Posted on 08/17/2005 9:52:02 PM PDT by kristinn
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - Hundreds of candlelight vigils calling for an end to the war in Iraq lit up the night Wednesday, part of a national effort spurred by one mother's anti-war demonstration near President Bush's ranch.
The vigils were urged by Cindy Sheehan, who has become the icon of the anti-war movement since she started a protest Aug. 6 in memory of her son Casey, who died in Iraq last year.
Sheehan says she will remain outside the president's ranch until he meets with her and other grieving families, or until his monthlong vacation there ends.
Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan but has made no indication he will meet with her. Two top Bush administration officials talked to Sheehan the day she started her camp, and she and other families had met with Bush shortly after her son's death.
More than 1,600 vigils were planned Wednesday from coast to coast by liberal advocacy groups MoveOn.org Political Action, TrueMajority and Democracy for America. A large vigil was also planned in Paris.
As the sun set in Crawford, about 200 protesters lit candles and gathered around a wooden, flag-draped coffin at Sheehan's growing camp, about a mile from the Bush ranch.
``For the more than 1,800 who have come home this way in flag-draped coffins, each one ... was a son or a daughter, not cannon fodder to be used so recklessly,'' Sheehan told the crowd.
After the names of some of the dead soldiers were read, the crowd sang ``Amazing Grace'' as people stepped forward to place flowers on the coffin.
Before the vigil, Gary Qualls, of Temple drove to Sheehan's camp site and removed a wooden cross bearing his son's name. He said he supports the war and disagrees with Sheehan.
``I don't believe in some of the things happening here,'' Qualls said. ``I find it disrespectful.''
Near Philadelphia's Independence Hall, a few hundred people strained to hear the parent of another soldier killed in Iraq. ``This war must stop,'' said Al Zappala, 65, whose 30-year-old son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, died in an explosion in Baghdad in April 2004.
Karen Braz, 50, held a pink votive cup and a sign reading ``Moms for Peace'' as she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with about 150 other people outside the New Hampshire statehouse in Concord.
``My son is 26. It could've been him,'' she said
Some critics say Sheehan is exploiting her son's death to promote a left-wing agenda. They say scores of Americans, including relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq, support Bush and his plans to keep troops there.
FreeRepublic.com, which holds rallies to support troops and to counter anti-war demonstrations, held a pro-Bush rally Wednesday night with about 20 people at the same time and same Washington park as a candlelight vigil that drew about 300, said Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the group's Washington, D.C., chapter.
``For us the organizers of the vigil are phony-baloney, betraying the sacrifices that those men and women make in Iraq, by demanding that we pull our troops out now and leave Iraq to go to hell,'' Taylor said. ``This is a publicity stunt.''
Some 200 people joined a peace vigil in Cincinnati's Fountain Square. Demonstrators softly sang ``Give Peace A Chance'' and lined one side of the square with signs, drawing honks of support from some passing motorists.
A banner bearing the name, age, rank, hometown and date of death of all Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan was unrolled at a vigil in Charleston, W.Va. - stretching the length of a city block.
``Our pastors and preachers need to hear from us,'' said one of the speakers in Charleston, Mary Ellen O'Farrell. ``Ask your pastor to preach it from the pulpit. This war does not meet the criteria for a just war.''
Along with candles and flags, some of the 300 people who gathered at a park in Nashville, Tenn., brought banners of protest and support for Sheehan. One read: ``Thank you for your courage Cindy.''
About 200 people attended a rally and candlelight vigil on the steps of the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. Marie Evans said it was a chance for those opposing the war to let their voices be heard.
``There was no question in my mind that we needed to make a statement in Oklahoma, which is a very conservative state,'' said Evans, who carried a sign that read ``Their blood is on your hands.''
In Hawaii, Kalihi Valley resident Charmaine Crockett invited scores of people to her hilltop house to light candles in sympathy for Sheehan. ``I'm very moved by one person making a difference,'' Crockett said.
Actor Richard Dreyfuss attended a vigil in the Studio City area of Los Angeles with his son and about 500 others.
``Cindy Sheehan is making a starting point with the questions she is asking and it's not unpatriotic to ask them,'' Dreyfuss said. ``It's actually a higher form of patriotism.''
And at a vigil in Madison, Wis., Tammy Markee had some simple advice for Bush on how to handle Sheehan: ``Be a man. Give her the respect she deserves. Sit down and talk with her.''
On the Net:
http://www.moveon.org/
http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm
Well. We already gave peace a chance. It didn't work out.
Google: September 11, 2001.
Check your freepmail
"And at a vigil in Madison, Wis., Tammy Markee had some simple advice for Bush on how to handle Sheehan: ``Be a man. Give her the respect she deserves. Sit down and talk with her.''
He already did, you dingbat.
TO: Tammy Markee.....simple advice.....Be and ADULT.....sit down and READ, you idiot.
I hear they are now selling Cindy "Blow up Dolls"... Michael Moore has got about 3 of them that he parties with!
I think they're called "Cindy's going to blow up" dolls.
Peace gave them a chance to attack us.
"Do none of these people see how desperately this woman needs emotional help?"
Know, but don't care.
And neither do I, but for different reasons.
Stick her in the cell with Charlie Manson; let 'em swap recipes.
``I don't believe in some of the things happening here,'' Qualls said. ``I find it disrespectful.''
Good for Mr. Qualls. He's the second parent I've seen reported who's driven to Crawford to remove their son's name from Camp Cindy.
The "anti-war" movement owns the MSM, that's the same.
It's war only when the U.S. fights back. That's the same.
It's not war when they attack and kill U.S. imperialists, sometimes referred to as peace but with the world's peoples expressing their unhappiness with the U.S. That's the same.
Here's something different. We have an Internet and there's no FCC "Fairness Doctrine" muzzle on radio. Hmmm.
Maybe the results will be different this time. The U.S. military gets to keep the war victory they won. I really hope so! This time it's for all the marbles.
THE WAR IN IRAQ IS OVER!!!!! WE WON!!!! (Sorry to tell you that because I know how it hurts you).
What is going on in Iraq right now is that a bunch of your fanatical Islamic friends from outside Iraq are murdering Coalition soldiers and Iraqis that are trying to rebuild the country. Deal with it piggies.
Leftist perfidy and selfishness is universally fatal.
I am so tired of the MSM omitting the fact that President Bush already met with her once. This paragraph should read
Sheehan says she will remain outside the president's ranch until he meets with her a second time and other grieving families so she can yell at and berate him, or until his monthlong vacation there ends.
"Anyone who loses a son , her job and her husband, who is divorcing her, in the space of 17 months is most likely running on fumes."
It should be quite obviouse. Her son re-enlisted to stay far from her. The hubby would have left her anyways. He basically already eluded to that. She is a total anti-war person. She was anti-war long before the good Lord took her son. She wants to be used. She wants to be a part of this movement. It is the only thing in life that has meaning for her. She is no better then Hanoi Jane. She probably truely admires Hanoi Jane. She most probably went to some west coast super lib college was brainwashed by the age of 24 and the crap has just been festering in her since then. This is her day in the sun. Her one chance to do what she always dreamed of, dishonoring our troops as they with honor and tears go forth and do what is right in the eyes of millions of Iraqi's and Americans. She is a what is known as a traitor. She is providing aid to the enemies of the United States during a time of war (WOT). UBL and others will use her videos for their training films etc.. It really is that simple.
Have a pleasant evening I gotta get some shut eye.
bttt
Stop making excuses, all over FR, for this seditious barking moonbat!
The kumbaya crowd all over again.
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