Activist Cindy Sheehan, Two Others, Arrested for Interfering With a Government Function at White House

My comment is that the day of protesting may be gone. I believe we can be activists in many other ways. While I can only imagine the horror of losing a child, and the need to blame someone, I do think the pen is mightier than the sword. If she had 80,000 signatures, imagine what that would mean in terms of 80,000 people writing to the legislators, letters to the editor, or writing to their friends. I can't remember the estimated number of people an average person has the power to influence, but it is a lot. She's standing up for what she believes, and I respect that. But too often when one stands up for what they believe, when push comes to shove, they end up standing alone.

Sheehans actions are too extreme for the message she is trying to deliver. She is trying to make the world go back to the 60's when we were all involved in anti-war protests and it just isn't going to happen. I don't think that Iraq is a galvanizing as the Vietnam war - mostly because there is no draft.

She has a message that I don't agree with but that she has every right to deliver. I just think she needs another way to do it. If she wants her petition delivered, make an appointment to see Pelosi and hand it to her. The dems would love to have it. It will have zero impact at the White House.

Pamela is right - if she has 80,000 valid signatures those people can make a major impact. Remember the old commercial about telling two people who will each tell two people etc. It's corny but it works. On the other hand, it is really easy to sign a petition and probably most of them wouldn't be protest warriors.

Nancy, Agreed, some even signed it to get the person asking them to sign it off their front porch. I think she has disgraced the memory of her son, who served honorably , and believed in the war.

I sympathize with the loss, and I hope she can find peace. But her methods are dated.

I think she's just annoying. She has that syrupy voice that just drives me nuts. I'm sorry she lost her son, but everytime I hear her voice, I just want to turn off the tele.

she is a grieving mother, and did what she thought was best, I do not condemn her in any way but I like Pamela's idea, the petition would have carried much more weight and would have been more productive in the end.

Seems like she can't get over her fifteen minutes of fame. Don Quixote, still tilting at windmills. Political protest is far from dead, though, it's just we've gotten too comfortable in our living rooms to brave the weather to do it. The idea of the petition is valid, and should have been delivered differently. As for signing it to get the person off the front porch, I doubt that was necessary, as the vote being almost fully about the war yesterday so amply illustrated. The majority wants a change of course (out). To suggest such a thing is just obfuscation.

well, I don't believe the war was the ONLY issue that hurt the Republicans. The Foley Scandal came out just as people were deciding who to vote for. The immigration fence was also an issue.

I support our troops, without reservations. Let's find out what the need, get it to them, and get the job done. Period. Failure is not an option, Cut and run is NOT an option. We would be handing the terrorists their own country to run and base out fo the destroy the whole world.

Jim, I agree with you totally!

nanci B said..."Sheehans actions are too extreme for the message she is trying to deliver."

this is very true indeed. She needs to tone it down a bit if she expects to be taken seriously once again. Like a child who throws temper tantrums, the first time it happens, people pay jump to soothe the child, the second they respond but may not move as quicly, and the third time they are irritated with the outburst and just want it to be over. JMHO

I can sympathize for anyone who has lost a child at any age, if this is what she has to do to get some closure or whatever then she just has has to do it if only for her own sanity.

"Sheehan has become a tool of the Liberal Left and has lost any credibility she had."

Nice wingnut talking point. Now, back it up. What "liberal left" groups have made her do things that she would not have otherwise done, and how have they accomplished this feat?

Sheehan came to this of her own volition. She has lost her son to a war that she just can't believe in. That only adds to her grief. I think she has it right.

All of you who think Sheehan is mourning for Casey by protesting, getting arrested, and having sleepovers with a Marxist leader should read this:

After two years, and a DoD life insurance payment of $250,000 to the "Peace Mom ", Cindy Sheehan has not had the time or bothered to have a headstone placed on this young hero's grave. And, she doesn't even have to pay for one, the DoD will provide one.

UPDATE: As of May 2006, Cinday finally got around to providing a headstone for her son. A grieving mother indeed...........

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world . For all deaths occurring before September 11, 2001, the VA may provide a headstone or marker only for graves that are not marked with a private headstone.

Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for internment of cremated remains."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/sheehangrave.asp

My God Wake up people. This administration went to Congress and LIED! They had Collin Powell lie, although he was assured that they had the intelligence. They did not. The intelligence community was telling them that what they had was questionable at best and not to rely on it. They did and used it as a fear mongering technique to get this country into a war that we cannot win. We have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and thousands of our own, not to mention the exhorbitant cost. These men who lied to get us where they wanted to go did not send their children, nor has any of them served themselves.
When anyone stands up to them , they attack. Joseph Wilson is the man they sent to Nigeria to confirm the yellow cake plutonium. He came back and said it isnt true. They ran with it anyway, remember? When he stood up and said, I told them there was no evidence to support the claim, they attacked him, ruined his wife's career and jeopardised her life. She was working undercover in Bagdad investigating their nuclear program. The whole program had to be shut down. Hence our lack of information on what it going on with that. All because someone stood up to them.

So, a mother loses her son in this immoral illegal war and wants to know why. She is ignored, attacked and demonized. She is a grieving mother with nothing left to lose and you let the administration attack her. You say you support the troops?

When Bush could address mothers with patriotic stars in their eyes why couldnt he address her?
Because he is an idiot! Because he did not have an answer to give her. Because he would have gotten all tongue tied and would have looked like an ass. Becuase he could not look her in the eyes and lie to her.
And you fools have the guile to judge her! She is a mother with nothing left to lose. She has been demeaned, attacked, her family has been attacked and still she will not be silent.

You think she is a puppet of the left? This is absurd. More so, when you attack her, when you ignore her sacrifice you are a puppet of the right.

No, I will not accept intentionally misrepresenting the truth from any politician. Sometimes it is something as unimportants as whether they had sex. Sometimes it is of the gravest importance. Their lies got us into this debacle in Iraq and everybody should be outraged.

Did it matter to you when Clinton threw us into the Balkans to take the heat off of the Lewinsky scandal? It obviously didn't matter because every single democrat strongly opposed to the war were for military action and even stated Iraq had WMDs.

DWY!

Christine,

"When Bush could address mothers with patriotic stars in their eyes why couldnt he address her?"

Because she had already had her audience with the President. No other parent of a deceased soldier has been granted TWO Audiences with the President, and it would be a dangerous precident to make. because then every parent would want 2 audiences with the president. THAT is WHY! And it has been clearly stated, but ignored by the Main Stream Liberal Media.