Here's an interesting side story from Camp Casey...

[Fridays Child]

Cindy Sheehan, right, and President Bush supporter Gary Qualls of Temple, Texas hug at her camp near Crawford, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005. Qualls' son Marine LCPL. Louis W. Qualls was killed in the battle of Fallujah Nov. 14, 2004. Qualls answered an invitation from Sheehan to meet with pro-Bush parents that lost children in Iraq. Qualls was the only parent that came. (AP Photo/LM Otero)


I didn't know that Cindy invited pro-Bush gold star parents but she welcomed this guy, the only one to show up, as lovingly as she would anyone else. She's just a good person, and her detractors can't change that, no matter how hard they try.

[RetroLounge]

1. Heartbreaking. For any parent.

I respect this man for showing up and doing this.

I mourn for his son...

RL

[havocmom]

2. Yes, that man has some class. Cindy has heart.

b*sh has neither.

[Fridays Child]

4. Another photo of them embracing each other.

[havocmom]

10. Heartbreaking and strangly a sign of hope

Thanks for posting. Let us hope some on our side who are so consumed with hate also might learn that we win when we build bridges, drop rhetoric and meet heart to heart. We have more in common than our differences.

[Ladyhawk]

36. I agree. I'm ready to build bridges at this point.

I'm tired of all the hard feelings. I just WISH that certain people weren't so blind. They probably never will see the light. It's sad.

[Prodemsouth]

11. Wait a minute. They were trying to make Cindy out to be

hypocritical by demaning a meeting with her. They didn't know she would call them on it as she said she would indeed meet privately with them. While I am sorry for his loss, it is Cindy and only Cindy who has class here not the pro Bush guy.

[lostnfound]

19. He may not have had anything to do with the request for a meeting

and I think it's good that he's not shouting in her face. He has kept his humanity.

After a son dies in a war, maybe there are some parents whose worldview just can't adjust or consider the possibility that it was "in vain". Personally I don't understand it..but I'm old enough to know that I don't understand many different perspectives in life.

[poetsdream]

38. She is something!

She has shown an amazing sense of openness that is just blowing people away. She is using a very effective 'tactic': be open, honest and speak from the heart. She is displaying what a true 'christ-based' sense of love of humanity and justice is all about.

And bravo to the pro-Bush parent who showed up. What heartbreak it is to lose a child and to slowly realize it was for one man's error and arrogance. My love to you, sir!!

[steve2470]

3. She has class and is a REAL Christian in my book nt

[countmyvote4real]

5. The truth is the truth. It doesn’t take sides.

And the truth is that both these parents lost their children in a war. God bless them both.

[Toots]

29. Not just a war but an entirely needless war

That is the truth.

[countmyvote4real]

37. Yes. A totally unnecessary war.

I was on the streets against it from the beginning. Just thought I would reduce that angle a bit for the common ground of these parents with different takes on it.

[Cha]

6. I'm seeing more and more why

these neocons are afraid of Cindy Sheehan..she's like the White Light and they would be blinded.

[eleny]

7. I hope he didn't take any freeper heat

We need more of this kind of reaching across the divide. It can only happen if they also reach over like Qualls. What a sad common ground they share.

[tblue37]

30. If the Freeps attack him for meeting with her and hugging her,

it might help him to understand the difference between those who support Bush and his war of choice and those who do not.

[Scout1071]

8. Brilliant and compassionate. Cindy continues to impress.

I certainly hope this man will join her (and us).

[Fleshdancer]

9. That's a very exclusive group I wish to never join

No parent should have to bury their child. I went to Crawford today. I listened to her and others tell their stories of hell. When I got home, my hug to my daughter was a little bit tighter, a little bit longer. May I never experience something so wrong.

[riverwalker]

12. what I heard

was that the pro Bush group demanded to speak to Cindy, thinking they were being "clever" in turning it around on her request to speak to Bush. Cindy said no to the pro-bushers demand, then added she would only meet with those who have lost a child in the war. That's when this man appeared. An amazing moment.

[Just Me]

13. OMG,...so touching,...my eyes are watering.

:cry: Why do we allow this leadership to divide us when the truly important stuff matters to ALL of us?

I'm so glad they shared their common loss.

[readermostly]

17. I've got tears in my eyes, too, Just Me. They may feel differently about

this issue, but they've been able to come together to share their common grief. I'm so glad this thread with this picture was started.

[Just Me]

21. We should not be living in a country where Americans are pitted,...

,...against eachother while the profiteers benefit from such intentionally imposed division.

Have you ever watched the movie, "Hotel Rwanda"? The power-mongering, corporate-serving government INTENTIONALLY imposed HATE RADIO. We should reject that kind of hate-mongering in this country,...smash it to smithereens!!! :grr:

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Was he the man from the white truck?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4338915&mesg_id=4338915

[Fridays Child]

16. Good question.

But I don't know the answer.

[ultraist]

25. Mr. Qualls was invited by Cindy, he's not the guy from the white truck

According to the story, the guy in the white truck, just showed up and initially, no one knew who he was or what he was going to do.

BlueBear posted the info about Mr. Qualls being invited on another thread.

[Mr_Spock]

15. Can you imagine an American leader being this unselfish?

Oh yeah, Clinton always looked his opponents in the eye and worked with them. Now we have a coward President.

