Cindy Sheehan's response to DU (courtesy of Daily Kos)

Yes, Casey Sheehan did die for nothing.

That sucks, but that's the blunt truth.

He died for Exxon, Chevron, Shell and BP. That's not what he was told he was putting himself in harm's way for, but it's not nothing, either.

I have a great deal of sympathy for her. She wants the same thing we want, and so I wish her will. Some of the remarks I read were uncalled for. Criticism, she deserves and I'm sure she is strong enough to deal with. The hatred is inappropriate

say this repeatedly, but what methods are you employing that are superior?

If you want to discuss issues, bring em on!

But if you want to get personal, find a different puppy. This dog doesn't hunt with that dog.

1. Discussing what those methods actually are that you are critizing is sneaky and downright dishonest. It's an attack that no one can answer because no one can read your mind to know what you are referring to.

2. Offering a better suggestion. Since no one knows what your problem is, and you offer no alternative to those unknown problems, it's just a personal attack on a citizen following her conscience without anything constructive.

Your methods are dispicable for those reasons.

See, it's not that hard. I just told you what I don't like about your methods, doggyboy, and I offered an alternative. Perhaps you might take your methods elsewhere?

it's about as non-personal as you can get.

you say you don't like her methods, someone asks what methods you think are better, or what problems exactly do you have with hers.

that is a completely non-personal question.

a lot harder to attack someone surreptitiously if you have to reveal what you are attacking them about. I assume (since I have no other choice, ie his answer) that he just wants to attack Sheehan and try to discredit her for his own secret ends.

Perhaps he supports the illegal occupation. Perhaps he is opposed to people exercising their constitutional rights. Perhaps he is a misogynist. Perhaps he is pro-corporate war profits. Who knows. Maybe he has a good reason. Maybe he doesn't.

Whatever his angle is, he apparently doesn't want to share.

Which of course makes me go hmmmm....

I really doubt you want to know which methods of Sheehan's I disagree with. They've been posted over and over on DU.

And what was personal was asking about what I have done to end the war. Regardless of what I have or have not done, the effectiveness of Ms Sheehan's tactics can be criticized. The purpose of that question was to initiate a personal attack. It was not to open a discussion of her tactics.

I may have a low post count, but I wasn't born yesterday

what you are refering to when you say "methods" as regards Sheehan, since you seem paranoid to just say what you mean.

I feel that she is divisive, when our interests lie in our remaining as united as we can be. I don't like when she interrupts important events, and I don't like her criticizing dems like Obey.

what your problems with Cindy's methods were.

i think you may be confusing Sheehan with Richards, another military mom. She had the run in with Obey.

Obey has a reputation of both a very liberal voting record (which I like) and of being verbally abusive. (which I don't like) His temper outburst are apparently well known. If that gets him criticism, well who's fault is that?

I think he may be a little thin skinned when it comes to criticism. If elected officials can't handle criticism maybe they are in the wrong business, because it comes with the territory.

Repos didn't like protesters interrupting their convention. I say, too bad.

At this point, many Dems seem much more concerned with perceptions than with the carnage taking place daily. I find that to be a disgrace.

Politics by it's nature is divisive. Protesting is divisive. Voting to give bush a blank check and to give the multinationals control over Iraq's oil is divisive. Such is life.

I find Cindy's methods to be those in the proud tradition of civil disobedience. I understand that some people don't like that. Well, good luck. This is America after all, and that has been our tradition from the Boston Tea Party to the civil rights movement, to the Iraq war and occupation.

It's the method available to the common folk when justice is lacking. I don't really see any other means for Sheehan to press for change. She doesn't have the money to take out full page ads, she has no real power except the moral authority as a mother of a dead soldier. I think she made a huge contribution to our country at considerable cost to herself. Unlike elected officials, she doesn't get paid to do what she did.

I figure she does what she thinks she has to, and I appreciate it that she's doing something.

re: Obey, my bad confusing Richards with Sheehan.

As far as her tactics go, you do make a good point. It's not as if I see Sheehan as evil or incredibly foolish. I just think there's a better way.

"Politics by it's nature is divisive. "

Which is why I can't get too worked up over Sheehan, though I do still wish she would have concentrated her efforts on those who are truly responsible for this fiasco. That would be the republicans.

