The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas

"The True American" is a superb account by Anand Giridharadas of a homicide/hate crime that transpired in Dallas, TX and how that event crystallized the "cycle of revenge" that - in the words of the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board - "doesn't stop until someone has the courage to say enough." That someone is Rais Bhuiyan, that crime's victim and, ultimately, this story's hero, a man who rose from near death, willed himself to a successful life here in Dallas and offered forgiveness and compassion to his would-be killer.The twist of the book is that the killer, Mark Stroman, had his own moral awakening, brought about, said Ilan Ziv (a documentary filmmaker), "[N]ot because we did anything, but because of who we were. His old world betrayed him, and a new group of people who was more loyal to him than his own family introduced him to our world." It's to the author's extreme credit that you're never entirely sure to which of the two protagonists 'The True American' title applies.I paid special attention to this book because events played out very close to my home here in Dallas. As a northerner with decades living here, I related to this excellent passage describing Dallas' unique and often hard-to-explain charm ("we killed Kennedy," after all -- we're still living that down 50 years on). Of Dallas, Giridharadas says:-----To the outside eye, especially the northern eye, [Dallas] could be dismissed as a gussied-up, diverse, but ultimately narrow backwater...To see Dallas in this way, however, was to bring to it a view that many of its own immigrants, including Rais, didn't share. Enormous numbers of them genuinely loved it, and they continued to arrive by the planeload. They loved, for starters, the sky and the roads and the low taxes that had brought Rais to the city long ago. But it was more than that. A newcomer like Rais could find in Dallas a kind of acceptance that New York or Washington or Los Angeles didn't give...It was a city without elusive codes. You didn't have to wonder how to dress in public, for almost any semi-respectable way of dressing would put you above average; or what knife to use with which course, because that wasn't really how they ate down here; or what subway carried you where, since most people had their own bubble of a car. What many immigrants found in Dallas was a dimension of America's tolerance that was the tolerance of casualness and convenience more than of open-mindedness: an ease of living that became its own kind of welcome.-----I can't tell you how just how trenchantly well-observed that passage is. It speaks volumes as to why such large, vibrant immigrant communities flourish here.

The story of Rais Bhuiyan's life, from humble Bengali beginnings, to post-9/11 casualty, redemption and outspoken advocate against violence and the roots of post-9/11 hate in America, is nothing short of extraordinary. For this alone, I give Anand Giridharadas's True American a solid 5 stars.And while I applaud Giridharadas's courage in telling the story of a Muslim who defies the stereotypes and generalities of today's 'War on Terrorism' world, and his attempt to uncover and help his readers understand the roots of the prejudice, frustration and hatred that led Mark Stroman to murder 2 innocent immigrants and seriously injure another shortly after 9/11, for much of True American, particularly the latter half, I felt like I was somewhere between a docudrama and high level social study. For this I give True American 4 stars, and 4 stars overall.True American is an important and revealing book, however, especially if you've never been exposed to the underbelly of today's meth-addicted, transient social stratum. Following Mark Storman's execution (another form of violence explored in the book), Giridharadas takes his readers on a journey through the lives of Stroman's children as they deal with the horror and guilt of their father's racism and violent actions, while concurrently struggling to free themselves from the vicious cycle of poverty, addiction and extreme disfunction they were brought up in. The same roots that led Stroman to murder and his ultimate fate.There are many valuable topics and messages in True American. Skipping through the lessor details, it is definitely worth a read and follow up discussion. Hope that you find the same.

All Americans in this country are immigrants, unless you are among native Americans who inhabited this land before the Europeans arrived. The title of this book is an appropriate one to tell a gripping story of how an immigrant not only assimilates himself to become a true American but also, in the process, affects many others' lives in a positive way. In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, many ugly incidents, such as burning of mosques and attacking of minorities perceived to be from the Middle East, unfortunately occurred due to ignorant racial stereotyping. The author did a fantastic job of weaving so many elements into a moving story: an immigrant's aspiration to always strive to better himself, a criminal's transformation from a cold-blooded murderer to face his conscience in the end, the unbelievable kindness and compassion shown by the victim of this horrendous crime not only to try to help his killer but the perpetrator's family and his efforts to teach others the true meaning of forgiveness; and in the process touches on many social factors that contribute to economic inequity, social obstacles, the seemingly endless cycle of poverty, etc. The telling of the story from many angles provides a context that helps readers to appreciate the wholeness of this incredible story that moved me to tears many times while reading it.

I can't seem to love this book like so many others did. While the story was told well I found it to be a little too self-serving. It turned more into a story on the author that became far too boring to read.

