I wanted to get some people's feelings on this subject, on regards to Cindy Sheehan, the largely liberal actions around her, and what should be the anarchist response.
Firstly, Cindy Sheehan is the mother of a US soldier that died in Iraq earlier this year. She met with Bush earlier, but now is requesting that she meet with Bush again to ask him why her son died, and why he lied on various occasions in regards to the Iraq war. She has called the Iraq war "imperialist", and is now camped out in front of GW's Texas ranch, and is joined by many other parents of killed daughters and sons.
The media picked up on the story, and there has been a media story around it, and the President has been shown in a light of an spitful asshole, not caring about a mothers feelings in regards to her son.
In response to Cindy wanting to meet with the President, many groups around the country (just take a look at www.indymedia.us), have come out to hold "Support Cindy" demos, and have also taken up her request, asking Bush to "Meet with Cindy".
When I learned that the "Central Valley Democratic Group" was planning such a rally, I was conflicted as to if I should go or not. Of course I feel sympathy for Cindy, I also want her to meet with the President because I think it would be good for her, and I also appricaite the bad media the President and war is getting. However, I don't think that meeting with the President will do anything, nor will it slow down the war. If anything it will just harder the anti-war feelings of various people.
So, what should the anarchist response be? Did anyone go out to a "Support Cindy" rally, what are people's feelings?
Firstly, Cindy Sheehan is the mother of a US soldier that died in Iraq earlier this year. She met with Bush earlier, but now is requesting that she meet with Bush again to ask him why her son died, and why he lied on various occasions in regards to the Iraq war. She has called the Iraq war "imperialist", and is now camped out in front of GW's Texas ranch, and is joined by many other parents of killed daughters and sons.
The media picked up on the story, and there has been a media story around it, and the President has been shown in a light of an spitful asshole, not caring about a mothers feelings in regards to her son.
In response to Cindy wanting to meet with the President, many groups around the country (just take a look at www.indymedia.us), have come out to hold "Support Cindy" demos, and have also taken up her request, asking Bush to "Meet with Cindy".
When I learned that the "Central Valley Democratic Group" was planning such a rally, I was conflicted as to if I should go or not. Of course I feel sympathy for Cindy, I also want her to meet with the President because I think it would be good for her, and I also appricaite the bad media the President and war is getting. However, I don't think that meeting with the President will do anything, nor will it slow down the war. If anything it will just harder the anti-war feelings of various people.
So, what should the anarchist response be? Did anyone go out to a "Support Cindy" rally, what are people's feelings?



Comments
If it has been a pro-war mother who was proud to have sacrificed her son, Bush not only would have met with her personally, he'd have held a press conference and promenaded her around before the media. I personally wish I could go to one of the vigils, because if anything, this shows us what's really at stake in this war...human lives.
But the more people that show up, the better. Not only for support, but to have another chance to show the people that are still pro-war, and the people that are still sending their children into war, that they are fighting for an apathetic fucker.
the last antiwar cry i want to hear is that of "oh our poor soldiers", my sympathy lies much more with the victims of "our" soldiers
Burritos!
When do we want them?
Now!
last i checked, the military was not compulsory
That is a pretty elitist attitude. Soldiers are proletariats. I would encourage folks to avoid the military. But realize we have an economic draft and a full system of brainwashing.
I'm certain someone helped steer you once or twice in your life, perhaps casey had different experience and didn't get the same guidance.
this woman seems to be blaming bush for her sons poor decision.
She has NEVER blamed anyone for her son joining the military. She does blame corrupt politicians for squandering her son's supreme sacrifice.
And frankly, I'm on her side.
because I don't think we should support U.S. troops...
if we did we would be just as guilty...
I'm sick of hearing soldiers who know the war is wrong but say they'll go fight if called to do so because its their job...
However, its our tax money that pays his goddamn salary...
He should do what is asked of him by the people right?
It is very heartless of him to not meet her (but then again could we expect him to have a heart?)...
And I would like to see him on the hot seat...
not only should he talk to her, but it should be live on national television...
It would bring to the fore the discussion of why are we there...
I don't think it would be wrong to join in with calling on the president to speak with her..
But I do think we need to distance ourselves from the 'No War, but Support the Troops' crowd...
Me too. But, I still think they are human beings and deserve empathy and sympathy, defacto.
I don't think it would be wrong to join in with calling on the president to speak with her..
Every pin prick in the ballon helps.
I do think we need to distance ourselves from the 'No War, but Support the Troops' crowd...
Okay. Then Cindy and Casey are a perfect illustration of what happens when you follow orders.
The U.S. can't "pull the troops out now" because Iraq would completely collapse. It would be a huge blow against the Iraqi people were this to occur. Seriously, you think it's bad there now? It would be ten times worse if there was no U.S. presence. As much as I hate the military and the country, etc. etc., this all makes valid and rational sense.
The whole support Cyndi Sheehan bit is the same stupid middle class white hippies that were the force behind so many other lame progressive democrat protests over the last few years. I went last night, mostly out of curiosity, somewhat because I respect what this woman is doing and I appreciate that she's found a way to put the cause in the headlines. It sucked. "OMG FOX NEWS! OMG DICK CHENEY! OMG BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!" *rolls eyes* I gritted my teeth when they started to sing We Shall Overcome and left in the middle of Imagine. Fucking hippies.
Our troops are a magnet for the violence. Troops kill first, protect second, and we obviously suck at the second part, presuming that is a high level aim, which I think its obviously not so.
Yeah, get our tanks off their streets.
* U.S. pulls out. This creates a civil war lasting X number of years. A military government eventually takes power. At some point after that, there are "legal elections" and we get what has been going on in Africa, parts of the Middle East, and parts of Latin America for years.
* U.S. stays until a government is formed. It's not great, but at least it's quasi-democratic. Also, the leaders, being indebted to the U.S., do whatever America tells them to do. Not a puppet government - that concept died in the late 80s imho - but certainly not good.
* U.S. pulls out, civil war, etc., and three different countries are created, one Sunni, one Shiite, one Kurdish. I doubt this would happen, but it's worth mentioning.
* U.S. pulls out, civil war, etc., and an Iranian-sponsored government takes hold of the country. That would pretty much suck.
* U.S. stays and via elections, etc., Iraq becomes a modern Islamic state. For a comparison point, see Egypt.
* U.S. stays, a government is put in power, and five years down the road there's a populist uprising and any one of these scenarios occurs.
Any others?