My heart aches for this woman, today, of all days.

Try and think of all she's lost, and all she's done before you cast your stones, people. Please. This is just plain unacceptable.

ETA:

For Those Upset, Angered or Frustrated with Cindy Sheehan, a humble suggestion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3287662

TC

So, that brings me to not only THE War, but War, in general.

So liberals love the concept of being against war, but when it comes to a particular war like the racist imperial adventures of a declined empire/party called Iraq...some liberals/Catholics like to talk about the overarching problems of global poverty?

So what's the suggestion that you want to deliver...via some link? The UN's The Millenium Project?

:rofl:

Lovely sentiment.

TC

That was pretty stupid whoever it was.

thank you and i hope cindy sees this also

wish she could have used a qualifier like "I have been further trashed BY SOME PEOPLE on such "liberal blogs" as the Democratic Underground."

I suspect these are Freepers in disguise, planting land mines in the DU. I don't think there's any real Democratic Underground poster, at least any Dem who wants to get out of this illegal and immoral war, who would say anything demeaning about Cindy. She's just a little touchy now because she's been under such pressure for so long and it's hard to ignore things after awhile. I agree with Wm Pitt in another post that Cindy would do well to get out of the spotlight for awhile so she can recuperate and regain a little distance. Sometimes when you are so passionate about a subject, and it's very hard not be passionate about a war like the Iraq War, so contrary to everything this country has stood for thru the years, and especially if like Cindy you have lost a son to another person's insanity and cruelty and immorality.

Some political leaders, and Bush is a perfect example, draw energy from the pain and suffering of others. The same can be said for those who support Bush, whether they be secret supporters or open.

Only DUers who put party before what is right. Apologists worried about the next election.I see the same trashing of code pink who are non partisan and antiwar. Cindy is antiwar and for the people who are more worried about triangulation (and a dem win in 08 which I agree is important) she does not fit their agenda. I am a dem but above that I am anti this war. I don't care if my protesting is not politically correct and I have not even lost a loved one in this one. I cannot begin to understand her pain.

are as bad as their counterparts in the republican party.

unchecked and unguided power will do its will until sane non-cultish people step in and take over.

And thak you for saying it.

...that there is such a "Buh-bye!" mentality from some pretty notable folks on here.

PB

Many here are so ready to accuse others of "blindly following the party." Yet often those people so accused are really advocating infiltrating the party and changing it for the better, instead of deserting it.

Makes you wonder why some feel the need to distort what is essentially a message of power and unity, doesn't it?

NGU.

those don't seem to be among the "more milder rebukes". They seem to be firmly among the harshest.

But she shouldn't be surprised that some people on a site called "Democratic Underground" would be put off by those who blame this war on Democrats.

This is Bush's war.

As long as we the voters and the so-called Democrat's base keep our heads in the sand and allow the traitors in Washington to accept our campaign contributions and votes then carry out the will of shrub and corportate America, we will indeed be kept underground.

and neither is it responsible for this war. It's Bush's war.

I wish more people would remember that.

I can't support any candidate who voted yes to the IWR in the primaries, but I'll never accept that this is anything but Bush's neocon war.

what's that got to do with anything I said?

figure out which. As a Dem from birth, and as a contributor and volunteer to the Democratic party, I'm just trying to sort it out.

If you can't see that it's Democrats who are trying to end this instead of Republicans, there's just too much background information I'd need to provide to convince you.

This is Bush's war. Unfortunately, he vetoed the solution that most Americans wanted - funding linked to timelines, and we didn't have the votes to override. Politically, cutting off funding wasn't feasible. Frankly, I'm shocked that anybody here believed it WAS.

voted against granting bush war powers.

I also know that some Dems liked the idea of invading Iraq and prefer America to be an empire as opposed to a democratic republic.

The fact that 4 Dems who are running for the nomination voted against funding the illegal occupation tells me that voting against funding is certainly politically feasible. If it wasn't, they couldn't expect to be elected president if they win the nomination, could they?

Because that would seem to preclude any possiblitiy of actually winning the presidency, if it is, as you say, politically unfeasible.

