Friday, August 12, 2005
Cindy Sheehan tells it how it isCindy Sheehan, in Cindy Sheehan's own words: 10:41:07 PM | Yesterday there was a report -- I'm not sure how accurate it is -- but it was apparently a statement
from other members of your family that said they disagree with what
you're doing.
I think it's accurate. I think my husband's family did write that. But I don't really give -- I don't care what they wrote. Because, No. 1, it's their opinion and they're entitled to it. But No. 2, they called him something like "our dear Casey." You know they're hypocrites. They didn't even know Casey. They didn't spend any time with him in his life, and now they're using his death for political reasons, I think. Casey's my hero because of the way he lived, not because of the way he died. For these people who never ever went out of their way to spend any time with him to actually dare speak for him, I think it's hypocritical. Casey lived a great life and he was an honorable man and he died in a dishonorable war. What about other members of your family -- are there people in your family who do agree with you? My immediate family, Casey's dad and my three children and my sister, we're all on the same page. And I really think that some of my husband's siblings are with us too. And I want to say something else, too. They said they support the troops. You know what? I support the troops. How's anything I'm doing showing that I don't support the troops? What about parents of other soldiers who've been killed? I would say the majority would agree with what I'm doing, because the majority of Americans think that this war is based on lies and deceptions and they think it was a mistake and they want the troops to come home. Do you hear from many others? I hear from them all the time, I do. We had a lot of military families speak out here. We have a lot here whose kids are still in harm's way, and whose kids have died. One thing I want to ask you is about the other groups that are supporting you. Some people on the right have been saying that you're being "used" -- that's the quote I've heard. You're being used by extreme left-wing groups. How do you respond to that? I respond that this was my idea. This was my mission. This was my vision. And what we're all doing is we're working for peace. And all these groups together are working for peace. And they're helping me with my vision. You know they're not using me, and maybe I'm using them because they're helping me out tremendously in this action. But what about the pragmatics of it -- if you associate with someone like Michael Moore do you risk losing the mainstream? I think Michael Moore is an amazing man, an amazing, brave man. And I think people are probably going to start saying don't associate with Cindy Sheehan. People who speak truth to power somehow are marginalized in this country. I know you're going to be out there for the month of August. How long do you think the media's going to pay attention to you? Do you worry about that? I don't really care. I didn't come out here to do this for the media. I came out here to do this to end the war. If the mainstream media's not here we've got blogs, we've got the Internet. It'll still keep going. Smart America will know what's going on. They're the ones who are going to put pressure on the elected officials to effect any change. The right wingnuts who are trying to smear Cindy Sheehan can go to hell. In fact, they can go straight to hell via their neighborhood military recruiter's office, if any of them have the guts to actually sign up.This patronizing crap about how she is being "used" by the left is typical of wingnut chickenhawks these days. They are scared of strong women (well actually they're scared of all women except the handful who are just like them, only dressed in short skirts). They infantilize women and think we can't make decisions of any kind and that we need to be cared for by men like them. Cindy Sheehan can take care of herself. She can think for herself. She can harness the power of the left and the peace movement for her own ends. And she will. I took particular note of her intentional use of "peace movement" rather than "anti-war movement." Peace movement it is, Cindy. We're with you. 
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Friday Baja Blogging Here are two more stones from the Baja coast. Back in overcast, humid Chicago. I've got errands to run, things to take care of. I'm going to drive down to New Orleans this weekend to see my friend Rebecca who leaves for a year in Nigeria in just two weeks. I still have a table down there I need to bring back too, but really the trip is about seeing friends. Fred is still in the hospital. He was dressed and ready to go when the nurse took his temperature and discovered he had another infection. The doctors are pretty sure it's from the port, so they're taking it out today. Fred and Selma feel like he'll never get out. I think S feels that way these days too. I hate that the men in my life are in life-threatening, demoralizing situations. It's heartbreaking!! I've got a number of ideas running around my mind these days. I hope to write about them soon, including the Basquiat show at MOCA, Reinaldo Arenas' Farewell to the Sea and Julian Schnabel's film about Arenas, Before Night Falls. My friend Lisa and I went to the show and then the library, where we checked out both of Schnabel's films (which I like more than his paintings), and I am almost finished reading Arenas' feverish nightmare of a book. I hope to finish it today and write about it tomorrow.
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Last update: 9/1/05; 10:08:55 AM .
