Cindy Sheehan: "Why I Was Smiling and Hurricane Rita"

[understandinglife]

Why I Was Smiling and Hurricane Rita

September 27, 2005

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First of all, I was having fun. I was with a group of good-humored, cheerful, happy people. We were singing old protest songs and old Sunday school songs and clapping. I felt I had to be cheerful to set the tone. We didn't want any trouble or to do anything non-peaceful. Secondly, when I got arrested and the officers lifted me out I was afraid that America would see my underwear and that tickled me.

There is another and more important reason that I was smiling. I had not genuinely smiled since Casey was killed in Iraq. I thought my hope was buried along with my son and I was in a pit of hopeless despair. Camp Casey gave me back my hope because America came out in huge numbers to support us and they raised their voices with ours in unison to take our country back and to hold this administration accountable for the lies and mistakes that are killing tens of thousands of innocent people. There were hundreds of thousands of regular Americans who came out to protest the war and Bush's policies this past Saturday. Hundreds of faithful Americans turned out for our interfaith religious service Sunday night next to the Washington Monument. The so-called religious right doesn't have a monopoly on God. I am so pleased that the people of America are becoming active participants in Democracy and America is ready to put their money where their collective mouths are: to bring our troops home and hold BushCo accountable. It is a wonderful thing to be doing something that makes a difference and it is a wonderful and miraculous thing to have my hope back. That is why I am smiling.

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Saturday was the most important event in peace history in decades. The numbers were underreported and the wonderful energy was unreported by the mainstream media. With the MSM there will always be something more important than covering the atrocity of Iraq: Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Terry Schiavo, The Runaway Bride, etc. It is time we hold our media accountable, too. Balanced coverage of all issues and some investigative reporting would be extremely refreshing.

I am sorry for what seemed to be an insensitive remark about the people who were affected by Rita, but that was not my intention. I am very aware that the failed policies of the Bush administration have all put us in the same boat, so to speak, and we need to take responsibility for righting the wrongs here in our country and in Iraq.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cindy-sheehan/why-i-was-smiling-and-hur_b_7970.html

Suggest reading the full post.

Would be nice if DU could obtain permission from Cindy Sheehan to be able to repost her entire essays.


Peace.

[hiley]

1. Of course that is why she was smiling..

Cindy is a beautiful soul and very wise.
DU should get permission from Cindy, I agree.
recommend.

[Rex_Goodheart]

2. "seemed to be an insensitive remark"?

No, Cindy, it WAS insensitive.

[tkmorris]

3. Let it go........ (nt)

[whatever4]

7. Thank god she remains imperfectly human then nm

[tatertop]

8. she's undeniably great

[Bridget Burke]

12. This Houstonian doesn't agree.

Rita was a big story but should not have monopolized national news. We had 24/7 coverage on most local TV stations for those who needed it.

She protested against the idiot who gutted FEMA? The one who sent most of our National Guard overseas? Good for her.

[blogslut]

13. some people smile when they're uncomfortable

others giggle, some get real quiet and some panic. seriously dude, let. it. go.

[Proud_Lefty]

4. I love this lady

She's amazing.

[Mr_Spock]

5. Thanks for posting this here...

There has been much discussion about Cindy lately :D - I'm glad Cindy is participating in the conversation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Good and I actualy said, she was nervous

I was right... and nice expansion on Rita, I have said that if the media did 70% rita that saturday, 20 demonstration and 10 everything else I would have been satisfied... and the ratio for Rita, we were still in the critical phase and one role for the media is to be there during that phase

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. What makes Cindy different from Bush

is that she makes mistakes, realizes she does, and apologizes and takes responsibility for her actions.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

10. If I were being lifted

by policemen on national tv I'd laugh, too. How could you not?

You can say what you want about her, but she is a very human person.

[derby378]

11. It's on DailyKos as well

Cindy maintains a blog there and occasionally has time to chat with fellow Kossacks.

14. she probably has a good sense of humor

or maybe she is even a funny person in normal life, and you can't hide that and pretend to be someone else.

[dooner]

15. I'm a supporter of Cindy and...

I have to say I was a little uncomfortable that she was smiling when being arrested. I haven't read/heard any criticisms/comments on it. As a compassionate human I understand that Cindy was being a human too.. and that the park police were treating her very cordially and that she was nervous as I would be too. And surely there is nothing wrong with finding the humor in an absurd situation. *BUT*

Cindy has become a leader and a symbol. She's got the spotlight on her, and every step she takes is being examined.

I couldn't help thinking as I watched her arrest, would MLK be smiling/laughing in this situation? Would Gandi? I was worried about how it would be interpreted, I do not question Cindy's integrity.

I feel sorry that Cindy has this weight to bear, and is being judged by such a high standard. But unfortunately she is. And I hope those people that are closest to her can help her avoid situations that can be interpreted in ways that come back to hurt her.

In my opinion she has earned the right to be Cindy, and clearly she operates from the heart. I just don't want people to be able to hurt her because of "PR" errors.

[BiggJawn]

16. Gee....Somebody shoulda sent her to "Martyr School"

So she could look the part.

Tell me, would people be raggin' on the Dalai Lama if he was smiling as they carried him away?

Hell no, they wouldn't. We'd be hearing all the esoteric woowooerie about his "serenity" and his "detatchment from the material, common world"...

So why can't it be the same way with Cindy.

I gotta tell ya, I have a hell of a more sickening reaction to that fake-assed bullshit "concerned" scowl of Il Douche's than I do the genuine smile of Cindy sheehan...

[judy]

17. I am baffled by all this...

So, she was smiling as she was being arrested...What was she supposed to do? Cry? Look grim?
Would MLK be smiling in this situation? Would Gandhi? I don't know everything about these people, but my tendency would be to say yes. Gandhi was definitely always cheerful, and liked to go to jail, as he was spinning and being quiet there. "My prison is my palace" he said.

So why wouldn't people smile when they are arrested for something they truly believe in??

Do we have to act a certain way for "PR"? I would say no! Leave this to those who have something to hide...

dooner says "I feel sorry that Cindy has this weight to bear, and is being judged by such a high standard. But unfortunately she is."

So a high standard means you shouldn't smile? I am confused...

[MsUnderstood]

19. I think it is sad

That a woman who lost her son is being judged for a smile she released while being arrested while awaiting a conversation with the man responsible for killing her son because of "how she will be judged". . .

While the man responsible for killing her son goes down to areas devestated by his lack of action and grins and cuts up and takes away resources for photo ops and the media says "look at our president, what a guy".

If we continue to berate ourselves while the other side continues to waltz all over us then we aren't gonna get very far. . .oh wait 5 years with Bush, how far have we gotten?

[hiley]

18. Cindy will be on Hardball tonight

Video will probably be on the web soon after

[understandinglife]

21. Thank you for the info!

Peace.

[rniel]

20. I wonder if any one of us were put under a microscope

Our entire lives raked over looking for any dirt or anything said in the past that could even be taken out of context or spun to make us look bad. They can make anyone look bad if they try hard enough.