[Marxism] Cindy Sheehan

["Charles Brown" <cbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Celebrating Irrelevancy!
    By Cindy Sheehan
   

    Tuesday 29 August 2006

    Lying here in my motel room recovering from my 4th trip to the ER in a
little over two weeks, and two surgeries, I found out from the Waco Tribune
(Sunday, August 27) that I have become "irrelevant" to the anti-war
movement.

    At first, I was a little defensive about that statement. I didn't really
think that the article was fair, because in the last two weeks, I have been
really ill and I have spent more time in the hospital and recovering from
being in the hospital than I have not. Camp Casey has been limping along in
my absence doing some huge things (like promoting the GI Rights Hotline at
Ft. Hood and protesting Karl Rove and counter-recruitment) that haven't been
covered by the media, because the media follows "cut and run" George around
the country, not Camp Casey.

    But then I thought about being irrelevant and the implications of that.
I have worked my backside off for the last year - traveling around the world
speaking against the Iraq war and for peace and understanding. I have
endured reich-wing smears and lies about me usually reserved for those
seeking political office. I have been the subject of death threats and vile
attacks on my character. I spent over ten months of the year away from my
home and three living children. Being irrelevant can have its perks!

    Why did I work myself almost to death, literally? Why did I endure all
of the smears and attacks? Well,to put it in the words of the Trib, I did it
to make myself irrelevant. Mission accomplished!

    The article in the Trib pointed out that since public opinion is
overwhelmingly against George Bush and the war and there is bi-partisan
criticism in Congress against Iraq, I have become less radical and less
relevant. When I sat down a year ago in a ditch close to the Bush Flying
Photo Op Ranch, I was radical. I was one of the only people in the country
calling the president and his administration liars. I was the only one
saying the words "genocide" and "impeachment." I was one of the only ones
publicly saying "illegal and immoral." Now senators, congressmen, movie
stars, rock stars, Army officers, almost two-thirds of America and 95% of
the world, etc., are saying the same things, which puts me in the middle of
a very large crowd.

    Thanks be to God for irrelevance. Now I can go home and get my strength
back, spend time with my kids, and prepare for true and lasting peace.

    Peace is the noble cause that I have been pursuing ever since Casey was
killed.

    Camp Casey will never be irrelevant as long as the military industrial
complex runs roughshod over our government and our country. We are planning
on turning Camp Casey into a haven, refuge, and sanctuary for soldiers like
Lt. Ehren Watada who oppose this war and don't want to fight it. But Camp
Casey will also be a refuge for soldiers who are far away from home who only
want a place to come and stay for a weekend or a day.

    The Camp Casey Peace Institute will also be a force for real peace. We
will give young peace activists cash awards to continue their work for
peace. We will encourage our families to think of alternatives to the
rampant militarism of our society. We will be safe harbor for soldiers who
get trapped in the vicious circle from GI Joe to flag draped coffin. Camp
Casey will be a mecca for peace in Central Texas, where the dark war lord
has his vacation home.

    Peace will never be irrelevant as long as war is used as a diplomatic
tool.

    A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders now. The anti-war
movement is strong and thriving and it no longer needs a "face." I have been
promoted to irrelevancy and am feeling pretty darn good about that
accomplishment! The Iraq war will end with or without me and our troops will
come home sooner than later. However, the war machine is already preparing
for the next war as public opinion against this one will force a change in
policy.

    I am moving on up to the peace movement. I hope one day, in my lifetime,
that war will become irrelevant.

    -------- 

    Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was KIA in Sadr
City, Iraq, on 04/04/04. She is the author of Peace Mom
<http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=524468> , which will be
available from Atria Books on September 19, 2006. She is also founder of the
Camp Casey Peace Institute and the mother of three living children: Carly,
Andy and Janey.

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