WASHINGTON DC
IN THE few hours it took the tenacious US media to dig up the identity of the gunman who went on a shooting spree at the US army base at Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, I found myself running through different kinds of scenarios in my head.
Could it have been an outside attack, similar to the recent one staged against the Pakistani army camp by militants? Maybe a disgruntled former employee or soldier. Perhaps, a protester upset about US war mongering, or even a training exercise gone awry.
Rightly or wrongly, I stopped wondering when I heard the alleged perpetrator's name read out on television: Nidal Malik Hasan.
I found myself making certain assumptions based on what I have read in the media about the devastating activities of the few radical individuals that shared his religion.
My next thought was worry about a possible backlash on moderate Muslims in the US and around the world.
I also felt a wave of disappointment that another isolated act of violence had once again unraveled efforts by Muslims and non-Muslims to dispel misunderstandings about the teachings of Islam and reduce inter-ethnic distrust and suspicion.
Moving to curtail an explosive situation, President Barrack Obama and investigators called immediately for caution, warning the public not to speculate on Hasan's motive.
The Army said it was looking into whether Hasan, an army psychiatrist, had snapped under the pressure of his job counselling thousands of war-weary troops, or because of mistreatment, or was motivated by deeper convictions.
It was against this backdrop that I was disturbed to see a top cable news network, a day after the shooting, air a television story about a radical Muslim group, made up of American citizens, preaching hate on the streets of New York.
The reporter behind the story had been working on the report for some time but editors obviously saw the connection to the shooting at Fort Hood and chose to run it, linking it to the murderous rampage.
The story opened with a screen capture of the group’s homepage where members described Hasan as "an officer and a gentleman" and proclaimed "we love you".
It went on to show one-on-one interviews with two members of the group, both American citizens.
One said the Quran, Islam's holy book, commanded him to "terrorise" non believers, to strike fear in them so that they would not commit crime.
The other proclaimed that he "loved Osama bin Laden" more than he loves himself. He called President Obama a "scumbag'' and added he would not shed a tear if Mr Obama was killed.
The group had been actively recruiting outside New York city's biggest mosque, where moderate Muslims go to worship, shouting their incendiary messages and passing out pamphlets, according to the TV footage.
In other countries, such as Britain, they would be breaking the law for inciting racial hatred. But in the US, they are shielded by the first amendment to the US constitution which protects the freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
While I admire the principles behind the first amendment and what they stand for, I questioned the appropriateness of showing that story, especially so soon after the shooting.
Would it not have further anguished the families of the fallen soldiers to see, albeit a small group of, fellow Americans celebrating the man who just murdered their loved ones?
Also, with public emotions running high, would it not have been better to wait to show that story, instead of risking the possibility that it could incite and inflame viewers?
Already, the Internet here is buzzing with renewed Islamaphobia. Right-wing websites are calling the shooting a "Jihad at Fort Hood?" and a "Terrorist Incident in Texas".
In Singapore, we have strong laws and policies to guard against anything that would rock the inter-racial and ethnic harmony the country has worked so hard to achieve.
I am more convinced than ever that they are there for a good reason and should be upheld and protected whatever the criticisms.
Meanwhile, in America, an old wound has been ripped opened once again, and it remains to be seen how well or quickly it will heal this time.
Read more about the Fort Hood incident:
Counsellor 'needed help'
Motive of shooter probed
Obama to attend memorial
Editor's note: The spelling of amendment has been fixed.