Posted on 08/17/2005 1:56:34 PM PDT by Kaslin
Natalie Healy made a decision this summer after losing her son in war-torn Afghanistan.
"I can't go to those mountains and climb them and I can't shoot a gun," she said. "But I can do everything I can to make sure we stay the course, and if that means speaking out, then that's what I want to do."
Less than two months after the death of her son, Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy, the Exeter mother and small business owner is following through on her word.
Healy is making her feelings known in response to the nation's interest in a California mother who has camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the war in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan's 24-year-old son was killed in Iraq last year.
Healy said she initially sympathized with the grief-stricken mom. Now, however, as Sheehan's message continues to fill the airwaves, Healy said she fears a backlash against the war on terrorism.
"It's sort of like a tidal wave," Healy said. "And it's gaining and gaining and gaining. And I'm not sure what will stop it, to tell you the truth.
"My big concern is that the enemy will use Cindy Sheehan to their benefit. They will point to her and say, 'See? See how this American is calling the President a murderer? See how they're going to start weakening from within?'"
Healy said she was booked to speak on MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews last night. The interview got bumped just a few hours before the show, she said.
But Healy said spreading her voice to support the war effort is her "new mission in life."
"I'm hoping, by having another mother who's lost a son speaking out loudly and strongly, that the troops will hear it and be heartened by it," she said. "Because we all know how they're always shocked when they get home and they find out what has been reported."
Several national polls show that a majority of Americans now consider the decision to invade Iraq a mistake. Healy herself said she initially had doubts about the war. She is now convinced the United States cannot leave Iraq just yet.
"The fact of the matter is, at this stage in the game, we're over there," she said. "We have to complete the mission."
Healy said she doubted Sheehan's son, Casey, would support his mother's mission.
Rather, she said, "I think my son would be happy that I was trying to remind people that we have to stay the course. We have to, without a doubt. And I know he'd be saying, 'OK, mom. Good. Good, mom.'"
Healy recognized the public's opinion of the Iraqi conflict is not the same as its opinion of the war in Afghanistan, where her son died June 28. Daniel Healy, a 36-year-old father of four, was one of 16 soldiers killed when insurgents shot down their helicopter.
But Healy said the two conflicts are part of the same war on terrorism, and it's a war the U.S. must continue to fight.
"I think fighting for freedom in Iraq and fighting for freedom in Afghanistan is one and the same," she said.
Healy is hopeful that the public will hear both sides in the debate over pulling U.S. troops from Iraq. It would be harmful, she said, if Sheehan's voice carried the day.
"I just don't want it to be the only story," Healy said. "I want the other voices to be heard so that the young men that fought with my son — that were broken-hearted from all their buddies getting killed — will know somebody else is speaking out for them. And maybe they won't be heard as much as Cindy Sheehan, but there's somebody trying, anyway."
"God Bless this woman and her family"
I'm sure the MSM will beat a path to her door with cameras.
Aaaaaaany minute now!
Heroes and patriotism is of no concern to the left, unless it's commie heroes.
God Bless this lady. She's exactly right. I hope that she is successful in drowning out the whine of that liberal prostitute, Cindy.
I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose a child in war (or under any circumstances), and I can only speculate that most would rather be left in peace -- not asked for their opinion about the war.
This woman is the voice of America. Too bad it's so difficult for her to be heard. Prayers to her family.
Healy family bump ( no immediate relation)
True, but the way the MSM has been acting, I would not suprised if this posting is the ONLY time we ever see this story. Time will tell, but I would be very suprised if this story gets as much as the mentioned 1/100th time. I have lost ALL faith the the agenda driven biased MSM.
And how much publicity will the MSM give this woman compared to Sheehan? Maybe one one-thousandth?
God bless her, and her family. She represents the majority of Americans, just as does Debbie, the mom of a Marine, who was so passionate, and eloquent, on Rush's show today. They make me proud to be an American, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for speaking out.
Sadly believable.
Why am I not surprised that she got "bumped" from Hairball last night...
She should not appear on Lard Ball show. The show is a total disgrace for heroic American like her and thousand others!!!
I heard her. God bless them all, and to those on this forum, whose best (sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers) are serving our country, God bless you and yours too.
To those of us, like myself, whose contribution to the WOT is by word of mouth and Free Republic (They serve who also sit and WRITE), we must stay in the fight, and not only stay the course, but SET the course. Rush summed us up as we should be: "These anti-everything leftists say that they have a right to speak. Well, so the hell do I."
bump
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