Local Muslims react to Trump’s comments of Khan family

“We do what we do for our country without looking for anything in return and when we hear things like that, it pains us, especially from someone who has not done the same sacrifice.”

Reymundo Nour shares a common history with Captain Khan. He’s a 10 year combat veteran and a Muslim who served in the Gulf War.

Nour says, “I had lots of backlash from some of our own marines who thought that they had the enemy among them.”

Nour says his own parents could have been the ones speaking at the Democratic National Convention and receiving backlash from Trump, had he not returned from war.

“[It] speaks a lot about his ignorance,” says La Quinta resident Ali Malik, “His ignorance about the faith itself and his ignorance about the culture as well because Pakastani women, let me tell you, they’re not quiet.”

Malik says he relates to the Khan family’s immigrant story and would be proud if his own son followed Captain Khan’s example and joined the armed forces.

Nour and Malik both say there is nothing Trump could say or do to repair the harm his comments have caused.

In an earlier web poll, we asked our viewers do you think Donald Trump went too far with his comments to the parents of the Muslim U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq?

41% said yes, all gold star families deserve our respect (295 votes), 3% said he could have worded it better (25 votes), and 55% said no, he’s just speaking his mind (397 votes).