Posted on 08/10/2005 5:26:36 PM PDT by kristinn
In her fifth day quietly camping out on a road near President Bush's ranch, a grieving mother protesting the war that took her son's life has captured the nation's attention.
Cindy Sheehan's simple vigil has pulled at many people's heartstrings and stirred anger in others, symbolizing the country's divided opinion of the war in Iraq.
Dozens from across the country have started to camp out with her, pitching tents in muddy ditches and hanging anti-war banners; others have sent flowers. One activist called her "the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement." Her name was among the most popular search topics Wednesday on Internet blogs.
The soft-spoken Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., said she is surprised at the overwhelming response - most of it positive, she said - but that people upset over the war just want their voices heard.
"Before my son was killed, I used to think that one person could not make a difference," she said Wednesday under a tent where she has slept since arriving Saturday. "But one person that is surrounded and supported by millions of people can be heard."
But Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the Washington, D.C., chapter of FreeRepublic.com, which has held pro-troop rallies since Sept. 11 and counter-protests of anti-war demonstrations, said Sheehan's protest is misguided and is hurting troop morale.
"She has a political agenda that goes way beyond her son's death in combat," Taylor said.
On Saturday two high-level Bush administration officials, the national security adviser and deputy White House chief of staff, talked to Sheehan. But she called the 20-minute meeting "pointless" and still wants to talk to the president, vowing to remain until his stay at the ranch ends later this month.
Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, in April 2004 just five days after he arrived. He was the oldest of four children. His two younger sisters and brother, ages 19 to 24, are devastated and miss his laid-back personality, humor and uncanny laugh, Sheehan said.
After his death, among his belongings she received was his unfinished letter, saying he was looking forward to a smooth year of service. He didn't agree with the war, Sheehan said.
"I begged him not to go," she said through tears. "I said, 'I'll take you to Canada' ... but he said, 'Mom, I have to go. It's my duty. My buddies are going.' "
She said she is upset that various government and independent commission reports have since disputed the Bush administration's claims that Saddam Hussein had mass-killing chemical and biological weapons - a main justification for the March 2003 invasion.
Sheehan, a former Catholic youth minister, formed a group called Gold Star Families For Peace earlier this year and has spoken out against the war across the nation and overseas. She usually stays and eats meals with those who organize her speeches, but she has been using her son's insurance money for living expenses.
Judith Young, national president of similarly named The American Gold Star Mothers of America, Inc., said she is concerned that the public will mistake her 76-year-old Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization with Sheehan's group.
Young's group, commonly known as Gold Star Moms, arranges for mothers whose children died in the line of duty to volunteer in veterans' hospitals and programs. Members are all mothers, mostly between 60 and 80 years old, and they don't do advocacy work, Young said.
At Sheehan's makeshift camp off the two-lane, winding road leading to Bush's ranch, she has spent the past several days in the rain talking to scores of reporters, hugging fellow protesters and taking brief breaks to eat sandwiches and fruit brought by supporters.
Many decided to go to Crawford because of rumors that Sheehan would be arrested this week. But no protesters will be arrested unless they trespass on private property or block the road, said Capt. Kenneth Vanek of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office.
Trucker Craig Delaney, 53, was in Georgia on Monday when he heard numerous radio shows discussing Sheehan - some criticizing her. He altered his route to California, heading for Texas, and got to Sheehan's site Wednesday morning.
"I felt compelled to come and tell her I support her," said Delaney, a self-described hippie from Sly Park, Calif. "The way they were badmouthing a mother whose son was killed in the war is un-American."
Nearly 40 Democratic members of Congress have asked Bush to talk to Sheehan. And on Wednesday, a coalition of anti-war groups in Washington called on Bush to speak with Sheehan, who they say has helped to unify the peace movement.
"Cindy Sheehan has become the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, an activist group. "She's tired, fed up and she's not going to take it anymore, and so now we stand with her."
I find it hard to believe that anyone is paying attention to this broad's story. Boring. I wish the Libs would go back and make up some more stuff on the Plame thing. That was much more entertaining.
In fact it appears the only useful thing she's ever accomplished was giving birth to a young man who was willing to die for his country. I appreciate his service and honor his memory as opposed to her trampling on it. And I wonder how proud her son would be of her right now.
"Casey, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, in April 2004 just five days after he arrived."
From: http://michellemalkin.com
"Sheehan's father told the press in April 2004 that his son had re-enlisted the previous August(2003), planned to make a career in the military, and "loved the Army because it gave him a chance to serve his country."
[i]but she has been using her son's insurance money for living expenses[/i]
Using up the $$ from the death of her son to travel the country trashing the cause that he sacrificed his life for.
What a Mom! </sar>
She is not grieving, she is preparing to write a book.
She is not a military mom, she is an antimilitary mom. Her left wing antiwar admonitions to her son were not heeded.
Yes. Her name was Peg Mullen. Her son was killed in Vietnam in 1971. The story was eventually made into a book and made-for-TV movie called "Friendly Fire."
Then, just as now, the Left callously exploited a mother's grief for their own political ends.
The Waco Burnout(Branch Davidians) is only about 34 mile due east of the current encampment of moonbats.
That's a laugh. But we already know America has it's share of traitors.
She helps the enemy.
Your tagline is fabulous.
Just a guess, but I'm thinking Rosa wouldn't have been down with the Hussein boys' rape rooms for Shi'ite women.
I'd badmouth the hell out of the Bi##h if this were not a family site...
So please simply imagine the likely toughts of a Vietnam veteran recently priveledged to witness the homecoming of at least three different groups of reservists/guardsmen at two US airports and remembering at the same time what it was like in '73.
Is ESAD a proper internet abbreviation?
The woman has no shame. She is tap dancing on her son's grave.
Her son had more courage and conviction than she is showing.
Next time mention she is anti-Israel, aka anti-semitic.
I don't know about it surviving more news cycles...
The dems probably REALLY don't want the story about the pre-Bush intelligence that said that lawyers and officials in the MR. Clinton Administration screwed up a LOT more re: 9/11 than was previously known...
THEY aren't gonna want to talk about that!!! especially, Conyers and his gang that just held a "mock" hearing with Joe Wilson CINDY SHEEHAN, and others to try to hang Bush with the Downing Street Memos....LOLOLOLOL
There's that pink color again....
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