Posted on 08/16/2005 12:57:52 PM PDT by areafiftyone
New York, August 16, 2005 – The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches is urging President Bush to join with Gold Star families and religious leaders in an interfaith prayer service outside the Bush ranch at noon (CDT) Friday,
The prayer service has been called by Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan “as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen.”
Sheehan, along with United Methodist laywoman Celeste Zappala and other Gold Star mothers, has been waiting outside the Bush compound to meet with the President since his five-week vacation began.
“I urge the President and the First Lady to join this brief and simple service,” said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, NCC General Secretary. Edgar visited the Gold Star mothers and their families outside the presidential ranch and conducted a worship service on August 12. The visit was at the invitation of his fellow United Methodist, Celeste Zappala, whose son Sherwood was killed in Iraq.
“This war, like any war, has generated terrible losses, immense pain and sharp divisions in our country,” Edgar said. “Each day we see the pain in the faces of the Gold Star mothers and their families. It’s evident that President Bush, who has faced agonizing decisions in this war, feels the pain as well.”
“Whether or not we agree with Mr. Bush’s decisions,” Edgar said, “and whether or not he agrees with us, we can agree that we’re all feeling a heavy burden of grief. Let’s suspend the rhetoric for a few minutes on Friday and join together – commander-in-chief and families of the fallen – to seek strength from the God who sustains us all.”
In an open letter to religious leaders August 15, Sheehan urged those who cannot attend to host a prayer vigil in their cities. “We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war.”
The service will take place at “Camp Casey,” an impromptu encampment outside the Bush compound named for Sheehan’s son, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Baghdad on April 4, 2004. Camp Casey, which displays white crosses named for those who have been killed in Iraq, has become a gathering place for Gold Star families and their supporters.
The full text of the Sheehan August 15 letter to religious letters follows:
Dear Religious Leader:
Family members of fallen soldiers, who have joined me in Crawford, and I invite you to attend a moment of silent prayer at 12:00 noon (Central Daylight Time) this Friday, August 19th at Camp Casey just outside the Presidents’ Ranch. We’re holding this moment of prayer as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen. We have also invited President Bush and the first lady to join us in praying for the troops.
Several family members of fallen soldiers have joined with me in Crawford and will take part in the moment of silent prayer. Outside the President’s ranch we have set up a temporary camp named “Camp Casey” and a memorial of crosses with names of fallen soldiers has been erected, which is where the prayer service will take place.
If you cannot attend our service in Crawford, Texas please consider hosting a prayer vigil in your city. We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war. You are welcome to contact your local media and inform them of your vigil.
My son, Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 4, 2004, when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. When President Bush began his 5 week vacation, I decided to camp outside his ranch in hopes of meeting with him to ask some unanswered questions about the war and the needless loss of lives of so many. Thus far the President has refused to meet, but my resolve is strong and I will remain in Crawford until the meeting takes place or his vacation ends.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of this interfaith prayer service.
Respectfully,
Cindy Sheehan
Mother of Casey Sheehan
Picture courtesy of Lone Star Iconoclast.
If you plan to go to Crawford, travel logistics provided by the Sheehan support team can be found here
Contact: NCC News, Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252,
Brilliant analysis, Sparky, very detailed.
"Somehow"!!!
Actually, I won't lose. I have five college degrees and have lived a lot in my 50+ years. I've even touched more than one woman.
LOL!
Looks like you already have.
You forgot the barf alert. If this woman were my daughter, I'd give her a spanking and send her to her room. Then again, her husband is filing for divorce. She ought to marry Hanoi Jane. /rant
But, you know we got the oil, but the oil tycoons that are Bush's friends are trying to over control it, so they can overcharge for it. BTW, suggesting we drill in Alaska was just more cover. </sarcasm>
Bingo!
There are a lot of highly educated people on FR, and NONE of them ever feel the need to brandish their credentials like a club, like this guy does.
Compensation?
Based on your logic, we should dig up Ike and DEMAND that he has conversations with the sons whose fathers died in WWII.
Another mistake people make typing on a computer is tone. You assume that I am emotional and irrational (you have called me both). You can't hear my tone of voice so I'll tell you....I'm having a great time at your expense. With every post, your critical thinking and debate skills show a little more.
You still have not backed up a single thing you have claimed with any fact. You obviously are not a master of the five paragraph essay and your spelling is poor. Your skill is that of a TA not a prof.
Let's try this one more time. What is your proof that FDR met with anyone that protested or threatened him?
You know, I'm working at the computer and should have left this ages ago, but it's too much fun watching this. If I were a nicer person I'd have sympathy for the beating this pathetic little person is taking. "You're all against me! You're jealous of my superior mind!" paranoids make me laugh, I'm sorry, they just do. It's a clichee I enjoy...;)
Cindy Sheehan is currently in the news. She and her organization have no connection whatever with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. We are a 501 C(3) organization and, as such, do not engage in political activities. We do support our troops. After all, they are our children. More on gold star mothers vs American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Glad to see that. At least when people who are curious look them up they can get the truth.
Perhaps you can explain how one can respond to assine comments without "reacting"? You have been reacting to numerous comments here but somehow that escapes your blame.
Just because I treat your RATmedia fables without respect or deference does not mean I am reacting emotionally.
And jumping to wild conclusions such as the people I agree with are friends and the ones I don't agree with are not is something I would expect to come from a teenager not a mature person. You know nothing about how I interact with real friends or enemies. Apparently you are also unaware that a "friend" on one thread can easily be an "enemy" on another.
I enjoy my life as well and part of that enjoyment is contradicting those who try and post RATmedia-based lies here. Frankly I have gone easy on you and have not insulted or mocked you personally.
Please see past the teasing I do of the ranters and ravers, and note that I know better than to take my PhD seriously. I have met idiots whom I am surprised graduated a bad high school who have PhD's.
I just mention mine to irritate people who are intimidated by such things. I love to get them angry.
Exactly, and if they would release their copies then we could hopefully get some good posters from them.
That's pathetic. You're just a professional student.
"Professional Students" live off other people. I paid my way through all my schooling.
And I finished my PhD when I was nearly 50. In between were long stretches were I had a life.
Like I said, credentials battle? I'll win.
Weren't you posting here as "Iliya Pavlovitch, PhD" back a few months ago? I've read all of your posts on this thread and Iliya's debating skills match yours to the T. Just curious.
I don't think you are a professor.
I don't believe you teach at any academic institution.
You know zero about war, politics or groupthink.
But the 'child' half of your screen name sounds accurate.
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