There simply aren't enough votes in either house, NOR is there a strong will among the voters, to cut funding today. I don't like that, but I think it's just silly to ignore that reality and blame all this on democrats.

Senators and Congress people who vote to continue the illegal occupation. As well as the administration, of course.

It would be kind of silly to blame it on anyone else.

I realize it would have passed, because the Repos voted for it almost in unison, and a fair number of Dems support an American empire.

But to claim it was politically unfeasible to vote against it means that Clinton, Obama, Dodd, and Kucinich now have zero chance to be elected president, if any of them get the nomination. (Edwards too, since he came out strongly against passage.)I don't believe that though, and I doubt you believe it either.

I do know I won't be voting for Baucus in 08 in our US Senate race. And I won't be voting for the Repo either. And I won't be voting for Biden in either the primary or the general, should he somehow win the nomination. Nor for the Repo.

I can't vote for someone who votes for an illegal occupation, even if others find it easy. It's just not politically feasible for me.

for some. Cutting the funding this week was politically unfeasible. They didn't have the votes to do it, nor was there enough will among the citizenry to force such a move.

which is why you and your fellow travelers are useless.

that it wasn't feasible. The votes weren't there to do it.

This is what you said:

"The Democratic party is not "underground"

and neither is it responsible for this war. It's Bush's war.

I wish more people would remember that."

And this is what you were asked:

"Which Dems have committed to total and complete withdrawal from Iraq?"

Seems logical to me.

if everyone in this country had even bothered to vote, we would not be here. if all of us on this board sat in at our congressman's office until the war ended, it would probably be over.
we elected a majority with the clearest mandate in history, and they are farting around, bargaining with madmen. we elected them to stop this war. if they had wanted to, they could have.
if more of us were like cindy, it would be over. there is plenty of blood for everyone's hands.

The clearest mandate in history?! A slim majority in the House and a one-seat majority in the Senate? That makes no sense.

time they decide to. No vote, no money.

They could also start impeachment proceedings.

But instead, they bought the war.

but that certainly is the minority position in America. What most Americans want is exactly what the Democrats first proposed - timetables tied to funding.

But that's neither here nor there - I'm questioning the notion that they were elected with the "clearest mandate in history". That assertion makes no sense to me.

We'd take our blocks home and pretend to be "attacked" on the internet.

just not as enlightened as yourself, but my take is most people realize that short of armed insurrection our system is fixed.

They know this and decide not to participate. They'ed rather spend their time with their families, their hobbies, ect than to spend their lives pretending we live in a democratic republic.

I don't think she's an attention-whore, by any means. Not at all, though she is surprisingly thin-skinned. I wish her well and understand she needs to do what she need to take of herself.

However, I think she overestimates her importance. DU goes on, even when veterans DUers proclaim that they're thinking of leaving DU. Likewise, the antiwar movement, the DemocratIC party, and everyone else will live on, because they don't need Cindy Sheehan to speak for them.

pretty fair observation.

"overestimates her importance."

yup. Pretty much sums it up, imo.

she lost her child and has been out in the public eye for several YEARS facing all kinds of abuse. Thin skinned?

I felt a little tiny tinge of "hey don't paint all of DU with that brush" but maybe I was wrong. Thin skinned??!!:wtf:

She must be so exhausted and disillusioned, especially after the big cave. I don't blame her one bit for doing an exit. And I bet with her passion she won't be able to rest for long. She has my real admiration.

as well get used to it.

The IWR passed when the Dems held the Senate. We gave them a pass. But the most recent vote to

You can cling to the rationalization the the Dems were "fooled by bush, Chaney, et al but that's just plain denial.

They weren't fooled last Friday again, were they?

misadventure. In the end, she wants the same thing we do, but damning Dems for being against her is not the best plan. Really, here only option is to stand alone, of to join the Pubs which I'm sure is NOT what she wants to do.

I guess the reason she was damned so much on DU was because she was damning the Dems! AI realie they didn't do what any of us wanted, but if you listed to many different opinions, you'll find there are quite a few who explain why many voted as they did.

