The Anti-War Movement? By Cindy Sheehan

[MelissaB]

The Anti-War Movement?

By Cindy Sheehan

04/07/06 -- Being a so-called anti-war movement leader (at least to the MSM), brings much responsibility and so much love for the people and the groups who are working hard to end this insane occupation, but is this enough?

Recently, a blog written by an aquaintance, Scott Ritter, on AlterNet was called to my attention, where Scott, who is a self-proclaimed Republican, conservative who courageously opposed this war from the beginning, is predicting the eminent demise of the anti-war movement.

At first, I was highly offended and defensive at what I thought was Scott's arrogant attack on the movement that I am so intimately and overwhelmingly involved in. But then after my knee-jerk reaction, I realized that for all of the wrong reasons, Scott was partially correct.

The anti-war movement is not on the "verge of collapse" because we are not organized, or because we don't take a "warriors" view of attacking the neocons and the war machine using the tactics of Napoleon, or Sun Tzu—but because the two-thirds of Americans who philosophically agree that the war is wrong, BushCo lied, and the troops should come home, will not get off of their collective, complacent, and comfortable behinds to demonstrate their dissent with our government. Some, like Casey and almost 2400 other Americans and their families give all, while some, like the people of Iraq, have everything stolen from them by unlawful war; some, like myself, give a lot; some give some, by writing letters, attending an occasional vigil or march; but the majority of Americans give nothing—except an occasional vote, which we all know counts practically for nothing with our electoral process being so corrupted and almost rendered meaningless by paperless voting machine, no instant run-offs, and exploitation of the religious right by such contrived issues as gay marriage and teaching evolution in our public schools.


More: http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=8410

[derby378]

1. Not guilty - I'm a Camp Casey veteran, too

And I plan on being there again on Easter weekend, too. I stand with Cindy.

[knitter4democracy]

7. Thank you.

If I could be there, I would. I am trying to figure out how we can make a difference here and get the word out.

[Anita Garcia]

10. We'll be there!

And some other DU and Casey alum, as well!
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x887201>

[Spoonerian]

2. I love Cindy Sheehan.

She speaks truth to power. And by power I don't mean the Bush Crime Family, nor do I mean their Democratic enablers like Hillary, Feinstein, and Biden. I mean the American voters. They're the ones that put Hillary, Feinstein, and Biden into power--who, in turn, feed the military industrial complex:

From Cindy's article:

"We are not just outsourcing our torture to other countries or paying private mercenary contractors to do it: by sitting on our duffs and allowing the torturing to continue: we are the torturers. We are the subhuman beings who put the black masks on our victims, water board them, or do other inhumane and despicable acts on fellow human beings.

"By writing to our elected officials and complaining about this or that, but by not voting our consciences and allowing ourselves to panic and vote for a party when we know that both parties (except for a few notable exceptions in all parties) have been bobble-headed, rubberstamp tools for the Bush Regime. We are electing people who do not have our best interests at heart, but who vote to fund more money for war and killing and absolve themselves of the responsibility by saying that "they were tricked." We should vote for people who want war to end and did not vote against America by giving George the keys to operate the war machine when they knew he was irresponsible, no matter what party affiliation they claim."

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[guruoo]

4. Try less Abbie Hoffman, more Sun Tzu...

IMHO.

"It's like guerrilla warfare. If you reveal your location, all it does is allow your opponent to improve his artillery bearings. It's better to move quietly, with stealth, under cover of night. You've got two choices: You can wear cammies and shimmy along on your belly, or you can put on a red coat and stand up for everyone to see. It comes down to whether you want to be the British army in the Revolutionary War or the Viet Cong. History tells us which tactic was more effective."
-- Ralph Reed, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1992

[Kailassa]

5. Help her. She's just one little woman, trying to do what she can.

I'm sure you're right, but I wouldn't know how to put that little bit of theory into practice.

Perhaps you could meet with the people involved and help them work on tactics.

[MelissaB]

6. snip

There are several opportunities for us to band together and show the illegitimate leaders of our country that we mean business.

This April 12th to the 16th, even though George and family won't be coming to Crawford to celebrate Easter for the first time in years, we will be. We will be gathering at Camp Casey in support of our troops by calling for them to be withdrawn and brought back to their families as healthy and wholly as possible. As usual, everyone is invited down to Camp Casey and can get more information at www.GSFP.org

Also, on April 29th, UFPJ is calling for a massive gathering in NYC to protest the war. I am issuing an invitation to everyone who is personally affected by this war, which is every last person in this country, to come out and visibly show this administration that you don't want to be abused by them anymore.

Yes Scott, the anti-war movement is collapsing into a Peace movement. We won't use the tactics of Napoleon, or your hero, Sun Tzu, we will use the tactics of our heroes: Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nothing is gained by war, warlike tactics, or warriors, but destruction.

Nothing is gained by doing nothing, either. Do something.

[dogday]

8. This Easter my Son is in Iraq

I am going to try to make it to Camp Casey... I support Cindy, she has guts.....

[cassiepriam]

9. Yes, it is obvious the American people must bear a great deal

of responsibility for the evil done in our name.

Nothing, but nothing seems to matter to the American people.
Even if the public opinion polls are down, that will be the end of
it. Nothing will be done.