Posted on 08/18/2005 8:52:41 AM PDT by bobsunshine
The continued focus by the nation's media on Cindy Sheehan, the so-called "Peace Mom" who's demanding a second meeting with President Bush in the wake of her son's death, is sparking a backlash from parents of other American servicemen and women in Iraq.
One Texas family of a fallen Marine became so enraged with Sheehan's use of their son's name on a protest cross, they drove from the town of Spicewood to Crawford to remove it.
"I went there and had Matthew's name taken off of there," said Matt Matula, whose son, a 20-year-old Marine, was killed by hostile fire last year. "It's fine for people to grieve their own way. It aggravates me to see them using other people's names to further their cause."
"He's not a victim, he's a hero," he told KXAN-TV, "and I think that everybody that's serving our country [are] heroes."
Cpl. Matthew Matula, whose wife, Julie, was pregnant when he was killed in action, had planned on bringing his wife and baby back from his base in Southern California to Texas to get a ranch and build a house.
He earned a host of decorations, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. His younger brother youngest son just recently joined the military and is also heading to Iraq.
"Matthew was very proud of being a Marine and proud of his unit and what they were doing," his mother, Toni, said.
Her feelings are echoed by another war mom, Debbie from Indianapolis, who called radio host Rush Limbaugh today to say her own son was wounded in Iraq when his vehicle ran over a land mine twice in one day, and he's now serving his second tour of duty.
"I would never dishonor his actions by doing what this woman is doing," she tearfully said, referring to Cindy Sheehan. "What she's doing is not only dishonoring her son, she's dishonoring mine. ... [Casey Sheehan] didn't die for nothing, he died in the United States Armed Forces.There's nothing more honorable than that. These kids volunteered, they were not yanked from their cradle by an evil government to send them someplace they didn't want to go ... My son knew what was in store for him, and my son stepped up to the plate."
Lee Miller, who has a long list of family members in the service, wrote the China Daily newspaper to blast Mrs. Sheehan, while at the same time heaping praise on her son, Casey.
"He is a better person then you will ever be. So go home and honor his name instead of dragging it in the dirt. Make a difference instead of trying to be in the limelight. You're making an a-- out of yourself. I know your pain. I have been down that path – it hurts, but don't blame someone for a choice a person makes when it doesn't work out. Build a bridge and get over it. Your son was proud of what he did, so be proud of him."
The backlash has led to the creation of the "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" tour, a caravan of military family members who plan to converge on Crawford for a rally Aug. 27.
The event is being promoted by MoveAmericaForward, and is led by Deborah Johns of Northern California Marine Moms, whose son, William, is a Marine serving in Iraq.
"I am deeply sorry for Ms. Sheehan's loss; however, Ms. Sheehan's actions are only causing pain to those of us who have loved ones serving in the war against terrorism," Johns said. "We understand the need to fight the terrorists overseas rather than face attack here at home. We understand that it was the terrorists led by al-Qaida in Iraq who are responsible for the deaths of U.S. service members, including Casey Sheehan."
Johns is now starring in a new television commercial she produced.
"William is helping to bring about freedom, and people are realizing that freedom is a gift," she says in the spot. "He supports what we're doing over there."
The backlash is not going unnoticed by Cindy Sheehan.
"The right wingers are e-mailing me and spewing filth about me on the radio and on the television saying that I am dishonoring my son's memory," she writes. "The right wingers are really having a field day with me. It hurts me really badly, but I am willing to put up with the cr--, if it ends the war a minute sooner than it would have."
She's also disputes allegations her anti-war protest is all about her.
"I was just the spark the universe chose for some reason to spark this off, because, like I said, the movement was already there."
As WorldNetDaily previously reported, Sheehan met with President Bush in June of last year, and even posted a photo of herself being kissed by the commander in chief on her website designed to honor her son. The photos of Bush have since been surgically removed from the site.
"We have met the enemy, and they is us." - Pogo
You know, for a while I acknowledged her pain...and figured that she must be hurting so. Now I know she's hate-filled to the extent that she will use her son's memory. How pathetic. Shut up, Cindy, and go home. You've embarrassed this country enough.
Sheehan Documents:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0815051sheehan1.html
Has Al-Qaeda responded to her protests yet?
Great story, but who the hell edits out the word "crap"??
Right - and just why is her lost of her son more valuable than all the other mothers who have lost their sons - that do not agree that it was a waste?
She has illusions of power. And, the media is seen for what they are - enemy supporters.
She is dishonoring the decision of her son, his values and what he chose to risk his life for. All so she can try and manipulate for her values - not his.
Re: Cindy and Al Qaeda
Not quite yet, but:
http://www.aljazeera.com/
http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=8917
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA07A535-66D8-4F5C-8499-9C09E8254282.htm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BEDCB08F-6251-408A-ABA0-5A6BBF8B1E67.htm
For website with more links: http://bbs.whatpissesyouoff.com/showthread.php?t=48321
See post 67.
And this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1463123/posts
bttt
History, asylums and prisons are filled with looneys who thought the same thing. "I" was chosen......
Thanks. Didn't see anything in there suggesting that Al-Qaeda is surrendering.
And who's this goof, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky Professor Glenn Hinson?
All she is going to do is create more grieving family members of soldiers killed by IEDs and other terrorist tactics.
She knows that, so do all her little lapdogs in the media. Why do you think they're doing this?
Well, not exactly. Not all are heroes. Some are the scum of the earth. Last year a Navy SEAL was discharged for stealing equipment/firearms/explosive material and was brought before a court marshal.
Not all are heroes. Being in the military does not per se make you "special". To state such would be echoing Socialism (everyone is special..thus no one is special).
Cindy Sheehan only dishonors her son's memory. She does not speak for all parents! Really, all she is, is the toyko rose for this war. While I totally disagree with her, she does have this right to protest--our military personnel have guaranteed her that very right with their very lives.....
lkr1982
Whatever she asks for on a day to day basis, until they are done with her usefullness.
"Cindy says that the protesters will be killed if they stay the night.
We’re not letting them intimidate us. If we get killed out here, know that the Secret Service killed us."
If the government wanted to go tactical on these silly people, all they would have to do is throw a few flash bangs into their camp at night, and with the sound of a little gun fire to drive them in the desired direction, they would all soil their pants and go home. End of problem.
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