Cindy Sheehan: Lift Your Head

[Demeter]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/436

Cindy Sheehan: Lift Your Head

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Cindy Sheehan



Those of us who spoke out against George and his war were marginalized and demonized. Phil Donahue was fired for being too outspoken, Mrs. Joe Wilson was outed, Gen. Eric Shinseki was forced to retire, vile accusations were leveled against weapons inspectors who dared to say that Saddam had none; etc., etc. Even if we disagreed with the impending invasion, many of us were terrified to say anything or be reduced to "focus groups."

Now it appears that people are not terrified to stand up for peace and justice. I am so proud of America for not buying into the bull crap that if you oppose the illegal occupation of Iraq, then you are exactly like a "Nazi sympathizer." (Who wants to be equated with Georgie's grand pappy, Prescott Bush). It makes me proud to be an American because we are putting our bodies on the line for peace.

I have a story to share. When I was in Jordan with the peace contingent, meeting with Iraqi parliamentarians, we heard the testimony of a Sheik who is also a respected mullah in Iraq. He told us that members of the US Army broke into his house, raped his wife, beat him severely, and took him to prison where he was further tortured in compliance with George‘s barbaric and cruel policies. All of this happened in front of his teenage son. Listening to him describe his injuries and the awful treatment he received from my country, I apologized to him, weeping. No human being should treat another human being so inhumanely. He listened, then he said this: "My son's dream is to get a rifle and climb up on to a roof top and assassinate Americans. I will tell him that there are Americans like you and encourage him not to do this thing."

I am so pleased that more people are lifting up their heads to the repression and violence of our government. But it will take all of us. It will take a concerted effort by each and everyone of us to finally end the cycle of never-ending death.

We are fed up. We want our country back.

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc Casey Sheehan who was KIA in Iraq on 04/04/04. She is the author of Peace Mom available now from Atria Books.

[katinmn]

1. K&R!

[bloom]

2. kick

[MikeH]

3. K & R

[pecwae]

4. Once again Cindy speaks for me. KR nt