To some extent, political correctness was responsible for the heinous shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in November 2009, leaving 13 dead and 32 injured.

These are the findings of a 91-page document released Thursday by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Buried in a week of news coverage devoted to the uprising in Egypt and another debilitating legal blow to Obamacare, it is unsurprising this report failed to make waves.

But more attention should be paid to the Department of Defense’s failure to discharge Nidal Hasan prior to his shooting spree. There were obvious warning signs that Hasan was a deeply disturbed individual influenced by violent Islamic extremism, but political correctness — concern about potential discrimination complaints — prevented what should have been an immediate dismissal from the Army.

The Senate’s report is almost painful to read. Two of Hasan’s associates at Walter Reed Medical Center separately describe Hasan as a ‘ticking time bomb.’ He made statements supporting suicide bombing and defending Osama bin Laden. Perhaps most damning of all, Hasan told colleagues his religion took precedence over the Constitution.

Despite all this, Hasan slipped through the cracks. His attack was completely avoidable, but a strict adherence to political correctness allowed Hasan to remain in service.

In 21st century America, there is no greater shame than being accused of racial or religious profiling. Apparently, political correctness has been so ingrained in our collective psyche that we are uncomfortable taking action against an obvious lunatic — merely because he is a Muslim.

Since when does religious affiliation play a role in whether or not one should be terminated from an occupation?

Political correctness has morphed into a powerful doctrine within the United States. It exaggerates and usually fabricates America’s bigoted, degenerative tendencies. Constantly pushing for group rights instead of individual rights, this dogma of multiculturalism attempts to impose a much-needed dose of morality to a sinful nation — one with much to apologize for and little to celebrate.

Specifically with regard to the Fort Hood shooting, the politically correct interpretation is that Americans are ruthlessly bigoted against Islam. Accordingly, we must atone for this transgression by never rushing to judgment — especially not about a troubled Muslim in the military.

After all, we wouldn’t want Hasan to feel discriminated against.

The ‘professional left’ — a term used by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to describe radical progressives — has an unhealthy obsession with political correctness, especially when it serves broader aims.

Consider the contrast between the professional left’s reaction to the Jared Loughner shooting in Arizona and the Fort Hood shooting in Texas.

When Loughner, a lone psycho without any coherent political affiliation, opened fire in a Tucson Safeway killing six and injuring 14, the professional left wasted no time in blaming Sarah Palin for her ‘harmful rhetoric.’ Without a shred of evidence, the finger was pointed at the quintessential liberal punching bag.

On the other hand is Hasan, eventually determined to be a religious extremist, who went on a rampage at an American military base. In the days following, mainstream leftist outlets were adamant that Hasan’s Muslim faith had nothing to do with the attack.

Not so quick to pass judgment this time. Here, they would say, is an example of a lone wolf who acted without external motivations. It would be politically incorrect to think otherwise.

The fixation with political correctness must cease. It should no longer be employed as a supposedly harmless tactic to make everyone feel warm and cuddly.

The Fort Hood shooting could have been prevented if our government officials simply called a spade a spade. As of now, that appears to be too much to ask for.

Jimmy Paul is a senior political science major. His column appears every Tuesday, and he can be reached at jdpaul01@syr.edu. 

Published on February 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm