Posted on 04/14/2007 7:49:07 AM PDT by Lady J USA 1981
Published: April 13, 2007 11:07 pm
Controversial activist brings message to Terre Haute
By Sue Loughlin The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Controversial peace activist Cindy Sheehan brought her anti-war message Friday to a capacity crowd in Holmstedt Hall at Indiana State University.
In contrast to her presentation Thursday at Purdue University, the “peace mom” did not encounter boos or heckles from audience members. They were asked to conduct themselves “in a respectful manner” or risk being escorted out by ISU campus security, said Marcel Oliver, of the ISU Student Democrats, one of the groups sponsoring her visit.
At least one heated exchange did occur when audience members had the opportunity to ask questions. There was no organized protest in or outside the building.
“I really don’t understand why I’m controversial,” Sheehan told an overflow, largely sympathetic crowd of more than 200. “I’m talking about peace. I’m talking about not killing … not killing our babies, not killing their babies. But apparently peace is very controversial.”
George Bush believes bombing a country to oblivion is spreading peace, she said.
In her opinion, “The more violence you cause, the more violence is spread and the more violence is begotten,” she said. Sheehan wore a T-shirt that said, “Impeachment,” something she advocates for Bush and Dick Cheney.
The United States’ actions in Iraq are drawing hatred from citizens in that country and increasing Islamic Jihadism throughout the Mideast, she said.
She has talked to many Iraqis. “They want American troops out within three months and they want Arab peacekeepers to take over … They want their country back,” she said.
Iraqis want the current “puppet” government in their homeland ousted because it is aligned with “the oppressors and the occupiers,” the United States, she said.
A recent poll showed 82 percent of Iraqis want American occupiers out of their country, she said.
She favors immediate withdrawal of American troops “as safe and speedily as we can get our troops out of Iraq,” she said when meeting with the media.
As far as any further involvement in Iraq once troop withdrawal is completed, “I think we need to give them [Iraq] reparations, get our contractors out of there, give the Iraqi people back their jobs and then it’s really up to the people of Iraq to say what help they want from the United States,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan became famous when she protested outside Bush’s Texas ranch and wanted a meeting with him after her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq. Since then, she has become the voice and face of the U.S. peace movement.
Not everyone shared her point of view, including some military veterans and representatives of the Gathering of Eagles who sat in the audience and listened. The national group formed in response to anti-war groups.
Among them was Jonathan Moore, an ISU alumnus who said the group had hoped to hold signs and distribute information outside Holmstedt Hall, but it was not able to find a student organization to sponsor it — required for non-campus groups.
He attributed the lack of sponsorship to the controversy behind the event and insufficient time to find a sponsoring group. He said he respected ISU’s policies.
Also attending was Jim Jamison, a military veteran and state coordinator for Gathering of Eagles. “I’ve come to show support for the troops and to let them know we stand behind them, we love them and respect them,” Jamison said.
He believes Sheehan’s anti-war message “hurts the troops. They want to see they have support from their country they are defending, and they don’t get that from her and the messages she puts out,” he said.
Six individuals had an opportunity to ask Sheehan questions after she concluded her remarks, and several challenged her views.
One young woman asked Sheehan how she would have the United States respond to those who would come in and attack our country, a reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“I’d go after the person who actually did it,” Sheehan responded. Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11, nor did the people of Iraq, she said.
Pursuing the attackers, including Osama bin Laden, is “a law enforcement issue,” she said.
One person challenging Sheehan’s comments was Hal Johnston, who described himself as a Democrat who has never voted for Bush. Johnston said he recently was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 76th infantry brigade combat team and he has been notified to prepare for deployment to Iraq.
“When you talk about peace, do you understand to get bin Laden, we soldiers have to go and fight and kill Taliban and use infantry tactics and mortars and aircraft to do that?” Johnston asked her.
Finding bin Laden is not a police operation, he said. “That is a war, and we soldiers have to go and kill to get bin Laden. Do you understand that?”
Sheehan said she didn’t have any problem with the army. “My son was a soldier. I think the army is being abused and misused by George Bush,” she said.
She said she is not anti-military. “My son was a soldier. How can you say that I would be anti-military? We love our soldiers. That’s why we want them to come home safe and sound.”
She said the war in Iraq “was a conflict based on lies and we never should have been there.”
After her presentation, Johnston said her talk was poorly prepared and factually skewed. “She has no hold on reality; she insults the military; she hasn’t been there; she doesn’t know what’s going on. And she never mentioned her son, who died a hero.”
When asked how she keeps the memory of her son alive, Sheehan became tearful. “That’s not hard,” she said. “Every cell in my body remembers him.”
Sheehan’s visit was sponsored by ISU Democrats, Rose-Hulman Democrats, the Indiana Peace and Justice Network and Terre Haute Stop War on Iraq.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
I couldn't read past this. She has to be theeeeee most dim witted ignorant pawn the left has ever foisted upon us.
Her statements never make it past "logic, the introduction"
The poor thing really isn’t very bright.
When ever I think I’m the biggest dummy around, I gotta start thinkin’... WWCSD? LOL!
When DeSoto first visited Terre Haute it was, even then, a fascist state where any criticism of the Maximum Leader would result in a sound beating by the caribari, or maybe even getting roasted and eaten.
Profound wisdom for all of us!
* The Shia, Sunni and Kurds have never been in conflict with each other. This was something creates when President Bush invade Iraq.
* Women in Iraq have never been oppressed. Wearing of burka was complete optional. Only since the US Occupation of Iraq have women been oppressed.
*Bombing has never * Osama Bin Laden and Saddam were mortal enemies.
* Osama Bin Laden was never in Afghanistan.
* The Mainstream Media is the tool of the federal government, specifically George W. Bush.
*The Invation of Iraq was simply a means of stealing oil. Right now hundreds of tankers are shipping oil out of Iraq on a daily basis.
*Capturing Osama Bin Laden is merely a police action. The police should simply arrest him.
*Cindy Sheehan does not know Dick Cheney's middle name (Bruce). I only bring this up because Cindy felt was important enough to occupy several minutes of the presentation.
Cindy appeared courtesy of Stop the War in Iraq and the Indiana State Democrats, whose press manager told the audience we would be arrested if we tried failed to remain quiet during the speech.
She took only six questions, none of which she deemed necessary to answer. Instead, she kept insisting that "You haven't done the research I have."
I could write more, but I am suffering from PSSD (Post-Sheehan Stress Disorder). We're currently forming groups for therapeutic purposes.
Of course, at no time does this woman ever share this so-called research of hers - she only makes the claim to have done such research. She is obviously above all of us and does not need to explain what research she is alluding to.
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