(AP Photo/LM Otero) | As I understand it, Cindy Sheehan actually met with the President at some point and heard his "noble" cause speech. Since then, her grief has somewhat overwhelmed her I believe; and, regardless of what camp we are in, she has a dead son killed in war.
She now says since all those "noble cause" issues are gone, i.e., no weapons of mass destruction, etc., then what, Mr. President, is the noble cause? But, her question has morphed into politics; and, so to me, there's some question now of disrespecting her son and the sons of other grieving parents.
Although it is a free country and people can demonstrate or do whatever they want about the war, I admit that as much as I detest the mismanagement of this war, there is something disconcerting about protesting while we are fighting. When I was in Vietnam, along with most veterans, I think, the demonstrating seemed at best disingenuous. We weren't sophisticated enough then to sort it out. It seemed so personal then, while the protests now seem so hollow.
I don't see any grand numbers of people getting on board the "movement" Sheehan has started. She has lost a son; but, for those who are there to show support, unless they are willing for their sons and daughters to be a part of the process, i. e., meaning some real investment like a son or daughter in the military, I don't want to hear it-sorry to say not much empathy from these quarters. There's little shared sacrifice because of this war; it is not effecting most American lives like it would if there were some sort of universal service or more involvement by Americans. For example, they had a big vigil in San Francisco and someone said, "We'd like to be with Cindy but just can't work it out right now." Hell, they can't work it out because it's inconvenient; They're wanting another Berkeley and some of the men may just be hoping to get laid.
Her crusade definitely became a "media circus" and now her grief has morphed into a "cause." Those who hate Bush and the war mostly are zealots and like to think that Ms. Sheehan's cause is gaining momentum. Conversely, the Bush idealogues aren't going to change.
And, just yesterday, I read where Casey Sheehan had been promised he could be a chaplain's assistant. The Army reneged she said. Casey was a very religious kid and there is some thought that he was even thinking about the priesthood. Cindy was a lay minister in the Catholic Church. Her husband is divorcing her; the son's death simply destroyed the marriage; I can understand. There are no winners in the Cindy Sheehan saga. KT
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