I detest this "conflict" in Iraq, and I refuse to call it a war. We are not at war, but we're trying to force OUR values upon a totally different culture, and it weill never work! I think we ALL have to realize it's impossible to remove all our troops from Iraq instantly, simply because of logistics! It simply CAN'T be done! Of course we could begin by removing 25,000 at a time, and preparing to remove all our quipment like tanks, armed trucks, hummers, and armements. To fight for that end in the Congress is certainly valid, but once you realize you can never get a strong majority, you have to chose a different short term plan. I think that's where we are right now. I have a positive feeling about September. Many Pubs have stated they are going to use Sept. as a determination wether this BS that Shrub did with his surge is doing any good or not. Becasue of the 08 election, and what I truely believe will be the continued disaster on the ground there, I believe there WI:: be votes strong enough to override Shrub's veto!

That's why we keep spending another 100 billion plus, and that's why our dems pass legislation to force oil production sharing agreements with US and multinational oil companies.

You are fooling yourself if you believe it's just a matter of logistics.

Which Dems have publically stated that they are for complete and total withdrawal from Iraq?

To the best of my knowledge, only Dennis Kucinich has said this. All the rest are silent on this.

On this Memorial Day, perhaps this is a post that deserves considerable thought and reflection. I think that is enough to say...

and those people were called to task for their ugly, hateful words.

I too wish she had qualified what she wrote that SOME people said such thigns about her.

Personally, I believe that SOME who post such things are really moles attempting to play a game of divide and conquer.

Disagreement with someone is fine. Calling anyone a whore, is inexcusable. Name-calling is what people do when they have run out of real words. Name-calling is the refuge of those who have already lost the argument.

And, apart from that, Cindy still speaks for me.

NGU.

She has singlehandedly put a face on the anti-war movement when there was none in this country .... certainly not from the timid, coward Democrats in our party who gave no voice to dissent at a time when it was needed the most.

I think Cindy Sheehan is a true American hero and this Memorial Day my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

is she has a public face. I think she should try to get the most out of her protests. Targeting democrats is just as bad as people making unkind remarks about her. People watch her, they read her quotes so I think she should really truly make every "public" statement count.

is simply overblown.

She actually did not discriminate between those who were trying to change the party to stand up for things, and those who wanted the status quo.

I have no objection to criticizing Democrats, but she went after the good guys so often it soon lost its meaning.

All of us this week are facing hard decisions. It is not just Cindy, it is all of us. There are many Democrats who are facing those decision as well.

Cindy's problem was that she never discriminated between the good guys and the bad guys.

Progressives need help in the primaries against the DLCers and calls for progressives to leave the Democratic Party only harm Democratic progressive candidates.

the Democratic Party is not the only party to engage in bait and switch tactics at election time. They all do it. Welcome to the adult world.

Please do not judge us by the worst of us. There are so many here who respect you and honor you. And even those who may disagree with your methods, still respect you.

I am so sorry for the loss of your son.

And I apologize for the ugly, stupid remarks made on DU. Please do not judge me by those superficial remarks made by anonymous posters who have done nothing to fight Bush's assault on our country but criticize those who are trying.

Emmy

and sent to Iraq to replace a soldier that wants to come home.

a purge!

where is it stated that every member of the Democratic party has to march lock step with the party?...Cindy is not my spokesperson for the party....nor is she my spokesperson for the war!.......I have a mind and have expressed it plenty of times..

Many of us protest...make calls....push the letters......and we do not expect all to march lock step with us....

I'm sorry but I resent that fact that some of the DU'ers here think we have to follow Cindy and should no right to speak against her......

Its unrealistic to expect thousands of DUers, both people on the left and numbers of conservative infiltrators, to agree 100% with every action of Ms Sheehan. When she attacks members of the Democratic party there will be some posters here fight back. Others will agree with her. Thats what discussion boards are for.

I haven't commented on Ms Sheehan before because I have conflicting feelings concerning some of her actions. Perhaps her decision will help her begin to heal, but I don't think mothers ever really "heal" from losing one of their children. Mine certainly never recovered.

I wish her only the best.

Mighty quick to whip out that cross to drag about, aren't we Cindy? This reaction saddens me.

First of all, that she called the quoted comments as some of the "milder rebukes" says a lot. That was the harshest stuff said about her, she's eithe rnot seeing things clearly or deliberately misrepresenting what's been said.

