Posted on 04/10/2006 2:45:00 PM PDT by jamesm51
Commemoration of the two-year anniversary of Casey Sheehan's death in Iraq turned into a tirade against President Bush on Sunday at Arlington West, Santa Barbara's oceanside memorial to slain American troops.
Army Spc. Sheehan's mother, Cindy Sheehan -- one of the nation's best-known antiwar activists -- told the crowd of about 100 spectators that "we've been lied to. . . . The war has been a disaster of immense proportions."
Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, said the Iraq war was "a war of choice that we didn't need to make."
And former Democratic Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson said government leaders are "filling their pockets with the blood of our young men and women."
The hourlong rally, organized by Veterans For Peace, marked the second time Ms. Sheehan has visited the Arlington memorial, which volunteers construct each Sunday by putting a cross in the sand to represent a troop member killed in Iraq -- the number now reaches 2,350.
Veterans For Peace has erected the memorial every Sunday for the last 21/2 years. The wooden crosses are pushed tightly together to fit along the stretch of sand near Stearns Wharf.
Stephen Sherrill, one of the organizers for Veterans For Peace, told the crowd that 770 family members and friends from across the nation have come to pay tribute to their loved ones.
"This has stood as a potent antidote to political spin because of its unusual reality," he said. "This is what the war lords in Washington are doing to our young men and women. . . . We will do everything in our power to stop them."
Ms. Sheehan first drove to Santa Barbara from her Vacaville home on Mother's Day in 2004, about a month after her son was killed in Baghdad's Sadr City.
Last summer she made national headlines by camping outside of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanding a meeting with the president.
She and other grieving family members of troops killed in Iraq had met with the president at Fort Lewis, Wash., about two months after her son was killed. Mr. Bush declined to meet with her in Crawford, although other administration officials did.
"By refusing to give her an answer, he has failed to give all of us an answer (for the war), too," said Ms. Jackson.
Ms. Sheehan has been roundly condemned by supporters of the president and of the war. Her critics charge that she has dishonored the memory of her son. They take issue with her politics and fault the media for giving her so much publicity.
There was no vocal evidence of opposition to her at West Beach on Sunday. Standing by three large flags flying at half-staff, the speakers urged Americans to speak out against the war and to vote for a presidential candidate in 2008 who would stand for peace.
Ms. Sheehan said she particularly fears the government may be considering an invasion of Iran, which has been developing nuclear weapons. On Sunday, the White House called its actions toward Iran "normal defense and intelligence planning" as it downplayed invasion talk.
"Our troops who are still in harm's way will be sitting ducks," Ms. Sheehan said. "It's time to use our words to solve problems, and not our violence."
Sunday's rally capped a weekend tour of Santa Barbara by Ms. Sheehan, who lashed out at the president and U.S. foreign policy on Saturday night at the Veterans Memorial Building.
She said she was inspired to crusade against the war by a poem her daughter wrote about her brother's death and the nonchalant response she said the nation has taken toward the war. With tearful eyes, Ms. Sheehan recited "A Nation Rocked to Sleep," which tells of mothers screaming for their sons and fathers holding back tears.
"Every second we allow this to go on, we have blood on our hands," she said. "If we don't speak out against this, we're the torturers."
She said she prays that there will be no more "Casey Sheehans," and no more "Cindy Sheehans" who will have to crusade and draw attention to themselves.
Standing before a sand sculpture of a soldier carrying another wounded comrade, Ms. Sheehan said when she gets to heaven, "I want my son to be able to say, 'Mom, I'm proud of you,' because I sure am proud of him."
Unless Cindy learns spanish, she's completely irrelevant.
From what I've heard over the years, I suspect the words "Mom, I'm proud of you" aren't ones that Casey Sheehan would be saying right now.
I remember when she was sorta famous.
Poor Casey. His mom is still killing him everyday.
Cindy, call home. Your family is wondering where you are.
Go on, Cindy, keep on using that poor dead man to further your agenda. Why don't you make a papier mache model of him and drag it along with you as a visual aid? Or maybe just wear a "Casey" mask. You sure couldn't mock him any more than you have.
Ouch
That's MSM math for "a couple dozen".
That's MSM math for "a couple dozen".
Which included the reporters and camera crew.
Attention junkie Crazy Cindy will take whatever she can get.
Cindy who?
A caller to Kim Peterson's show (640 WGST, Atlanta) claimed that he was born in California but wasn't a citizen of the United States. He claimed citizenship in California, Mexico. So maybe Cindy needs to go to Mexico City and orate.
100 in the audience? Probably most of them were reporters.
"I wonder if (sadly) Army Spc. Sheehan's dad is thankful his son is not alive to see his mothers actions against what his son volunteered to do as a patriot."
Had I been whacked in the sandbox and my spirit saw my mom doing the same crap this Sheehan Be-otch is pulling, I would come back in spirit form and mercilessly haunt my mom into oblivion.
"I'm ready for my close-ups, Mr. DeMille."
Casey Sheehan, thank you for your service. I'm proud of you, even if your own mother isn't.
Her speaking out is torture to me.
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