[ohio_eric]

Anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan gives up her protest - CNN.com

I'm not totally sure how I feel about this. I've been in the same movement thought no at the personal, physical and emotional expense of Sheehan. But to see her walk way in the middle of this fight to oppose this war and this president is a bit of a stunner.

Even though she wasn't an MLK-type leader, she could be effective. For her to walk away might embolden the few left that still think this war is a good idea. God knows I don't need those people all riled up again.

But maybe her message that Washington is an isolated castle that no longer gives a damn about the kingdom will resonate and people will take it to heart. But I have a weird feeling people who are walking away from the fight aren't the best messengers for that message.

[JBroll]

Oh, no, she's a flip-flopper now!

There's no longer a reasonable debate being held over this issue in the places that need it, it's party-line bullshit now. The people who still support the war aren't going to use her any more than they did before, more than likely, as they seem to be able to turn everything around them into a reason to support the war. I do have to agree with

Originally Posted by Cindy Sheehan

Casey died for a country which cares more about who will be the next American Idol than how many people will be killed in the next few months while Democrats and Republicans play politics with human lives.

but both sides are so set on their catchphrases that we're not going to see a good end to this any way we try to cut it.

Jeff

[The Dark Wolf]

This thread will be very closely watched, BTW.

[ohio_eric]

Good Riddance Attention Whore | AfterDowningStreet.org

That's the link to Cindy's farewell letter. I will just quote this one part.

Originally Posted by Cindy Sheehan

I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called “Face” of the American anti-war movement. Especially since I renounced any tie I have remaining with the Democratic Party, I have been further trashed on such “liberal blogs” as the Democratic Underground. Being called an “attention whore” and being told “good riddance” are some of the more milder rebukes.

I know the DU has about as many members as IQ points but what's up their ass that they feel the need to attack Cindy Sheehan who is totally on their side?

Originally Posted by JBroll

Oh, no, she's a flip-flopper now!

Um no. She's simply not publicly protesting the war anymore. She's not supporting it. There's no flip flop to be found.

[JBroll]

I was being sarcastic with the flip-flop comment.

As for attacking her even though she's on their side, it's not at all uncommon for people to attack those who agree with them but do so unflatteringly. It's politics, nothing more.

Jeff

[Cancer]

[opinion]
Cindy Sheehan quitting is symbolic of what I believe the average American is feeling right now, that simply there is nothing, outside of election or assassination, that the Amercian can do to end the war in Iraq. I take slight issue with her assertion that we "care more about American Idol than we do the troops" only because I wonder, really, what can the citiznery do differently, especially in the timeframe we have left to bring them home? Personally I get tired of hearing "Support the Troops" when my idea of supporting is bringing them home....

"Support the Troops"???? I mean really, what does that mean??? It's propaganda. Think about it logically. "The Troops" are soldiers, these soldiers work for our government, the leader of which, has the lowest approval rating in years. Those three words are just abstract emotional misdirection, and I for one. am getting burnt out by it. I met one guy who went to Iraq, and never came back, did my "support" help him? Would it have helped if I did? I don't think so. Maybe if I stopped paying my taxes, or nuked the White House, maybe, but then I'd be dead, or worse incarcerated, both of which effectively remove me from Amercian society, rendering any support I could have mustered mute....so then what? Really, what then?????

I saw a commercial the other day for some superstore offering to send cards to the troops if I shop there, I wanted to throw the fucking television out of the window. A card?!?!?!?? Is that going to bring that guy back? Repair the bodies and minds of broken soldiers? Is that going to keep the next Timothy McVeigh from blowing up some random office building after he gets back?

You know he/she is out there somewhere ...waiting..

That answer, and that dark gnawing feeling of utter helplessness that accompanies it, I believe is at the heart of why she quit.

It's funny that brings up American Idol, because, like the war, we don't have any say in that either...

[/opinion]

[urklvt]

Cancer, you're spot on. Those words mean absolutely nothing.

[Durero]

I saw her speak at a peace rally here in Vancouver a couple years ago. I thinks she's very brave to have done so much for the anti-war movement already.

I hope her letter and actions will give some folks the shock they need to get more involved in their society and contribute to positive actions.

Originally Posted by Cindy Sheehan/

Blind party loyalty is dangerous whatever side it occurs on.

[noodles]

Disillusionment is never pretty to look at, especially when it involves death.

I really can't say I'm surprised by this, and her assessment is pretty much spot on. Cancer asked what can we do, but the better question is really, "Why aren't we doing anything?" About one third of the eligible vote in every election. We live in a representative democracy where two thirds of all voters can't be bothered to take an hour or two out of their schedule to go vote once every 730 days. That is roughly 0.00114% of their time. If one would simply spend one hour every night for the last month before election day studying the issues and candidates, to be able to make a more informed decision, it would equate to 0.0183% of one's time. Meanwhile, the average American spends 2.6 hours a day watching TV. In that two year period, that is 1.0833% of their time.

So, the average American spends over 1% of his life sitting on his ass in front of the television, but can't be bothered to spend a sixth of that time studying the issues and people that effect his life. He can't even be bothered to spend a hundredth of that time to get off his fat ass and pull a couple of levers.

Meanwhile, while the average American is home watching football--and make no bones about it, professional sports are just as pointless as American Idol, Law and Order, or that dumb sitcom you like with that dude from that movie--and drinking the King of Beers, large corporations represented by lobbyists in Brooks Brothers suits are giving large sums of money to the guy you he didn't elect to office. Because lobbyists only watch C-SPAN and executives are too busy banging hot chicks on the $15,000 desk of their 3200 square foot office. By the way, Average American just got laid off when the CEO outsourced his job to China. You can still see the the crinkle marks on the paper where she was sitting on his desk.

Gee, how could things have ever gotten this way? Why doesn't our government listen to us? Pop another cold one, Average American, you deserve it.

[Metal Ken]

I never liked Cindy Sheehan, but i do find this interesting.

I also agree with everything Dave said. Look at the last french election. What was that? 85% turnout? Thats a number you cant even dream of getting here.
When i worked at the Kmart in clearwater, i was the ONLY ONE on the night crew who voted. there's about 8-10 people on overnights there. One said she didnt have the time, one said he didnt care, etc.