Throw in her recent "I'm no longer a Dem" proclamation, another not very accurate thing to say as she's never been much of a Dem supporter, well frankly I think she's lost her way.

Yes, she kind of stumbled onto the national stage with her valiant camp out on Little Boots' doorstep. Brought tons of attention to our rag tag anti-war effort.....think of the limitless possibilities from that point.

But no, Cindy chose to do a big show of finger pointing and railing against the Dems 15 seconds after taking office. As high profile a setting as she could manage, along with obnoxious DUer-style confrontational tone.

Hard to guess what the purpose of that was. I mean, when someone publically gets up and shrieks at you what you had better do while giving you the finger, is that motivating to you? Or would you find yourself more receptive to rational and coherent dialogue?

Cindy has chosen the wrong path many times since her entrance onto the stage. Now she is mischaracterizing the reaction to this.

How very sad and revealing.

Julie

Thanks for posting this, Julie.

"Mighty quick to whip out that cross to drag about, aren't we Cindy?"

Very succinct and almost poetic in its summation of her human failings.

Like many an other cultural phenomenonon, Cindy is battling her demons.

I have tried as a journalist to make contact with her, and often was frustrated. She lacks organization, including personel, and so has been much less effective than what she could be. Why was/is she attached to not letting herself have what any other national figure would have? Was she that short on funds or was she without anyone to help steer her?

She has so much media coverage, and so to those of us who have tried to accomplish political goals without that greatest of all freebies,i.e. a willing, responsive media, we can feel resentment.

I made my peace with the idea of her (the one that I carried around in my head) that she just is not at all about being an organized political force. It's her great beauty - that - and also her Achilles' heel.

Ms. Sheehan the martyr...............because people on DU didn't fall into lockstep with her.......Oy vey.........

Thanks for saying it so I don't have to.

:thumbsup:

Other members of DU do not speak for me. I speak for my self. And so does Cindy. And she backs up what she says with action... something I doubt most of us would have the courage and determination to do. It's easy to criticize Cindy on a personal level, she is not slick, she does not attempt to mask or deceive her stance, and she does not seek your approval. She is refreshingly blunt and direct and sincere and I do dearly love her passion and selfless commitment to her son and her county and OUR liberty. You may hate her, you may scorn her, you may condemn her... but she is not going away. She is a mother on a mission of justice and peace and that is the most powerful force in the universe... so face it... you can attack her all you want, but in the end she will win... think of it. Ignorance, greed, and hatred will lose. And She Will Win.

I am thankful for all her hard work.
And hope that she can go home to rest from
the nightmare of the last few years.

criticizing Cindy Sheehan. She is like the rest of us. She is angry! I am angry! If I had the means and had better health I would be right out there with her. She realizes this country is going downhill fast. Sometimes I think we are all crying out in the wilderness because nothing is being done to get us out of this mess--Democrats or Republicans. Let Cindy be.

She has a right to form and express them freely, in whatever manner she finds most effective. She has a right to choose any party affiliation she likes, or to choose none. But it's the height of folly to expect that, having thrust herself into the public arena via the rough-and-tumble universe of internet politics, she would be somehow immune from criticism--from the right OR the left--because of her victim status. Any public figure who repudiates or attacks the Democratic party probably ought to expect a vigorous and pithy response from, you know, committed Democrats of the sort one sometimes finds here on DU. I like Cindy, I'm horrified by her unimagineable loss, I don't blame her for leaving the party, but I also can't say I blame those who would defend the party when they feel it's being attacked--even by an anti-war icon like Cindy Sheehan.

were 100% correct about where the Democratic Party leadership was going with their anti-war mandate: nowhere, and very slowly. And now that they have been demonstrably proven correct in their analysis the reaction is to attack the messengers.

Houston, we have a problem: our party has been commandeered by War Party moles.

That is not how to make change.

Cindy was given bad advise on how to maximize her anti-war efforts. Rather her advisers, as zealous as they were supporting her, were a bigger detriment to the cause than they were at impacting the public in a positive way.

Cindy sounds very depressed. I hope she seeks counseling to help her wind down a bit. Her mental health should be her first priority if she hopes to at some future date, come back with a strategic plan to grind the bastards down, when she feels stronger.

