Posted on 08/18/2005 5:57:40 PM PDT by 26lemoncharlie
The continued focus by the nation's media on Cindy Sheehan, the so-called "Peace Mom" who's demanding a second meeting with President Bush in the wake of her son's death, is sparking a backlash from parents of other American servicemen and women in Iraq.
One Texas family of a fallen Marine became so enraged with Sheehan's use of their son's name on a protest cross, they drove from the town of Spicewood to Crawford to remove it. "I went there and had Matthew's name taken off of there," said Matt Matula, whose son, a 20-year-old Marine, was killed by hostile fire last year. "It's fine for people to grieve their own way. It aggravates me to see them using other people's names to further their cause."
"He's not a victim, he's a hero," he told KXAN-TV, "and I think that everybody that's serving our country [are] heroes."
Cpl. Matthew Matula, whose wife, Julie, was pregnant when he was killed in action, had planned on bringing his wife and baby back from his base in Southern California to Texas to get a ranch and build a house.
Stephanie Williams, 11, Karina Lopez, 9, and Brittney Conrad, 10, pay tribute at a 2004 candlelight vigil in Murrieta, Calif., to Cpl. Matt Matula (photo: Mike Norkin/for the Californian)
He earned a host of decorations, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. His younger brother youngest son just recently joined the military and is also heading to Iraq.
"Matthew was very proud of being a Marine and proud of his unit and what they were doing," his mother, Toni, said.
Her feelings are echoed by another war mom, Debbie from Indianapolis, who called radio host Rush Limbaugh today to say her own son was wounded in Iraq when his vehicle ran over a land mine twice in one day, and he's now serving his second tour of duty.
"I would never dishonor his actions by doing what this woman is doing," she tearfully said, referring to Cindy Sheehan. "What she's doing is not only dishonoring her son, she's dishonoring mine. ... [Casey Sheehan] didn't die for nothing, he died in the United States Armed Forces.There's nothing more honorable than that. These kids volunteered, they were not yanked from their cradle by an evil government to send them someplace they didn't want to go ... My son knew what was in store for him, and my son stepped up to the plate."
Lee Miller, who has a long list of family members in the service, wrote the China Daily newspaper to blast Mrs. Sheehan, while at the same time heaping praise on her son, Casey.
"He is a better person then you will ever be. So go home and honor his name instead of dragging it in the dirt. Make a difference instead of trying to be in the limelight. You're making an a-- out of yourself. I know your pain. I have been down that path – it hurts, but don't blame someone for a choice a person makes when it doesn't work out. Build a bridge and get over it. Your son was proud of what he did, so be proud of him." The backlash has led to the creation of the "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" tour, a caravan of military family members who plan to converge on Crawford for a rally Aug. 27.
The event is being promoted by MoveAmericaForward, and is led by Deborah Johns of Northern California Marine Moms, whose son, William, is a Marine serving in Iraq.
Deborah Johns of Roseville, Calif., stars in commercial supporting her son and others fighting for freedom in Iraq
"I am deeply sorry for Ms. Sheehan's loss; however, Ms. Sheehan's actions are only causing pain to those of us who have loved ones serving in the war against terrorism," Johns said. "We understand the need to fight the terrorists overseas rather than face attack here at home. We understand that it was the terrorists led by al-Qaida in Iraq who are responsible for the deaths of U.S. service members, including Casey Sheehan."
Johns is now starring in a new television commercial she produced.
"William is helping to bring about freedom, and people are realizing that freedom is a gift," she says in the spot. "He supports what we're doing over there."
The backlash is not going unnoticed by Cindy Sheehan.
Cindy Sheehan
"The right wingers are e-mailing me and spewing filth about me on the radio and on the television saying that I am dishonoring my son's memory," she writes. "The right wingers are really having a field day with me. It hurts me really badly, but I am willing to put up with the cr--, if it ends the war a minute sooner than it would have."
She's also disputes allegations her anti-war protest is all about her.
"I was just the spark the universe chose for some reason to spark this off, because, like I said, the movement was already there."
President Bush kissing Cindy Sheehan in family photo dated June 18, 2004
As WorldNetDaily previously reported, Sheehan met with President Bush in June of last year, and even posted a photo of herself being kissed by the commander in chief on her website designed to honor her son. The photos of Bush have since been surgically removed from the site
She is making a MOCKERY of his memory and his decesion to put his life on the line for what HE believed in. NOT what SHE believes in.
I miss the days when most people were strong human beings. I miss my grandparents.
She dishonors her son. She is trashing her own son's honor. She is a disgrace to her son. Nobody forced the man to join and fight.
But are you willing to STFU* if it would end the war a month sooner than it would have otherwise?
Apparently not.
*What is the meaning of STFU?
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For ever Cindy Sheehan kind of gold star mom, there will be 5 who are strong supporters of the United States, the military and our mission to protect the country.
This country is worth dying for.
This is not an immoral country. We have freed more people as a nation than any nation in history.
This country is not a criminal war mongering nation.
90% of the Sheehan swill is pure garbage. As a gold star mom she can ask about the necessity of the War and calling for the minimization of losses of our forces. All the rest of it she can stuff in Conyers, wherever it will fit.
Cindy you were warned that this was not all about you and your extreme liberal views. Remember that she is quite mad ladies but go with God.
