Cindy Sheehan's 2nd Anniversary of Her Son's Death

Today is a sad anniversary in the war in Iraq. It is exceptionally sad because it is no longer very exceptional. Today is the 2nd anniversary of Cindy Sheehan’s son Casey’s death in Iraq. Unfortunately 2,342 (as of April 2, 2006) fellow American families have similar anniversaries through out the year. Ms. Sheehan is a lesson on the power of a dedicated individual with a powerful message. “does it bother anyone else that this man can take a 5 week vacation when our soldiers are suffering, dying and being maimed in Iraq?” This was her announcement on the beginning of Camp Casey on Daily Kos. She had decided enough mothers have had to feel what she has, so she went to Crawford. It seems so simple now, but at the time it really was revolutionary. When she sat in the gutter in the hot August sun outside of President Bush’s vacation mansion in Texas; Bush’s approval rating was according to Gallup was 49% and approval of the war was 41% according to an Newsweek Poll in March of that year. I believe the site of this grief stricken woman sitting in a gutter while the president was on vacation asking for a simple request to meet with the President to discuss her sons death. The arrogance and contempt for the people’s office, was the beginning of the end for this President. Ms. Sheehan stand seemed to highlight all that is wrong with this President. Her simple message that enough is enough, that her son will not have perished just to “line the pockets of the war machine,” but to call for an end to this war. Since that time, Bush’s approval rating has fall as his incompetence has risen. According to the last polls, that same Gallup poll has Bush’s approval rating at 37% with 59% disapproving of the job he is doing as President. Even more shocking and proof of the power of this woman’s heart. Newsweek Poll found that only 29% approved of Bush’s handling of the war 65% disapproving. Margaret Meede was right, a small group of dedicated individuals has turned the tide on this powerful President and in the face of a corporate media and lack of opposition from the minority party. Support Goldstar Families for Peace Thank them for their tireless support and that their sacrifice were not just to feed the war machine Cyndy Sheehan in an interview on March 28th on The Stephanie Miller Show, had this anecdote about the peace symbol she wears. It was given to her by a Vietnam War protester. He said had put it away after that war ended. She told him she was sad he had, maybe this war might not have happened. “We can never ever let up… We have to keep our peace struggle up so our kids can never be misused like this again.” A Mother calling in made this so clear: “You have to do this for my son,[crying on phone] for our sons and daughters…” Thank you Ms. Sheehan. Nothing can comfort on such a loss. But a nations' thanks, and knowledge that your son did NOT indeed die in vane, I hope will ease the pain on such a sad day.