Progressive American Jewish group, Tikkun, invited Cindy Sheehan to speak at its Yom Kippur synagogue service. Rabbi Michael Lerner has written about the experience and offers insights into Sheehan's strength and honesty (no link available):
"...Cindy was accused of having said in an email (the authorship of which she denies) that her son had died for Israel. The implication was that because some Jewish neo-cons in the Defense Department had been big advocates for this war, along with Ariel Sharon and his supporters in AIPAC in this country, that this was somehow a Jewish war.
"The very first thing Cindy said was that she had heard about these accusations and that they were false. She does not blame the Jewish people and she does not blame Israel for the war in Iraq. Instead, she said, it would be ludicrous to do that, just as it would be ludicrous, she said, to blame the English people for the war just because their leader Tony Blair had been a big advocate for it. Cindy told me privately that she was aware that 78% of Jews had voted for Gore in 2000 and for Kerry in 2004, and that if the rest of the country had voted the way the Jews vote that there never would have been a war in Iraq.
"Instead, she insisted, it was very clear who deserved blame for the war: Bush, Cheney, the Republicans, and the many Congressional Democrats who supported the war originally as well as many who continue to support it by voting for authorizations whenever asked for by President Bush, plus Halliburton Corporation and other war profiteers. It was these, not the Jews, and not Israel, who deserve criticism.
"During the question and answer period that followed her talk she was asked if she would unequivocally denounce David Duke, the Nazi who had apparently invoked her name and supported her on his website. Cindy responded simply and unequivocally that she had never authorized her name to be used in conjunction with Duke, that he was in fact a racist and anti-Semite and that she wanted to have nothing to do with such people, and that she completely rejected him and his message."
Sheehan's critics can smear and defame her as much as they like. She's an inspiring figure at the forefront of a new American movement.
"...Cindy was accused of having said in an email (the authorship of which she denies) that her son had died for Israel. The implication was that because some Jewish neo-cons in the Defense Department had been big advocates for this war, along with Ariel Sharon and his supporters in AIPAC in this country, that this was somehow a Jewish war.
"The very first thing Cindy said was that she had heard about these accusations and that they were false. She does not blame the Jewish people and she does not blame Israel for the war in Iraq. Instead, she said, it would be ludicrous to do that, just as it would be ludicrous, she said, to blame the English people for the war just because their leader Tony Blair had been a big advocate for it. Cindy told me privately that she was aware that 78% of Jews had voted for Gore in 2000 and for Kerry in 2004, and that if the rest of the country had voted the way the Jews vote that there never would have been a war in Iraq.
"Instead, she insisted, it was very clear who deserved blame for the war: Bush, Cheney, the Republicans, and the many Congressional Democrats who supported the war originally as well as many who continue to support it by voting for authorizations whenever asked for by President Bush, plus Halliburton Corporation and other war profiteers. It was these, not the Jews, and not Israel, who deserve criticism.
"During the question and answer period that followed her talk she was asked if she would unequivocally denounce David Duke, the Nazi who had apparently invoked her name and supported her on his website. Cindy responded simply and unequivocally that she had never authorized her name to be used in conjunction with Duke, that he was in fact a racist and anti-Semite and that she wanted to have nothing to do with such people, and that she completely rejected him and his message."
Sheehan's critics can smear and defame her as much as they like. She's an inspiring figure at the forefront of a new American movement.
5 Comments:
The reason the MSM even started paying attention to Cindy was because they did not have a choice. She was camped out in Crawford and they saw her every day coming to and fro from repeating the daily Bushit as News.
The Police moved her off the side of the road and into the ditch beside it. Word on the internet spread and a few People of Peace came. Some to lend a kind word, some to join her. Crawford Peace House which was on the verge of having the telephone cut off due to lack of funds started receiving donations. Mostly in small denominations of 5 and 10 dollars, like my wife and I sent. She started to receive some attention from the MSM. Bush supporters full of hate came by in the middle of the night and roared up and down the road with horns blaring. She and others stayed. The Police brought the Health Inspector in an effort to close the camp down. They failed to find any violations. The local government discussed ways to close down the camp. With harassment increasing she stayed. A man of hate and violence shot rounds into the air in an attempt to intimidate. She stayed. Coverage grew. More and more People of Peace came. Another man filled with violence, in the middle of the night chained a bar on the rear of his pick-up and mowed down the crosses and Star of David set up by the People of Peace. Discussion in the Camp was of leaving to averting violence. A kindly soul and brother of the man who shot in the air offered his land to the encampment, which was gratefully accepted.
As the News spread on the internet and TV the size of her supporters continued to grow. Thousands of dollars poured into the Crawford Peace House. Over the time she was there thousands came to lend their support. A Inter-Faith service was held attended by 2,000.In A Nation-wide vigil of support Tens of thousands held a candle light vigil in support.
Bush supporters came. Most bussed in by a Republican Political Action Committee. With signs like "Kick Their Ass And Take Their Gas" the moral abyss that they wallow in was made clear. A few of the more fanatic ones stepped out of line and were arrested. As far as I know, not one of the People of Peace were arrested. The personal attacks mounted on TV and the internet. Outright falsehoods and misquotes were attributed to her. The hate filled right even called her a grief pimp. This from people who never fail to follow their Glorious Leader's call to any action, including the wholesale slaughters of their fellow humans as long as he invokes the grief of 911. The attacks mounted. She stayed and more people came. Bush feeling the pressure took his vacation on the road. She stayed. Even among death threats. She stayed.
She did indeed re-energize the Anti-War movement just when it needed it. Bush made a huge mistake in not coming to her and offering a little tea and sympathy. The cost of arrogance only mounts.
Her presence is still felt worldwide. So much so that even half way around the world people still write about her, and hate filled people call her horrific names. While the people in the forefront may change, I and others will never forget the Mother who stood in the face of great adversity and cried out to the world, NOT ONE MORE MOTHER'S SON!
Peace. Your fellow Human
Funny how you support every palestinian mother's son's right to blow themselves up as long as they kill as many Jews as possible.
Just where have I said such a thing? You do not base any judgement on me based on facts and reality. All you are is a person filled with such hate for humanity that you are blinded. You are a very sick person. I urge you to get professional help as soon as possible.
Some links to help you http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/
http://www.mentalhealthvic.org.au
http://www.aasw.asn.au
Peace. Your Fellow Human
Funny how you begin to repeat yourself. You are naught but a hate nonger. Avail yourself, the beam is blinding.
addamo-01 No, I really mean he needs help. Anybody who dares to disagree with him is labeled very hate-filled names. He has what is called a persecution complex. It comes from a feeling of being powerless. I offer the links sincerely. Peace. your fellow Human
Post a Comment
<< Home