May 29, 2007

• Giving up in disillusionment or holding fast to her principles? She's absolutely right about that the anti-war movement shouldn't be beholden to any one party, that the cause of peace is larger than mere party politics.
• Andrew J. Bacevich: I Lost My Son to a War I Oppose. We Were Both Doing Our Duty.
• She needs a better PR person. If she would have showed up in a different large american city each day of the week... and said "Meet me at noon in front of city hall if you want the war to end. Let's show them how the american people really feel." I honestly think she could have started something. I think she would have gotten a few hundred at the first city and then more and more as she traveled. One person can change the world. One person giving up changes nothing.
• It is a heartbreaking letter. I find myself having similar feelings. Putting myself in her shoes, I don't know how she held out for as long as she did. As far as American Idol, I too, think it is a fair point. Though, I'm apt to think that people don't necessarily "care" more about American Idol; I think they tend to "tune-out", and the show provides a popular venue for "forgetting" about the shittiness that surrounds us daily. Not that I endorse the show...
• One person giving up changes nothing. Maybe she thinks Americans aren't worth the effort anymore. Y'know like - "here, have your war. Send more kids to die. You seem to want it, so have it." Maybe she's right. 51% of us must think so. Or so it would seem.
• The nail that sticks up gets hammered down... it takes a very tough hide and a strong ego to deal with humans on a wholesale basis if you're expressing a strong opinion on pretty much anything, and this is a very touchy issue for reasons that may not be apparent to many. I agree with Argh--it is sad that an opportunity to get folks moving is now lost--but I'm even sadder to admit that within my own limited world, I am repeatedly shocked by the unwillingness of American citizens to venture outside the confines of what the media feeds them. There's more interest in reading about some guy who won the lottery (and more interest in dropping some bucks at the convenience store where he bought his ticket) than in using the same energy and cash to participate in the political process. The few passionate souls I encounter invariably express extreme disillusionment and a sense of defeat... the perception is that in a capitalist country, the buck talks, period. Big money makes the rules, and right now, there are many reasons why the industrial sector would just as soon have the war continue indefinitely. The only thing that could possibly make a statement would be massive demonstrations... but whenever I see folks protesting they seem to all be over 50 and few in number. There is no feeling of hope on the streets, only the numbing, droning buzz of millions of iPods, cell phones and hand-held computer games. The reason movements got off the ground back in the 60s was impetus--there was a feeling that people could make a difference because so many were in agreement. That was before dissent was basically outlawed, and organized dissent investigated to the point of wiretapping and arrests (such as happened at the NYC Republican Convention). Like sugarmilktea, I too wonder how she held out as long as she did.
• I'm not sure that the FPP really needs a link to the American Idol site. I don't think we need to make it easy for people to escape the issue and surf off to that bastion of rubble.
• I can only imagine her frustration. I maybe glimpsed a tiny bit of it once when I said something critical of the war and the first thing that was said to me in response was "Are you a Democrat?" As if there was no way to assess my opinion except through the filter of party platform. And that's a great PR idea, Argh. Maybe someone else will pick up on it.
• Peace activists tend not to have PR people or speech writers or campaign managers. They tend to be people who stand up for what they believe in, rather than try to sell an image or gain power. There's a reason that they're marginalized.
• I've been at rallies where Cindy Sheehan has spoken, she is a very articulate and passionate person. It was sad to read that she has been beaten down. But I think I can understand where she is with all this, and I don't blame her for giving up. My last hope is that, now that the Democrats in office have shown themselves to be as willing to perpetuate this atrocity as the Republicans, people will wake up to the "left/right" "right/wrong" difference. Yesterday my wife made the comment that she'll never vote for another Democrat, and I agree with her. I don't think the next election will be the one where this country elects a woman, or a black, but it is certainly ripe for a third party candidate.
• Interesting. I can't help but think back on all the grief I got for voting for Nader instead of Gore in 2000 when Bush was kicking off the Iraq war.
• I don't particularly like Sheehan, but I support her 100%. She probably doesn't have as tough a hide as a campaigner should--more likely she was driven by grief and outrage, one of which will exhaust you, the other can burn out. Good idea, Kinnakeet. I would have stood with her. Fuck Bush and his unholy war.
• Nicely put, BlueHorse. *sighs deeply*
• all the grief I got for voting for Nader instead of Gore in 2000 You bastard! Ahhh just kidding, ya ol' shill for Big Pharma ya! What's really disheartening about the letter is the inference that we know and don't care. Or maybe it's more than an inference. People seem to be more comfortable talking about American Idol because it's non-confrontational (unless you count its affront to good taste! Mee-yow!). Talking about the war/occupation seems to be an either/or proposition for some reason.
• I can't help but think back on all the grief I got for voting for Nader instead of Gore Yeah, because this? Is all about you.
• I like this comment on the Blu: It doesn't take a Ph.D. in military history to know that the essence of her critique--we were lied into a war that is serving no good purpose--is right on track. If it's experts you want, though, there are plenty of them who are saying that. But the retired generals and the Ph.D.s who were against this war weren't usually mobilizing protests and insisting on meetings with the President. Cindy Sheehan did. Yes, she got a little nutty from time to time, but I can't imagine what it would be like to go from losing a son to being a national lightning rod for the hate and vitriol of the wingnuts like she did. I think I'd make some missteps too. She tried to something to change the biggest mistake this country has made in generations, and poured her soul into it until she hit the wall. It's hard for me not to think of her in terms of a Greek epic hero. Her grief propelled her into a stuggle bigger than herself, and she railed against the modern day gods of the land. Her strengths and her weaknesses were on public display for all to see. Most mortals can't do that for long. And now she's going home. She couldn't stop our national war, but I hope that the war inside her is over, and she finds the peace and rest that she deserves. I could write an essay on things I wish she had done differently, but I could write a book on how impressed I am that she did it at all. posted by Pater Aletheias
• Thanks again Cindy, for showing what a lying, chickenshit weasel US president George W. Bush is.
