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 News from Around the Americas | November 2005 
Sheehan Back in Texas for War Protest
 Angelea A. K. Brown - Associated Press
| | Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan looks over at her son's memorial in Crawford, Texas, November 25, 2005. Sheehan became an icon for the peace movement after her son Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq and she held a 26-day vigil near U.S. President George W. Bush's ranch during the summer. (Reuters/Jim Young |
The fallen soldier's mother whose August vigil near President Bush's ranch reinvigorated the anti-war movement returned to Texas to resume her protest Thursday as the president celebrated Thanksgiving a few miles away.
"I feel happy to be back here with all my friends ... but I'm heartbroken that we have to be here again," Cindy Sheehan said as she arrived at an airport in nearby Waco. "We will keep pressing and we won't give up until our troops are brought home."
Sheehan was largely unknown when she set up camp outside Bush's ranch during the president's August vacation. It became a 26-day vigil that drew supporters from across the country and national attention.
Sheehan, who has continued encouraging anti-war demonstrations, asked protesters to return to Crawford this week during Bush's family Thanksgiving gathering.
The protesters' camp is on the same 1-acre private lot that a sympathetic landowner let them use in August.
For the holiday Thursday, more than 100 war protesters ate a traditional Iraqi meal - salmon, lentils and rice with almonds - saying they wanted to call attention to the civilians killed in the war. More than 2,100 US soldiers have also died since the war began in March 2003.
"It's significant because the people of Iraq are suffering under our occupation, and for people in America it's business as usual stuffing themselves on fat turkeys," said Tammara Rosenleaf, whose husband is an Army soldier to be deployed in a few weeks. "We in good conscience cannot behave that way while our troops are over there."
A few miles away, a Bush supporter set up camp with a tent and signs saying "A Noble Cause" showing pictures of smiling Iraqi children.
"Perhaps the troops, they feel like they don't get gratitude or a thank-you, and I'll come and say 'Thank you' in my own way because it's Thanksgiving," said Akef Tayem, who lives in Dallas and has relatives in Jordan.
Open Letter to George
Cindy Sheehan - t r u t h o u t
George,
My family is spending our 2nd Thanksgiving without Casey, thanks to you and your lies. I am spending the day crying on a plane on my way to Crawford to again ask you for a meeting.
I had been to Crawford for three weeks in the summer and to DC several times, asking for a meeting with you, and now I am returning to our vacation home to once again try to meet with you. I don't know why you like Crawford so much, but I love it, because of the Camp Casey Peace Community that arose during August this year when you wouldn't meet with me. When I arrived back here at the Peace House, I felt a sense of coming home and belonging to something that is far greater than any of us: a community that is filled with love, acceptance and peace. Is this what you feel when you return frequently to Crawford? Also, the beautiful Texas sunset stirred memories of our days at Camp Casey when we would close our activities each day with ex-Marine Jeff Key playing Taps among the crosses that honored our fallen. August was a miraculous time.
Since August - when I wanted to ask you the question, for what noble cause did you kill Casey and the others - over 200 more of our brave young men and women have been killed in the charade of Iraq. We can only guess how many innocent Iraqis have been slaughtered. You still have not answered my question. Many people in our country who have had sons or daughters killed, who have sons and daughters serving, and many concerned Americans want to know that answer to that question, also.
Also, since August we have discovered that American forces are using chemical weapons in Iraq ... The Army admitted that white phosphorous was used as an offensive weapon against "enemy combatants." Oh really, George, since when did a weapon fired from a distance distinguish between enemies and innocents? Especially when it is so hard for soldiers on the ground to differentiate between enemies and innocents? It is hard for one to ignore if not look away from the grisly pictures of the burned citizens of Fallujah.
By the way, George, isn't the use of chemical weapons prohibited? Don't you always say that "Saddam is a bad man" for using chemical weapons on his own people? So is it okay for you to use chemical weapons in Iraq because the citizens of Iraq are not "your people?" Saddam should be on trial for killing so many innocent people. Bombing cities where innocent civilians live and using chemical weapons are war crimes. Does that make you an alleged war criminal? Move over, Saddam. There is a new bad guy in town.
George, for the sake of the Iraqi people, don't you think it is time to bring our military forces home from Iraq? It is time to stop hypocritically and callously killing them to spread your brand of freedom and democracy. You know the kind of freedom and democracy you like? Where no open dissent is allowed, where no one is able to petition the government for redress of wrongs, where our emails can be read and our library reading materials checked up on and analyzed. Your kind of freedom and democracy smears brave patriots as cowards and traitors for daring to speak out against your murderous policies. A majority of Americans don't even want your brand of freedom and democracy. What makes you think the Iraqi people want it?
George, also for the sake of our wonderful, brave, and very young people who proudly wear the uniform of the USA: it is time to bring them home. They have done everything you have asked of them. They have also done things that make at least one quarter of them very sick in their hearts and souls. Some of them have been so needlessly and avoidably killed, and some of them are coming home with pieces of them missing. For what George? What noble cause?
George, you had everything handed to you on a silver platter. I don't blame you for using your family influence to get out of serving in Vietnam. I don't blame anyone for trying to get out of that disastrous and totally evil war. What I do blame you for is killing my son in another disastrous and evil war. Casey had nothing handed to him on a silver platter. He was willing to serve his country and to even die to save his buddys' lives. You should be ashamed of yourself for exploiting Casey's honor and the honor of everyone in our armed forces of which the post of Commander in Chief was also handed to you on a silver platter. Ask your Vice President if he thinks that Casey may have had other "priorities" besides dying at 24. Ask you mama if her "beautiful mind" is bothered yet. Mine is.
Did you have the sacred luxury of having your two daughters at home with you today for Thanksgiving dinner? Did you proudly tease them during the meal like my family used to do? Did you tell old funny family stories and laugh about old times? Did you, George? Our family did share a meal together and we tried to be merry, but you know what? It's not the same with a very valuable family member gone forever. Casey's premature death puts a damper on all of our days, but the holidays are especially hard.
Are you and Laura going to hit the sack tonight and toss and turn or stare out of the window worried that Jenna or Barbara may be killed in Iraq? Are you going to jump at every single ringing of the telephone, will your hearts beat wildly at every knock at the door, fearing the Angel of Death in an Army uniform? I didn't think so. Two soldiers were killed today in Iraq, George. I hope to God their families aren't just sitting down to enjoy their meal when the grim reapers come to tell them their holidays are ruined for ever. There is no good time for such horrendous news.
I ask you to again do the right thing.
Bring our troops home from Iraq. Don't kill others because your murderous policies have already killed so many. How many deaths do you think will be enough before Casey's is "justified?" 58,000? One was too many.
I will tell you what noble cause Casey died for, George: true and lasting peace. Please dignify all of the deaths by finally stopping the barbaric killing before you ruin too many more holidays for way too many more people.
Cindy Sheehan |
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