Posted on 06/27/2009 1:16:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The anti-war crusader said she'll continue to speak against U.S. policies despite the new administration.
Cindy Sheehan's methods have evolved since she first took her anti-war message to the streets.
The California-based activist said this week she doesn't put much stock in peace marches and petitions anymore. She encourages people instead to shift the country's balance of power by supporting independent media sources, growing food at home and discouraging people from enlisting in the military.
That was some of the advice she gave a crowd gathered Monday at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Warrington, Sheehan's latest stop to promote her new electronic book, "Myth America."
The speaker, radio show host and blogger began speaking out against the George W. Bush administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Baghdad in 2004. She made headlines by camping out in front of Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch and, later, running for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Congressional seat.
A change in presidents hasn't brought a significant change in course for either war, Sheehan said.
"George Bush may have left office, but his policies are continuing," she told the audience of about 50. President Barack Obama is better than his predecessor, she admitted, "but the corn on my foot is better than George Bush."
Sheehan's remarks have met with disapproval on both sides of the aisle. She has been criticized by veterans groups who say her work dishonors her son's service. More recently, Sheehan said Monday, Obama supporters have stood up and walked out of her presentations.
Olivia Kiernan, an 18-year-old Temple University student who came to Monday's event with her mother, Bobbi Penniman, questioned the activist about her support of Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney during the 2008 presidential election. Kiernan and Penniman said after the event they were energized by Sheehan's practical advice for would-be peace activists.
For another woman in the audience, Sheehan's experiences hit close to home.
Patt Fowler of Warrington said her son, a rising high school junior, has watched family friends enlist in the military and now has his sights set on joining the Marines once he graduates.
She asked Sheehan: "What do you do when you're a peacemaker raising a war fiend?"
The activist had a few book suggestions for her son, but said the best thing to do was to have someone else talk to him - someone who's not his mother.
"I wish somebody had given me that advice," Sheehan said.
Fowler left Monday with a signed copy of "Myth America's" book cover printout. Sheehan scribbled a personal message as well: "Call me or e-mail me anytime."
The Warrington mother said she understands the need for the military and respects her son and his choices.
However, "he sees the honor in fighting for the country," Fowler said. "I see the tragedy."
“he sees the honor in fighting for the country,” Fowler said. “I see the tragedy.”
He will be fighting for her right to be an asp!!
It is amazing to me that this person has any audience for her sedition and perfidy left at all .
Although there are probably a few people where I live that still consider her a visionary goddess .
I always hoped that W would come out of his ranch and personally kick her butt
Poor Cindy. She used to be a useful idiot, but now she’s not even useful.
Is it more insane to watch someone do the same thing over and over and expect a different result or is it more insane to to be the one doing it??
Depends on whether watching her is still good for a laugh.
But the one woman wonders where she went wrong, and she did not go wrong raising her son, she is just wrong in her point of view of the action.
Wow! A blast from the past. She went into hiding after being polverized by Nancy Pelosi on election day. I wish she had stayed there.
Believe it, or not, she came in second and beat the Republican candidate. Just shows you how far left San Francisco truly is!!
Dear Moonbat,
See tagline. OORAH!
Nothing is much more demoralizing than having the wonderful opportunity to share a squad with someone that doesn’t want to be wherever. The draft is a horrible idea on so many levels.
Feeble effort is right. I bet FR clickthroughs from your post will spike that pathetic site’s counter.
Last I saw, ALL branches of our military had exceeded monthly recruitment goals.
***the corn on my foot is better than George Bush.” ***
The pus in the pimple on my butt is better than Cindy Sheehan.
I’m completely opposed to the draft. I believe it’s fundamentally un-American and that it makes the Army worse off.
As a veteran and resident of Bucks County I feel soiled. This media whore has already had her 15 minutes. Go back to Berkeley and die.
Gotta chuckle with the name ‘BuxMont UU Fellowship’, ‘dat is just too Gay!
She asked Sheehan: “What do you do when you’re a peacemaker raising a war fiend?”
So this is what a mother thinks of her young son who has a calling to defend his nation and his fellow human beings.
He is not a good person to her,he is a war fiend. How sad for this pathetic women and sadder for her son...
Yeah, what's a bad mother to do?
“She asked Sheehan: “What do you do when you’re a peacemaker raising a war fiend?”
Why would someone who loves and respects their own child talk about them like that in public?
Sheehan is also speaking in support of independent media, home-grown food, and opposition to Obama (according to the article). Many FR threads, espouse the same goals.
You don't have to agree with all her opinions (I don't), but she certainly deserves the respect of everyone here (for at least some of what she's done).
Hitler loved animals, they say. And he did a pretty good job of rebuilding the German economy.
I'd agree that everybody should be "taken on balance". But even after giving Cindy Sheehan credit for "some of what she's done", she has done far more harm than good.
Thus, I'm perfectly comfortable dissing (or ignoring) her...
But she started out as an aggrieved private citizen (not a trained politician) and has continued to speak out in her own way, much like other private activists who are the heroes of FR (Tea Partiers, Minutemen).
She also targeted Pelosi and ran against her in her own backyard -- for all the criticism of her, I'd like you to respond by identifying any private citizen here (who has displayed the cojones to do anything quite like that)?
Correction: She’s acted “disrespectfully”
Did she, really? My understanding is that she was recruited by a PR firm (Fenton Communications) to serve as an "aggrieved private citizen". Whether she was paid or was attracted by the idea of celebrity is unclear.
She was being used, of course. But she allowed herself to be used. And she willingly acted the part.
Forgive me if I don't trust her motives.
...and has continued to speak out in her own way, much like other private activists who are the heroes of FR (Tea Partiers, Minutemen).
But is she speaking out from conviction? Or from a pathetic desire to reclaim her lost celebrity? With good reason, I question her motivations -- but I have no reason to question the motivations of the Tea Partiers, Minutemen, FReepers, etc.
Thousands show for the tea parties, yet it gets scant coverage, and the coverage it does get is condescending, at best.
Some of the things she's said and done since, I feel have been dead wrong. I'm sure she's been used, and could/should have exercised better judgment. But as she's not only a private citizen but a "gold star" mother, I haven't had reason (yet), to doubt her feelings of her own sincerity.
But for all of the armchair critics who've had words about Pelosi, Cindy Sheehan is about the only one (I know) that relocated, filed, spoke and ran against her.
A challenge from the left should be welcomed, especially going into 2010.
For her sake, I hope you're right.
You’re so lucky to live in Bucks county. So gorgeous. New Hope is like Hippie Disneyland.
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