence in Islam. Good piece Frank! Keep up the good work!!!
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The greatest witness to any faith is not in its rhetoric, but in its actions. I hope that by this man’s actions, the world sees and understands that Islam espouses such virtues.
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Thank you Frank. Yes, you are correct, Islam does promote virtues and humanity within.
It is from your article we have learnt about Bhuiyan, who has created an example of a true Muslim.
Once again, thank you.
Tipu
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A man is to be put to death and your reaction is “Good riddance”? Where is the lesson in forgiveness that you draw from Rais Bhuiyan’s actions?
And where is the lesson in justice?
Justice is not served through revenge and a modern judicial system does not base its actions in revenge. So, no, Bhuiyan had no right to “an eye for an eye”. He had a right to justice, and according to the US judicial system justice was done.
Thankfully, Bhuiyan’s religious values give him a more current understanding of justice and thankfully they give him the understanding of how wrong the death penalty is. From a religious point of view one might argue that it is only God’s place to take or give life. However, from the view of a secular judicial system, the death penalty is wrong, because one does not lose one’s basic human rights because one denies someone else their rights: A thief is not deprived of his right to property and the rapist is not denied his right to freedom from sexual violence. A killer should not be denied his right to life.
Barring that there are thousands of cases in which people are wrongfully sentenced to death — a sentence that cannot be reversed.
Rais Bhuiyan is appealing for Stronman’s life to be spared, but also that his sentence remains a life term. Bhuiyan is campaigning for justice, just not in the backward sense that the US judicial system has dispensed and still does dispense it.
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That is why I have to say, you, Lalon and Rais are better people than I am. I think that in the process of writing this article and following this story, you all have caused me to re-examine my views. I hope I would have the strength to be as forgiving if something happened to me and mine.
I’m not sure I would, though.
I live in a state in the US, New Jersey, which abolished the death penalty, so some states allow it and some don’t. 34 of the 50 states still have it.
What Rais did is make me think. That’s step one.
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Good for you.
It is indeed a big question, whether one would have the strength to do what Mr. Bhuiyan did, if it happened to oneself. I doubt I would have the strength either.
However, that’s what a modern judiciary is for: To separate the belligerents and create justice.
Like the USA, Bangladesh also still has not abolished capital punishment – which, for example, makes the aftermath of the mutiny a few years ago in Bangladesh all the more troubling. However, both Bangladesh and the USA need to consider the company they keep, if on the list of countries that have not yet abolished the death penalty, they are surrounded by regimes such as Chine, North Korea, Iran etc.
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In the US, such things are decided on a state-by-state basis. We have a division of power, so that even if one state abolishes the death penalty, not every other state is under an obligation to do so. Personally, I like the fact that I have lots of power over what happens in my state, and that a system divided is harder to corrupt.
Texas allows the death penalty for more crimes than any other state, I think. I’ll be honest. I don’t know how I feel about it. Part of me believes that you can’t bet a person’s life on the fact that the judicial process works. Part of me thinks that it will always be the poor who will be put to death, and the rich and those with celebrity will get off.
Conclusion: I don’t trust any state or federal government enough to give them that much power, so I guess that would make me opposed to the death penalty. On the other hand, and I’m just being totally honest here, if someone did something to my daughters or son, I might be very tempted to seek revenge, regardless of what the state had to say. Perhaps my faith in God would stay my hand. I just don’t know.
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