Hers is an important message. I wish people would read it more carefully and get past the comments about DU.

I don't blame her for being upset. Some of it was likely done by trolls. But not all of it. There's an element on DU that expects blind obedience to the Democratic Party no matter what. And now they have hurt our cause by slandering one of the greatest voices we have for peace. Such a shame.

Cindy, good luck with your future, whatever you choose. Thank you for all you have done, and may the suffering you endured by the loss of your son in this insane war be lessened over time. Best of luck to you, and I'm sorry for all of the dickheads on DU that trashed your name.

...I think supports the observation that these vicious attacks are from much more than just "Trolls".

Poll question- How does DU feel about Cindy Sheehan?

  I think you'll find it interesting, though maybe not surprising.

PB

I am in a smaller world than Cindy and yet, I knew, as I took leadership roles the criticism would flow. I was not disappointed.

I have had many cast asparagus at me, it is always based on misinformation/misconceptions. These cowards do not have whatever it takes to address me directly so we see nasty screeds posted on the internets and catch wind of vicious rumours. Know what I do about it?

Nothing.

I keep pushing on, working ot achieve positive goals and don't bother wasting my time and energy in retribution or trying to discredit my critics. I just keep working. Know what the end result is? More join my efforts and progress is made, meanwhile, the shit-flingers find the occasional ally and yet go no further than that pile of shit they like to sit in and cry.

The fact that Cindy is addressing her critics in the way she is choosing to says a lot. Mostly it tells me that perhaps she is not emotionally mature enough to handle the sort of leadership role she has assumed. There's always a price to pay for being in leadership. If you aren't willing to pay that price than you should serve in a different capacity.

Julie

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Sorry, but I couldn't resist that one!
;)

have some remorse.

It's about decency at some point. Just being decent.

PB

nt

in the next three months by leaving the Democratic party? I mean seriously...

Democratic Party and let the GOP party slide?

I Mean when they protest the Democratic Party.it gets media coverage......when was the last time we heard about the GOP members of congress being called on the carpet?...and when did the media report it?

we gotta keep the pressure on for the next bill that comes due in September, with a weaker R caucus.

I looked pretty carefully - and never saw it there.

Look I sympathize with the poor woman. I applauded her initial courage. But personally I think she went off the deep end a while back.

You guys can applaud and support her all you want. Just because I don't doesn't make me a troll, a bad person, a freeper, or a lock-step DLC'er or anything else you wanna call me.

I don't think she did "us" much good after that initial stand. She seemed hysterical, flaky, and a wee bit over-the-top.

OK - maybe YOU LIKE over-the-top. I don't. People who are o-t-t aren't generally taken seriously.

I don't apologize for not liking her nor agreeing with her methods. I don't think I should have to. I don't think anyone here who DOESN'T support her owes her or anyone else an apology for our opinions.

You have yours. We have ours. This is still a free country.

I guess I should put on my flame-retardant suit now, eh?

That said, I agree with your post 100%

she could do no wrong for a while. But that's just life. The longer you stay in public life, the more enemies you will make.

Mrs. Sheehan, I hope you do go home and get with your kids and take your rest. You did what you could.

:hi:

two daughters, who are life itself to me. I cannot imagine the pain that you suffer in losing your son to George W Bush's maniacal sophistry. He and Cheney and their cabal are in fact the Axis of Evil. Please excuse the democrats for failing you. We do want what you want; we want an end to war. It is no solution. You have bravely fought the good fight. Casey would be proud of you. Now you are right to return to your children and to let others take up the fight. You have done more than anyone could ask. YOU are the face of the anti-war movement. Without you the return to sanity would not be nearly so far along. I cherish your contribution to the return of the soldiers and the return of Iraqis to a normal life. You are a heroine!

It is categorically false to state that "being called an 'attention whore' and being told 'good riddance" were "some of the milder rebukes." Those were unquestionably the harshest things directed at Cindy in the thread she is obviously referencing. I can recall 3 posters - THREE DUers, out of a site of over 100,000 members - who posted the aforementioned insults. Moreover, as this thread makes clear, probably 80-90% of DU hero worships Cindy.

Cindy is willing to overlook the gushing love given to her by hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of DUers just so she can trash the website based on the opinions of fewer than five members. Extremely dishonest and immature response from Ms. Sheehan, and representative of exactly the kind of tactic that turns those same people away from her in the first place - the tendency to completely overlook or misrepresent the majority, amplify the unpleasantness of the minority, and then claim that everybody is against her.

So why is she being this way? I think she only heard the negatives and never actually visited the site. She made up her mind that DU was bad way to quickly.

Everybody gets trashed on DU at 1 time or another. You have to look at the overall feel, not just a few posters.

...we need her now more than we ever have. By her quitting and dropping out, she is sending a signal to those who disliked her that she can't take the pressure. She is also sending a signal that the Peace movement can't swim when the current gets a little rough.

Additionally, she is cherry-picking a dozen comments that might have been incendiary about her leaving the Democratic Party, but she chooses to trash a very supportive online community with a big, fat magic marker. She should have known that by taking her position that she was going to get some reactions that would not suit her fancy...she seemed to be a bomb-thrower in that statement anyway...

Imagine if Martin Luther King got offended by some in the African-American community that thought he wasn't tough enough?

Imagine RFK dropping out because he was scared that he might get shot?

Imagine John Lennon getting tired of the record biz and not releasing some excellent work near the end of his life?

I'm going to wait and see what happens in the next months with Ms. Sheehan.

She also has to understand that it takes longer than six months to end an Occupation of this magnitude. Look at the three+ years that it took to stop the war in Vietnam. The Occupation will not end overnight.

If Cindy Sheehan wants the memory and service of her son to be the most honorable, she would not get this far and then fade away. It would be like Rosa Parks watching that bus approaching and getting scared and running back to her home without making that statement.

I can understand her frustration, but if I was her personal friend, I would have asked her to hold on and keep up the fight. Yes, even stay with the Democrats since that is actually the best chance of ending the war. If she goes off to the Greens or some other group with zero political clout on national issues, she'll simply be wasting her time. If she goes off and gets a book deal and "exposes" the Peace movement, then that will be duly noted and historically judged in the light that would persist on her legacy.

It may be too late for her to return to the fold...perhaps some time needs to pass before she gets back into the fight.

tragedy and ended up somewhere she might not have intended to be. Just because you get nominated to be the cause's poster child doesn't mean you are suited to the job. I am not trying to denigrate her at all with those comments. I admire her tremendously for camping out on GWB's doorstep and demanding answers about WHY her son died. I think, though, that somewhere along the line her cause got swept up into the political bullshit and things went downhill from there.

OMFG we at DU didn't even know ... WOW! ... I had no idea that he died for nothing ... brb, redoing my entire life plans for this!

Even your post Cz..



I mean..

Why not word that ... "Many of the posters at DU.."

Or ... "Some of the posters at DU"

Same with Cindy's comments actually. She grouped us all into one big mind called "DU"

A community takes pride in the achievements advanced by only some within the community. On Memorial Day of all days this should be apparent.

Likewise, a community must also take responsibility for the sentiments advanced by only some (especially when the community has recommended those statements and promoted them).

Some of the comments were sad, some were thoughful.. some were mad, somewhat bitter. Some completely understood where she was coming from, some didn't understand why she was catagorizing all into one person.

We have all sorts at DU ~~~

http://www.cosgan.de/smilie.php?wahl=2&ziel=frech

She's been dancing to the beat of her own drummer for at least a couple of years now. I'll withhold comment about whether that's good or bad- it just is.

I'm more surprised that so many would find her announcement shocking, than I am with the announcement itself, particularly in light of the fact that she has actually picketed democrats in recent months.

I wish Cindy luck in her future endeavors.

I'm not playing into this game. I'm placing my anger where it justly belongs: In OUR Corrupt Unitary Executive Branch. ;)

Dammit, focus good people? :hi:

a couple of negative comments out of thousands of supportive ones would make her issue a statement like this and name DU specifically. I know being called names isn't pleasant but in a community as large as DU there is always going to be a wide diversity of opinions. If you're going to pay attention to what people say on the internet, you at least have to go with the prevailing opinion and here at DU it has been overwhelmingly positive towards her.