Useful idiot
Posted on 08/11/2005 8:52:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Casey Sheehan reenlisted, giving his life to protect others and bring freedom to strangers.
These are two very different people.
Jimmy Hall just nailed it and so did you.
Thanks for posting.
Article Launched: 06/24/2004 06:00:00 AM
Bush, Sheehans share moments
By David Henson/Staff Writer
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville.
Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.
Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.
"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."
The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.
While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.
For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.
"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."
The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.
For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.
For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.
"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.
David Henson can be reached at schools@thereporter.com.
In earlier posts I defended her as a grief-striken mom being played by the MSM. Now I've read around and revised my opinion.
I'd advise any others who are charitably giving her the benefit of the doubt to do likewise.
She's trading the noble sacrifice of her son in exchange for blame to lay.
She's more content thinking his life was completely wasted in exchange for someone to blame.
I am guessing she will never be a happy person.
Useful idiot
Flyer handed out at event Cindy Sheehan attended...
I see she chickened-out of a meeting with O'Reilly on his show last night, too.
Her son must be rolling in his grave over the disgraceful bahavior of his mother, and her use of his noble sacrifice to further her own liberal causes.
Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin
How sad for this family. They are watching her self-destruct in public and they have the double burden of not being able to help her. Prayers for all of them.
She's happy now. This attention is like a tonic to her. When it goes away, she'll do anything to get it back. This makes her useful. Her motives are self-serving.
Yes, that amazing apple fell very far from this disturbed tree.
Giving hope that the current crop of leftists can also raise true heroes despite their teachings.
From your LINK.
In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue:
Sheehan Family Statement:
The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.
Sincerely,
Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.
God bless our troops.
"Useful idiots"
...the term Lenin applied to the idiot protesters in the west that helped him in his rise to power...
You are so right....cindy's desperate and dishonest actions bring an unnecessary additional burden to all who loved and respected Casey and who grieve at his passing ~ it must be incredibly painful for this family to watch this circus.
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