Posted on 08/07/2005 8:17:19 AM PDT by tgslTakoma
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville. Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.
Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.
"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."
The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.
While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.
For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.
"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."
The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.
For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.
For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.
"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.
Gift of happiness.
http://www.angelfire.com/sk3/spkhntrca/bushart.html
Seriously, who is writing these articles? I thought you were supposed to leave your own ' personal opinion' out of the piece, or that was what they told us in journalism class............. hummmmm.
Yes, I can tell a change....I think that the anti-war groups saw that one remark she made about not being happy with the "changing reasons for going to war", and moved in a on woman who NEEDED something to keep her from the grief process...
You notice that her husband isn't mentioned after the above article...I don't believe he is at her side during this "quest"...
AND, of course these groups don't have any scruples and don't see the falsity of what she is saying/doing now, compared to when her son first died...
It is amazing that she is the instrument that is trying to make her brave son sacrifice into a nothing. When will the left ever figure out that in life it has never been and never will be about "me" or "I". I pray the day will come when she will know the true and honorable sacrifice that her son made and that she will stop trying to make it into a mockery. Liberating people from hell has never been needless and the 3,000 on 9/11 appreciates her son as do those of us who does understand it is about us and we.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
So the first time they met Bush they honored their son's memory and were respectful to Bush. Now this nutcase is running around stalking the President and badmouthing him. So much for her sons honor.
OOPSIE----Wolf is talking to George Allen about her, and George ALLen...who is a lot of freepers favorite is saying that Bush should invite her IN!!!!!
GACK!!!!!
C'mon Wolf, tell the truth---she has already met with Bush!!! Of course not....he won't!!!
DAMN!!!---Allen you should have done your homework!!!!!
Bush amy still invite her in to talk, alone, without her Leftist handlers.
;-)
Wolfie just read a statement from the WH that Cindy Sheehan has already had a meeting with the president, last summer...
See post 170 here, shows location of free version.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1458415/posts
Dang---I had switched over to Fox during commercial and missed Wolf reading that...Did he make a remark?
Or did he just shrug like it had nothing whatever to do the way he is exploiting the story today?
I agree...he won't have the integrity to ask Sheehan about her meeting already with Pres. Bush...
Agreed. So sad.
Great find - thanks for posting.
Interesting article. Also interesting is that America Coming Together has already folded. They spent $200 million and they have nothing to show for it. Typical dems.
Also .. the Tides Foundation (Teresa Heinz) funds lots of these leftist organizations .. one of which was involved in handling the 9/11 family members who blamed Bush for 9/11. I can't remember the exact name, but it's something like "Peaceful Tomorrows".
big bump
Thank you for the post. Did I miss something? Is she speaking for the rest of the family? The article starts out saying the family is angry, then it's all about her being angry. Where is the husband/father? What's his opinion? She's sounds like a very controlling, possessive person. Her son would be ashamed. Too bad she's not as concerned for the welfare of the country as Casey was.
Earlier posters agreed that she would fall apart emotionally. Not true. If she had any emotions, at all, she wouldn't be doing this.
Chris Matthews is an anti-war propogandist. His pathetic show is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Blame America First Party.
bump
But, of course he didn't. He let her latest spin stand, unquestioned.
Perhaps Sean or Levin would be willing to publicize this woman's change of stories.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.