Sheehan & the Exploitation Charge

[FreedomAngel82]

Link: www.DailyKos.com

<Sheehan & the Exploitation Charge
by SusanG
Wed Aug 17th, 2005

One of the oddest accusations to come out of the Sheehan phenomenon
is that this mother is "exploiting" her son's death and her own
grief. I've thought about this for a couple of days, and the illogic
of this argument is not settling down. In fact, it's becoming more
crazy-making the more I think about it.

The logic (if you can call it that) in this "exploitation" argument
is thus: If a tragedy befalls an individual and the individual
decides to devote every action of her being to ensuring no other
human being suffers this same tragedy, she's.... exploiting? Huh?

By this analysis, Christopher Reeve was "exploiting" his injury by
advocating for cures for spinal injuries. MADD members
are "exploiting" the deaths of their children by pushing for stronger
punishments and deterrents of drunk drivers. The Susan G. Komen
Foundation is "exploiting" a sister's death by raising money for
breast cancer research through its highly successful Race for the
Cure series. And so on. You get the drift.

Conversely, it's always represented to me the height of maturity and
courage to be able to take a private grief and turn it into something
public, something bigger, something more heroic and true than a
personal, massive sorrow. I know that I simply will not be able to
survive the death of one of my children in any sort of shape that
will allow me to become a spokesperson for a cause, no matter how
righteous that cause is. As it is, I have trouble sustaining
discipline and energy for something as straightforward as blogging a
couple of times a week. If one of my kids goes, I assure you that I
will crawl into a corner of the universe and emotionally die. You
will not hear from me again; I know this well because for 16 years
I've had a child living on the edge of this life-death deal with a
congenital heart defect and numerous (mostly unsuccessful) surgical
interventions. Sorry, I've looked into my soul and I cower in the
dark of night. You won't find me as a poster woman for the American
Heart Association any time soon. Just breathing will be considered a
victory.>

[Child_Of_Isis]

1. This is a heavy statement..

"I know that I simply will not be able to
survive the death of one of my children in any sort of shape that
will allow me to become a spokesperson for a cause". And " If one of my kids goes, I assure you that I
will crawl into a corner of the universe and emotionally die"

Same here. Can you imagine the strength that it is taking to do what Cindy is doing? It has to be coming from something bigger than all of us.

[jedicord]

2. Local radio talk show host Pat Gray yesterday morning...

said something to this effect: "I felt bad for her a year ago when her son died. Now I just feel ashamed for her - it's been over a year!"

I said this yesterday - does grief for a dead child have a shelf life?

And trust me, if my son (Gawd forbid) were to die before I do, first would come the tears, then would come the anger. That's the way grief works - in stages.

[Child_Of_Isis]

3. "over a year"

That is so sickening I could puke.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Me too!

:puke:

[pecwae]

4. Anyone who has not walked

that path, the lose of a child, just cannot imagine. The lose of a child isn't like a virus that must run its course to 'get over.' The people who say those things are not thinking with their hearts.

I alawys thought I would kill someone who hurt my child; that's how I imagined myself reacting. When I actually lost my child seven years ago my reaction was entirely different.

It's a lose that never leaves; the edges only soften over the years. Time does not heal all wounds. I stand in awe of Cindy Sheehan.

[jedicord]

14. My heart is with you...

My worst nightmare has happened to you. I am literally in tears.


:grouphug:

On Edit: Welcome to DU - we can be grouches, but love each other no matter what. You'll like it here.:hi:

[zbdent]

6. He should ask the Schindlers this in a year

if they've "gotten over it" . . .

[zbdent]

8. Maybe this turdsucker should ask the freepers if they've gotten over

Ted Kennedy's midnight swim . . .

[underpants]

10. Some people aren't allowed to "Get on with their life"

I guess.

It cost Ted the Presidency, most likely.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. It is disgusting

Ugh. These people are "compassionate conservatives"?

[Ian David]

5. Just ask if we should re-insert Cindy's feeding tube. n/t

[underpants]

9. Has W (et al) exploited anything? 9/11?-how many times?

The war itself? -the midterm elections

Anything at all?

[flyarm]

12. * exploiting jesus because he was a coke fiend and drunk!! n/t

[BoneDaddy]

13. Interesting point

Would we level the same charge at John Walsh, voice of America's most wanted? or Megan Kanka's mother whose child was killed by a pedophile as exploiting their children's deaths?

No, we wouldnt. It just so happens the accountable people in this situation are BushCo.

[plcdude]

15. excellent

statement. I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for writing this.

[merh]

16. Don't forget about that Lance Armstrong, exploiting himself and

his illness to bilk money out of folks for cancer research! :sarcasm:

The freepers are a sick bunch of desperate fools. :argh: