Cindy Sheehan: Remarks from Camp Casey (Good Friday)

A few excerpts from Cindy's afternoon remarks to the Camp Casey gathering this past Friday:



I'm called a traitor because I go to different countries that we're not at war with, that we have diplomatic relations with. Nobody called Condi a traitor when she talked to Dermot Ahern, the foreign minister of Ireland; but when I did the week after, I was called a traitor.

(Audience member: "We can call her a traitor if we want.")

Well, let's call – she’s a traitor. She is a traitor. George Bush is a traitor. George Bush leaks classfied information and says, "Euuuhhh, it's not - if I leak it, it's not classified, then." I'm a - also, besides being cute, I'm a gifted mimic.

So, we have to do this. We have to reach across the artificial boundaries that old, dead white guys drew on maps hundreds of years ago. And you guys had a beautiful song; you can't let our love of country stop at the boundaries. We should be members of the human race first, and Americans second. And it's gonna take us – members of the human race, 'cause we don’t know what race they belong to – it's gonna take us members of the human race to reach across those boundaries, to forge the bonds where we can say, "You are not killing my brother or sister. You are not killing my brother or sister in Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, wherever. Because we are united." And it's gonna take us people, because our leaders won't do it for us. And we can't wait 'til November.

Even if the Democrats take back the House, what are they gonna do? They've done nothing for us. So, it has to be – and that's what the Camp Casey movement is about; it's about the people taking our country back, taking our democracy back, and being responsible for the change, like Gandhi says – we have to be the change that we want to see.



(Cindy giving a big Camp Casey hug to ginbarn)

Cindy made these remarks at the tail end of a session where individuals were encouraged to share their ideas on how to build up the peace movement in our own communities and across the nation. A lot of people had really great ideas that I just couldn't compete with, but I took the microphone and told folks how I was now a Democratic precinct chair, and how I had this crazy idea that if our Democratic leaders would not speak out against Iraq, maybe we should take back the Democratic Party from the ground up. Cindy and the rest of the gang seemed to love this idea - they're certainly not anti-Democratic, but clearly frustrated with the inaction of many Democrats on Capitol Hill. (Earlier this year, Cindy briefly considered a primary challenge against Dianne Feinstein for her Senate seat.)

Barbara Boxer, whom I also used to admire, talked her out of running against Feinstein.

Even the ones we sometimes admire are consummate politicians. I'm pretty disgusted about everything right now.

She should have run anyway. Screw Feinstein and Boxer. But they probably would have revved up the smear machine of their own.

I know a lot of DUers will say that Cindy just wasn't ready to serve as a Senator, and they may be right, but ultimately that's someting that the voters need to decide. I think it would have been great if Cindy filed papers to run against Feinstein and actually made her sweat a little bit, even if she did wind up winning the primary.

On a personal note: ginbarn and I say Hi! How are you two doing? PM me when you can.

Rather, I call them, every last one of them, heroes! I suggest that history shall vindicate me...

I love you all!

Thanks, acmejack. I can't wait for proud2Belib to share her report with us (if she hasn't already) - she's at Camp Casey for the long haul.

:)

I thought it was awful sweet, myself.

Rev. Lowrey yesterday. Watch it - absolutely wonderful!

I'm interested!

First one on the page.

http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm