Cindy Sheehan

[zonetoncatfan]

Just wondered what you all thought about Cindy Sheehan. Is she justified in her fight for a meeting with the President? Should he meet with the families of all fallen soldiers? Is she crazy?

Let's all play nice and remember our manners! :)

[PsychoCat]

Im not sure what she is doing is right or wrong, its not our place to judge just because somebody handles things differently than we would..... but no IMO Idont think she is crazy, I think she is a mother in pain and Ithink experiencing the loss of a childmightmake any of uscrazy and do things we normally wouldnt.....you would probably have to lock me up lol........and as a mother Im trying to imagine standing in her shoes and I canteven begin ...... i know id be angry, hurt, and lost,and questioning why MY child had to die, and for what?......wouldnt you?........Would I do what she is doing? Probably not, but who knows ....Im sure I would feel the need to do something .......Im sure she feels the need to do somethingwith her anger, and doesnt want any moremothers or families to experience the loss of a child or husband or father. We all have different ways of dealing with our losses and grieving, I guess this is her way of feeling she can make a difference and believes strongly in it. :cry: And yes I think he needs to make himself available to families who feel the need for it!!


* If this gets to political we may need to move to political forum

[Jeff Craddock]

Is she crazy? Not at all.

Is she correct to ask for some accountability from the president? In my opinion, yes.

One of the criticisms of Ms. Sheehan is the disparity between what she said shortly after her son died and what she is saying now. My only response to that is to ask those who are so critical if they would like to be held to what they thought and felt about some very painful event right after it happened. Grieving--especially getting over the shock or recent loss--changes our vantage points on almost everything. Every time I've had to grieve a loss, I've been changed in ways that I could not have expected before the loss.

Another criticism is the implication that this somehow explains why her husband and she are divorcing. Since the husband has said nothing of the kind, this seems like pure conjecture. But I'll add this: divorce after the loss of a child is not uncommon. Such an event puts tremendous strain on a relationship, as it tends to expose all the weaknesses that were already there. The volcanic emotions that loss can engender are often (mis)directed at the one(s) nearest to us.

As for some of the rest of her family feeling differently about her son's death, so what? A family is not a monolith of feeling. That other's close to her son feel differently does not in any way invalidate her point of view. Vive la difference.

So some of the things that have been said about her are specious, IMO. Do I think she's gotten caught up in her own hype, even to the point of becoming a parody of herself? Maybe. But she certainly has a right to do what she was doing--hasn't she left to attend to her mother?--and she comes by her grief honestly.

Per the request of psychocat, I'll leave the political stuff alone. What have been most appalling to me, however, are the personal attacks on Ms. Sheehan, made with little understanding of human nature and how loss can profoundly affect how we feel about things and what we are willing to do about them.

[HOMEYCAT]

I agree. I think we should try somehow to understand the president's position and Sheehan's. I cannot imagine what losing my son would make me say or do. And, I cannot imagine what George W. is going through.

[capcat]

I think she's gone or going through stages of grief that may account for the evolutioninthis woman. As Jeff said, her divorce may have more to do with their son's death than her protest. However, I wonder...if commitment to something meant stress and dissolution in my personal life, could I continue? With something as deeply personal as the death of a child, I can't honestly say.Givensincerityin herintent, I support her.

[KY Blue in Carolina]

The cynic in me thinks she's moved from personal grief to an agenda that is not necessarily driven by the loss of her son.

[HOMEYCAT]

Good use of the term "cynic" Well done, Lad!

[fanaticfan]

I fell for the woman and her loss. What I do not like is the way "other" people and organizations have attached themselves to her just so they can get their agenda on national tv. My heart breaks for her because the loss is something we know nothing off until we experience it. As the wife of a retired soldier and the mother- in law of a a present soldier who has already pulled 3 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan (and going back again in September)and firmly believes that America is doing the right thing...........I almost feel sorry for George W too.

[DenCat]

I feel sorry for Cindy Sheehan and all the mothers who, like her, have lost a child in the war. I don't think she's crazy.I admit I haven't followed the story much,but am curious what she thinks a meeting with the President would accomplish.I'm not sure it would befeasible tomeet with all the family members whohave lost a loved one.

[PsychoCat]

When something bad happens to us or ones we love..... IMO its human nature to look for someone to blame :cry:

[capcat]

Also some people throw themselves into a causein order to make a difference and cope with their grief.

[UK Chic]

The loss of a child can make someone do what we would consider 'crazy'. I know it would me. Everyone handles grief differently and guess we should be glad we live in the USA, freedom to protest if she wants. I think the timing of her mother's illness could not be at a worse time but also, may take her a few steps back to analyze the situation and do what is best for her family.

I can't judge her b/c I am not in her shoes but I do sympathize with all the people who have lost loved ones in this war. Very, very sad.