Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Cindy's world fell apart

We have been listening to Cindy Sheehan for a long time as she came out against President Bush and the Republican party for their part in the Iraqi war. She wanted the war to be stopped now (then) and to bring our soldiers home immediately. She felt her son, Casey, had died in vain, fighting a war that shouldn't have been.

Well, on Memorial Day, she decided to hang up her hat (the one she wore during her protests of the war and camping out at Crawford, TX) and go home. Seems she came against the Democratic party and found the accusations she used against the president and republicans didn't work when she turned on those who had supported her.

It is sad that she still sees her son's death being for nothing. Not one life has been lost in Iraq that didn't stand for something. After all, these men have gone to the service with full knowledge of perhaps having to go to war during their time in uniform. Casey was one of those that even re-enlisted during time of war. I believe the young man knew what he was doing. I've heard so many stories from so many brave men who said they were glad to be there helping bring a better life to the people in Iraq. We know that it's not Iraq they are fighting, but the insurgents.

The most devastating conclusion that I reached this morning, however, was that Casey did indeed die for nothing. His precious lifeblood drained out in a country far away from his family who loves him, killed by his own country which is beholden to and run by a war machine that even controls what we think. I have tried every since he died to make his sacrifice meaningful. 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. It is so painful to me to know that I bought into this system for so many years and Casey paid the price for that allegiance. I failed my boy and that hurts the most.
Cindy is going home. Her son is resting in a cemetery, one of the 'remembered' on this Memorial Day. But, I do not believe she failed her son. He apparently was raised to make up his own mind, what we all try to achieve in raising our children - the ability to think for themselves. She should be proud of that fact. He was a man who decided to join the military and, even after he knew he may go to war, he chose to re-enlist. I can't believe he was coerced into rejoining. This is something you have to make up your own mind to do. My husband was in the Vietnam war, and, when his re-enlistment came up, and he had made another stripe, he decided against going back because he knew, being in Air Rescue, Vietnam would be his destination. I don't think anyone could have persuaded him to re-enlist against his will.

Our hearts go out to the parents, spouses, and siblings who have lost a relative in time of war. It's not an easy thing to lose someone under any circumstances. But, war is not something we are accustomed to in our country. It's hard to accept that these fine young men and women have gone across the waters of their own volition (they knew the chances of going were great when they joined). It is even harder to see them leave; I know. I was there, and we didn't have a clue to where our husbands/fathers/sons were going when they left the base! But, we held them up in prayer, sent them mail and countless packages to ease their lives while away. Not all returned. One of our neighbors lost their only son at a very young age. But, they have never been bitter at the military or government because their son made the free choice to join. It was different with my husband - he was drafted; yet he never balked when called to duty, no matter where they sent him. This is the mark of a mature man, and Cindy should be proud of her son for this one thing - he never shirked his duty to his vows to the service of his country.

HT: Hot Air - Cindy quits the anti-war movement

Posted by Barbara at 4:49 PM

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