President Speaks At Ft. Hood Memorial Service

Yesterday, President Obama and the first Lady traveled to Texas to meet with families of those who were killed and wounded in last week's shooting at Ft. Hood. (White House blog report.) Afterwards, the President spoke at a memorial service at Ft. Hood for the 13 who were killed in the massacre that was apparently carried out by Major Nidal M. Hasan, an Army psychiatrist and a devout Muslim. (Full text of Obama's remarks.) While much of the President's speech focused on the victims, the President's remarks also contained at least two interesting references to religious faith:

It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know -- no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. For what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice -- in this world, and the next....

As we face these challenges, the stories of those at Fort Hood reaffirm the core values that we are fighting for, and the strength that we must draw upon.... We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes. We're a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln’s words, and always pray to be on the side of God.