In the 19th century, when the term honor killing was used, it referred to someone killed in a duel. In those duels, the two parties met at an agreed time and agreed place. Once at the location, they followed the dueling procedure for resolving the issue. In the event both parties missed their shot at each other, the matter was considered settled. Albert Sidney Johnston was wounded in a duel. He also challenged Sam Houston to a duel. Along those lines, many people challenged Sam Houston to duels. Dueling was a part of life in early Texas. After joining the Union of States, dueling was outlawed. Although some still used it, officially, it was no longer tolerated.

Today, the term ‘honor killing’ has been revived, although modern applications of the term do not contain honor at all. In the latest incident in Texas, a father, Yasser Abdel Said has been accused of killing his two daughters in Lewisville, Texas. The bodies of his 17 and 18 year old daughters were found with fatal gunshot wounds, and he escaped from the police. (Here is their MySpace page). Although some may refer to a father killing his daughters as an ‘honor killing’. There is no honor in such a hideous act of cowardice. Such acts are not honorable, and have never been honorable in the traditions of Texas, nor should they be. It is a travesty to even use the term honor killing for such filicide is outrageous. It angers me that such an act could occur in Texas. We have many traditions that are worthy of honor. Such acts as this are a blot on Texas and a sign that our culture is being threatened and something is wrong.
Part of preserving the culture of Texas is speaking out against such barbarity. The last time such a hideous act occurred was when the mother drowned her children in the Houston area. They did not call that a ‘honor killing’. It was a hideous act and was referred to as such. In the days of the Republic, people knew how to deal with such animal acts and had the courage to take action. Let us hope that there is still a sense of decency and moral outrage at such barbarous actions in our fair Texas homeland.

Free Texas!

J Murrah

Update 10 January 2008: On investigating matters further, police uncover that there were previous allegations of abuse and extreme behavior.  There were many signs and signals that there were problems in the family prior to the death of the two girls.

Albert Sidney Johnston, Culture, Current Affairs, duelling, honor killing, Lewisville, Sam Houston, Texas, Yasser Abdel Said

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