Posted on 08/07/2005 4:23:31 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
PRESS RELEASE
CODEPINK Stands With Mother of Fallen Soldier
Contact: Jodie Evans 310-621-5635
Medea Benjamin 415-235-6517
Diane Wilson 361-676-0663
August 7th, 2005
Members of CODEPINK: WOMEN FOR PEACE Begin Hunger Strike to Support Cindy Sheehan's Roadside Vigil in Crawford, Texas
Crawford, Texas--Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, California, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, traveled to Crawford, Texas with hundreds of anti-war activists to confront President Bush at his Crawford ranch. Sheehan wants to ask Bush, "Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?" and demand a speedy withdrawal of troops in Iraq. During their march in the 100 degree heat, the protesters were forced into a ditch teeming with fire ants. Sheehan, who co-founded Gold Star Families for Peace, refuses to leave until the President comes out to speak with her.
Marching with Sheehan was CODEPINK co-founder Diane Wilson, along with many members of CODEPINK: WOMEN FOR PEACE, a grassroots peace and social justice movement that seeks positive social change through proactive, creative protest and non-violent direct action. Wilson, who continues to stand vigil with Sheehan, pledged that CODEPINK would join Sheehan in solidarity through a hunger strike. Members of CODEPINK are flocking to Crawford to support Sheehan's stance, and are embarking upon vigilant fasts around the globe. Ann Wright, who resigned from the U.S. Foreign Service on March 19, 2003, in disagreement with the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq without the authorization of the UN Security Council, has joined Sheehan and Wilson in their roadside vigil.
In an open letter, Sheehan writes, "We would like for [President Bush] to explain this 'noble cause' to us and ask him why Jenna and Barbara are not in harm's way, if the cause is so noble." She adds, "If George is not ready to send the twins, then he should bring our troops home immediately." She asks supporters to "Bring water and hats we plan on staying until we are arrested or satisfied with the answers."
CODEPINK Action: http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/codepink/signUp.jsp?key=530
Letter from Cindy Sheehan: http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=8765
Why did you kill my son? The President didn't, the enemies of this nation did.
What did my son die for? The security of the UNited States and in defense of a now free people located in an area of strategic interest to the US and its liberty.
If the cause is so noble, why dont you send your twins? Your son, God rest his soul, vulunteered for service in the US military, the President's twins have not.
I grieve with this woman over the loss of her son, but am absolutely sickened how that grief is being used for pure political purposes. She doesn't understand how badly she is being used and how terribly she is shaming and tarnishing the memory of her son IMHO.
Don't you just love how they drag Laura and Jenna into this...
BTW, they are adults, just like this woman's son was....he made his choice, and Laura and Jenna should have the SAME rights to make their choices...
In fact, I believe one is working in Africa...one is going to be a school teacher in the inner city...
Frankly I think people on this board care more that her son was killed than she does. I think she sees it as an opportunity she wouldn't have had otherwise. People like her would gladly sacrifice a son in order to get exposure.
to turn this around president Bush should let her in and HER alone and talk to her,he has compassion for parents and military families,she may still be mad but it would put egg on the demonstrators faces and who knows?
Hundreds? According to the photographs, more like four or five dozen.
Another example of million mom math.
She is giving aid and comfort to the enemy who killed her son. What about all those people that died on 9-11? Did she forget all about that? Liberals always bring up the twins to make their point. We don't have a draft so that 60's rhetoric doesn't hold water.
With her help and that of Code Pink something like that could happen again because her and her ilk are embolding the terrorists. This isn't about her son any more, it is about her own selfish attitude as a liberal. Bet she embarrassed her son more than once when he was growing up.
Did you see the people that got off the bus -- hippy types from the 60's and she expects sympathy? I lost any sympathy I had for her when she opened her mouth. She is tarnishing the memory of her son by her actions and if there were not TV cameras around, she wouldn't be there.
Reminds me of the women who went on TV following 9-ll condemning the President but not the terrorists and same with some of the professional mourners here in OKC. Don't know what else to call them because turn a camera on them and they cry just like their hero Clinton!
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville. Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
I think she understands perfectly what she is doing -- look at the date her son died -- April 4, 2004 not 2005. She is now becoming the poster person for the anti-war movement after a year? Give this person a break -- she is enjoying every minute of this attempt to embarrass the President. If he had died this past April, I would have understood more but he died over a year ago not this past April according to what has been stated.
She is nothing more than a California liberal that sees a chance to make a Republican President look bad and advance the liberal agenda. Her son probably joined the military to get away from her!
That's my two cents!
In all probability, her son enlisted as soon as he could to get as far away from her as he could.
People like her turn the word "mother" into a disparagement.
It worked for Hank Hill when his wife and niece were brainwashed by a cult... 8^)
Fire up the Grill!
Well stated!!!
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. If you look at her history she has hated America for a very long time. This didn't just start when her son was killed.
Go to Iraq and find the real killers, Cindy "O.J." Sheehan.
I just read the crap posted at CNN. Do you think that they mentioned this? I am sure they would if it was true because they are such an upstanding news organization. </sarcasm>
i didnt know--how come this message isnt getting out--i know MSM
IMHO, that is even more distasteful and shameful to the memory of her son. Very sad indeed.
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