• >What's really disheartening about the letter is the inference that we know and don't care. Well, in fairness, if I were her I'd be pretty disgusted with people like myself who despise the war but don't do much about it besides vote, and pray that there's still something to be accomplished by voting. Oh, and vent about it online. Boy, if ranting about shit online could effect social change, we'd all be living in a Worker's Paradise...
• What's your point #0265201?
• Yeah, because this? Is all about you. Hey zorgon, I was referring to HuronBob's comment about not voting for any more Democrats -- to the irony that there are now gonna be people saying that kind of thing who were among those who thought it was crazy to vote for Nader. Sorry I wasn't clearer about that. Still, next time maybe you could try not jumping to the most negative conclusion. It tends to come off as asshole-ish.
• Like BlueHorse, I never really liked Sheehan, even though I agreed with her. Her protest seemed to me to be unresolved grief over her son, turned inside out. I'm hoping her farewell is a sign that she has accepted her loss, and is finally at peace with it.
• I'd be interested to learn more about how that all impacted on her collapsed marriage. Loss of a child leading to a split isn't that uncommon, and all this added attention and pressure couldn't have helped. Not that it's any of my business.
• "I'm hoping her farewell is a sign that she has accepted her loss, and is finally at peace with it" Sorry, but that never happens. Those that have lost a child know this, those that haven't really can't imagine it, and that is understandable...we don't expect them to.
• I think the US is not worth saving. I have thought that since 2004. Its people lack will and its purported leaders lack courage. Let it fall and let a better country rise from the ashes. (Anyone who can, get out now.)
• Fuck it. Where does she live? I'll drive there tomorrow and ask her to do what I suggested. She's got too much support everywhere in the country to just punt.
• Interesting. I can't help but think back on all the grief I got for voting for Nader instead of Gore in 2000 when Bush was kicking off the Iraq war. Hear, hear.
• It's kind of a no-win situation. If she hadn't lost her son, some would write her off as not knowing whereof she spoke. But because she did, some others write her off as only trying to exorcise her own personal grief. We can talk about how many young people are dying and wonder what for, but Sheehan put a face on it. We could look at her and say, "That could be me, or my mother. Her son could have been my son, or my husband."
• The thing is, it's HER grief, HER loss, HER anger. It pisses me off when people assign motivations to her, or measure her against their own expectations. Her son died because of an pointless, greed- and power-driven, for-shit war. IMO she can and should do whatever she wants, whether that's leading a movement or living out of the public spotlight -- she's already given plenty, without owing anyone a thing.
• I just sent this via email to a friend who is distraught about Sheehan's dilemma. "What I found intolerable was the administration's refusal to deal with her personally. Bush should have met with her and maybe even dredged up some human emotion to grieve with her, as well. He wouldn't even have had to agree with her stand on the war, just to offer some sympathy for her loss on the part of the country. His callousness seemed both arrogant and cowardly. If his handlers were smarter, they'd have set up a 5 minute photo op and raised Bush's approval rating a few points. Plus, I think it would have eased her pain a bit, and maybe that of the other families who are trying to deal with their losses. "But, our government seems determined to avoid realizing that the people actually fighting this charade of a war are/were real. This administration seems sociopathic to me - the human beings who are on the front lines are not really people to them, nor are their friends and relatives, just interchangeable units who play a directed role in the admin.'s game. They just don't deal effectively with units that don't just march along happily. The recent scandals about veteran health care are part and parcel of the same lack of ability to identify with other humans. "But, my prejudice is that Bush has no opinions of his own. I think he's Cheney's sock puppet, and Dick got his training in the oil industry," where sociopathy is lauded.
• Ogliarchy
• If Bush met with Sheehan, and kept checking out her butt when she wasn't looking? He'd be an ogliarch.
• Sorry- completely inappropriate. Don't mind me.
• Awesome email, path.
• (Redirected from Ogliarchy)
• Marine Corps Wants America's Favorite Marine To Shut Up!
• Sheehan to Pelosi: file articles of impeachment against Bush by July 23 or I'm running against you as an Independent I respect this woman's courage in the face of all she has endured. I also appreciate the fact that someone is stepping up to the plate and calling the Dem's bluff...
• She will get many votes if she runs, but she will not win. The fuyugare has spoken.
• But can she prevent Pelosi from winning? That's the gambit.
• National Review to Blue Star Mother: Tough Sh*t
• Cindy was arrested at Congress yesterday during a protest to demand the impeachment of Bush, and today she's off to a rally in Philly. Before police escorted her away, Sheehan, who emerged as a leading peace activist after her son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, announced what she had earlier suggested -- that she would be a candidate for Congress next year. She's off... now who's up for joining her??
• Someone needs to step up to the plate to do this and I challenge other Americans to do the same. Challenge the status quo, because the status quo is no good. We need to become plugged into our government once again as active participants not just passive voters. A whopping 300 supporters... talk about crickets.