This is absolutely a "Food For Thought" novel. While trying to put myself in other's shoes, wonder how I would deal with a situation like this. Part of me would like to think that I could try to forgive, put the anger down and go on with my life. Doing good for someone who has not experienced people doing good for them in their lifetime could possibly change this one person or this person's family and maybe that's the way it should be. One person at a time. Certainly can't deal with the magnitudes. I can understand the feelings on both sides. After 911, U.S. citizens were very angry for the hurt that was dealt to our country and we really didn't know who the enemy was. Good people are in "the mix" and good people get hurt when they weren't guilty at all. It was just random lashing out if we saw someone who looked like they could be the bad guy. Very sad book, but like I said, great food for thought.';

A truly incredible piece of writing from one of the best commentators on America. Brilliant social commentary mixed with fascinating portraits of complex characters. Rhais's optimism is truly inspiring. His capacity to keep pushing forward and true belief in the American Dream is an inspiration. At the same time Giridharadas doesn't hesitate to point out Rhais's flaws showing a real human. Perhaps more riveting is the description of the social rot surrounding Stroman and his family. A really tragic life experience that led him to commit horrible atrocities.Ghirdharadas describes it all in vivid detail bringing in the right history and context without judgement. He is a true journalist who spent time in the field and then put it all in the right context. The writing is also fantastic. I could barely put the book down.

If this book were fiction, it could easily be deemed "unrealistic". The lives of two very different men are forever intertwined due to an act of violence which changes the future of each man. Following 9/11 Mark Stroman takes it upon himself to avenge the deaths of Americans by killing Arabs. After two murders of convenience store clerks, he shoots Rais Bhuiyan in the face. Bhuiyan is from Bangladesh; none of his victims are Arabs.Following that act of violence, the author retraces the lives of both men. Stroman, born into a dysfunctional loosely- knit family, has a record of trouble from early days in school. Bhuiyan was raised in a tightly knit Muslim family and served as a disciplined pilot in the Bangladesh Air Force. He comes to American to pursue what he understands to be the American dream. Their past and their future prospects couldn't be further apart.The author retells the events of the murder, the trial, and the path both men follow to find redemption. Believing he owes God for saving his life, Bhuiyan eventually overcomes anger and disappointment and forgives Stroman and works to appeal his death sentence. Due to several encounters with others in prison and the forgiveness of Bhuiyan, Stroman comes to believe that his death sentence is actually a "life saving" event as he finds a sense of peace.This is a book about faith and religion, poverty and ambition, culture and politics, and a view of American values from the viewpoint of an immigrant and a man who believes himself to be the "true American." The final chapters given an insightful view of generational poverty, dysfunction, and lack of direction. Although the events in the book are complicated, the book is extremely readable and griping and provides plenty of food for thought.

This book is about much more than the tragedy of one man affecting the lives of three victims of his rage filled violent act of misdirected patriotism. The compelling story of the surviving victims journey to forgiveness and activism for understanding between religions, cultures and people as well as the realization of the seeds for revenge being deep in each of our own souls raised the research and extensive examination of each character to a level of personal involvement by the reader that is seldom found. The ending of the book was a little awkward in that the story is far from over. Forgiveness and understanding will always be required of us.

It is a very well written book. It defies comprehension if you have never been exposed to this part of life or rather wished to never have to ever think that it even exists. The entire spectrum of society is laid bare in this riveting book and it takes your emotions and just swings them all over - it mixes good with the bad and the horrendous with the heavenly. But at the end of it, it was an extremely sad story on so many levels I lost count and it challenges your emotions. It was a very good read.

2001年9月11日のテロをきっかけに、自称愛国者たちがアラブ系と見られる人たちをターゲットにした一連の事件があったなかで、そんな行為のターゲットになり、からくも一命をとりとめたバングラデッシュ出身の若者（Raisuddin Bhuiyan）のお話です。彼の人生がこの事件によりどう影響を受けたか、そして彼を撃ち、のちに死刑宣告を受けた犯人と彼がどう向き合ったか...犯人（Mark Stroman）と被害者（Raisuddin）の生い立ちや背景などがかなり細かく説明されていて、もっとはやく話の続きを知りたいのに... という気がするところが若干ありますが、面白いです。アメリカ社会の寛大さと偏狭さについて、さらに、もしかしたら私たちがアメリカの良いところとして認識またはイメージしている自由や寛容の精神は、アメリカに新たにやってくる移民の人たちの方が持っているのではないかとさえ考えさせられます。

Very interesting story with insights into immigrant life and struggles in USA. Wonderful character to accept & forgive! Was recommended on TED reading list.

Fantastic book, well-paced and balanced between the stories of the two men involved. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

About halfway through this historical novel I threw in the towel.It was obvious to me how this was going to end.