[Fridays Child]

20. Paul Wellstone comes to mind, too.

:(

[Just Me]

22. I expect leaders to uphold their oathes and SERVE their people!

They work FOR US, "the people".

[Mr_Spock]

23. Can you believe we're all paying the salary of a lying murderer?

Disgusts me to even think about it.

[tandot]

18. My heart goes out to all parents who had to deal with such a horrible loss

Although I don't understand how he can still support Bush, having your daughter or son killed is utterly devastating.

So many dreams and hopes lost...both of them are grief- and pain-stricken.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those people who have lost one of their loved ones in this war. Sorrow and grief transcends political disagreements.

[johnaries]

24. jobycom posted a close-up of Louis Qualls' cross in a thread on the

Greatest page:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3849351&mesg_id=3850026

Scroll down to "close-up of two crosses". The other pictures are excellent, also.

[Judi Lynn]

26. It took courage for him to do that. Glad he put politics aside.

Shows he's a much more complete person than the others. Good for Mr. Qualls, and Cindy Sheehan.

Thanks for posting this info.

[wli]

27. that's integrity n/t

[nookiemonster]

39. Yes. A very rare quality in these times.

n/t

[loverevolution]

28. Camp Casey Day 8

Cindy talks about this in her new diary-I am suprised this is not on DU...maybe someone who can will post it elsewhere as a new topic?


Camp Casey Day 8- WOW!!!
WOW!!!

It is not often that, I, Cindy Sheehan is at a loss for words. I will try and describe today, though. It was the most incredible, fantastic, fabulous, amazing, powerful, miraculous event I have ever been apart of. I was so humbled and honored at the outpouring of love and support that arrived in Camp Casey today.

It was a busy morning of interviews and problem solving. I had interviews with some network shows and a photo shoot for the Vanity Fair article. Almost all of the reporters ask me if I have accomplished anything at Camp Casey and I think we really have. We have brought the war onto the front pages of the newspapers and the top stories of the mainstream media. It is really incredible that we are doing so well in the media because I keep telling all of the reporters that I am doing their jobs. I am asking the tough questions of the President that they don’t ask.

We are also gathering people together in this country who believe that this war is a mistake and our troops should come home. I know people have been frustrated, either sitting on the fence or apathetically sitting on the sidelines. I know before Casey was killed, I didn’t think that one person could every make a difference in the world. Now I know that isn’t true. Not only can one person make a difference, but one person, with millions behind her can make history. I really believe that this movement that began in Crawford, Texas (does the irony escape anyone) is going to grow and grow and transform the world. Like I said last night in my blog: hope is blossoming in Crawford, because WE have the power.

The CBS reporter whom I met last Saturday when I began this Holy War against the War of Terrorism that George Bush is waging on the world told me that he has interviewed me 4 times this week already. He told me that he has never, ever interviewed anyone 4 times, let alone four times in one week. I was joking with the reporters that were here last week that they should have brought me flowers on our one week anniversary.

The most fantabulistic (I needed a new word, none of the old ones fit) thing happened in Crawford today. There was a very insignificant counter protesters across the way. At first the Sheriffs let them stand in the street, until we politely pointed out to the Sheriffs that we had to stay in the ditch last week. So they made them move into the ditch. Since we are supposedly in Bush country, the counter protest was so small and weak. They had signs that said "Stay the Course." I appreciated that. I really believe they were telling me to stay the course. I will.

We also met a man whose son was KIA in Iraq in November of 2004. He still loves George Bush and thinks we are doing great things in Iraq. By the end of the day we were drinking beer together and telling each other "I love you." I am telling you miracles are happening here in Crawford.

Anyway, back to the fantabulistic thing that happened to day. We had a rally downtown in Crawford. Then the people caravanned up to Camp Casey. I was told to come down to the point of the triangle to greet them. While I was walking down to the point, I had a great view of Prairie Chapel Road. There was car, after car, after car!!! I started sobbing and I felt like collapsing. The cars kept on coming. It took almost a full hour for them to all get to Camp Casey, it was a miraculous sight to see. It was identical to Field of Dreams. People came from all over the country to be here. We are building a movement and they are coming.

We don’t have a full count of all the people who were there, but I would say hundreds. It was amazing and awesome. I felt the spirits of all of our needlessly killed loved ones in the presence of Camp Casey. I felt their strength and the wisdom of the ages with me in that wonderful place.

Today was George Bush’s accountability moment, and he lost. Two young ladies from San Diego drove all night to get to the rally and they had to leave tonight to get back home. One of them said: "Wow, we can drive all the way from San Diego just to meet you and he can’t even come down to the end of his driveway to meet with you."

George Bush: you work for me. I pay your salary. Come out and talk to me. Anyway, I have a feeling you are about to be fired!!!

[tblue37]

31. One point of disagreement:

This war was not a "mistake"--it was a crime.

[ultraist]

32. Thanks loverevolution!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

Do you have a link to that diary? I'd like to keep my eye on it. ;)

[faithnotgreed]

33. DAY 8 great hearing directly from cindy - thank you~~~

[kitkat65]

34. His expression is quite telling - he looks totally surprised as if he

expected one thing and got something completely different.

[For PaisAn]

35. Very touching and heartbreaking.

Some parents can't handle the fact that their child died in vain and some parents are able to face the truth. In the end they're simply 2 greiving parents.