"For ever Cindy Sheehan kind of gold star mom, there will be 5 who are strong supporters of the United States, the military and our mission to protect the country."
I'd like to imagine it's more like 50 to 500 strong supporters of the U.S. for every one Sheehan-type.
Please note that she is a not a member of the Gold Star Mothers of America. That fine organization has made a statement on their website that they are not associated with her in any way.
I think his honor can never be trashed. She is just a fool. R.I.P. Casey, you and your brothers.
I miss my dad.
Finally SOMONE reporting the facts. Thanks!
Amen.
These people treat the men in Iraq as children. They secretly despise soldiers, which is why the elite colleges refuse to let ROTC on their campuses.
Perhaps the families of our fallen service men and women who feel that their names should not be used in the manner they have been used by Cindy Sheehan should trademark their names (if possible). Then, their names could not be used without permission.
Is that you mom???
It is crazy that one DOES have to go to law. She has no moral right to use ANY dead person's name without permission from those who grieve for them. I daresay she does not care much about their feelings and does not respect their loss. "Serves you right for supporting this crazy war!" seems to be her attitude.
Who? LOL
Thank you for the correction!
I have heard over and over again about how she was a Gold Star Mom. I see they don't think much of her!
That's the last time I'll refer to her with that honorable title. Unfortunately she had a hero sun who was killed. That certainly doesn't make her honorable.
I pray for Cindy Sheehan's peace of mind. I pray for the soul of her son. I pray for the souls of those military who have been killed or wounded. I pray for those yet to be killed or wounded, and all of their mothers, too.
But I also pray for the people of Iraq...50 million of them, to find peace of mind, strength of character, and the tenacity to do God's will in these times of trouble.
Ms. Sheehan, I believe it is for us as Christians to fight those who would kill, torture and maim the innocent and the oppressed. We wish to lock away the BTK killer on the news today. Why? Because this is what he does...kills, tortures, and harms all that he contacts in his life.
Is it so hard to understand that there are thousands of BTK killers in Iraq?
I pray for more dedicated souls like your son to step forward, and thank God that your son did this for me, and my children.
Chosen by the universe....... WOW............ quite an accomplishment there Cindy.
I have pity for her, where will she be after the peace nuts find a new voice? She will be alone and bitter, she needs help.
Amen.
But you rarely can help those who refuse to help themselves. So yes, pray for her and her family but there must also be atonement for the evil she is doing.
It's a fact that all those lost to war are "someone's 'children'"
It's also a fact that no one in this all volunteer military is a CHILD!!!
Our Soldiers, Airman, Marines and Sailors are valiant men and women that CHOSE TO SERVE!!!!
THEY ARE NOT VICTIMS, THEY ARE HEROES TO US ALL!!
My undying thank you to those that have fallen in this and every war this country has faced.
Fregards,
Mrs
But age strikes us all...and I am afraid she will not enjoy a shrinking circle of friends, for misery loves company...
Maybe when she goes to heaven, God will place her actions this day on the top of the inventory...
Mother Sheehan April 2005: I’m going all over the country telling moms: “This country is not worth dying for." "I just want to say that you students, Students Against War, you have all my support and all my organization’s support. I told Kristen if you have any actions and you need a ringleader, that I only live about an hour away."
This entire "spark" of hers is highly orchestrated by Mother Sheehan and her willing lefty loons at Moveon.org and by the sleaze Michael Moore(on).
It's not a spark...its an IED.
Yes! Do you get the feeling that in most cases, the grown-ups aren't in charge or, for that matter, anywhere near the scene?
Actually, that could be reasonably disputed.
The Army does indeed recruit 17 year olds before their Senior High School year. I know, because I have a son who is a recruit and currently in Army Basic Training, and though he aspires to be considered a man, I'd have been more comfortable letting him make the choice a year from now.
Apparently, his mother and I disagree.
Perhaps you might also disagree with me that a 17 year old is still a child in most ways.
Quite the opposite - I see that there are no grown-ups in existence who are under age 55.
And actually I admire unruly children ("children" as in, under 12). Their independence should be rewarded so they don't become nanny-dependent dolts. Instead we medicate and put them in therapy if they try to grow-up too fast.
The grandparents that I mentioned all had the same spirit in them when they were young, and it helped them to survive. Today, we squash it as "misbehavior".
This woman is really nuts. It's OK for her to spew all kinds of filth against the war, America, and GW, but it's not OK for others to tell her what they think of her.
"I was just the spark the universe chose for some reason to spark this off, because, like I said, the movement was already there."
You're not a spark, Cindy, but a fading and obnoxious loudmouth.
When I turned 17, I also joined the Army. I became a paratrooper, and shortly after I turned 18, I was in the Jungles of Viet Nam.
Your son made an adult decision, he deserves your respect and support. None of us know what our future holds, but I do know looking back those 40 odd years ago, I would not have done it any differently.
You are probably right, and I hope so in fact.
The fact is, I will rejoice when he graduates Basic in the next week or so. I think that it is a tough place for a 17 year old to be, but there are those raging hormones and all. I would not have allowed it if it were solely my decision, but I am proud anyhow.
Next Summer he'll likely be sent over to the sandbox just as his older bro returns from his second tour in that place.
Then let's send a memo to Paul (The Forehead) Begala who couldn't stop his stupid lying mouth from repeating this BS over and over.
A familiar story, my younger brother had followed me, and he too served in Viet Nam.
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