Monday, September 26, 2005
Sheehan Arrested
while protesting outside the whitehouse. Drudge makes an amusing reference to a less than PC joke in his headline about the story (What's the difference between a magician's wand and a police officer's night stick?), but what really upset me was the audacity of Sheehan and her rabble of several dozen (hardly a powerful political posse, but that's neither here nor there):
The whole world is watching what? You continue to tarnish the heroism of your sons achievements in Iraq? You continue to knowingly break the law ("Organizers had said some planned to be arrested.") and claim to be in the right even then? You continue to deny the valor of your sons actions, and others like him, as they protect the very freedoms you knowingly abuse and are arrested for?
This situation is frustrating in so many ways, because the grief of a mother is so real, so powerful. Yet we cannot pretend that it gives license to pontificate unceasingly, to break the law, and to endanger more US soldiers by aiding the very cause of the enemy.
Perhaps she isn't aware that her son's actions saved the lives of other soldiers, and that caring for the lives of men and women in harms way entails protecting and encouraging them while they fight, not denigrating their sacrifice and demanding a retreat. They know the risks of the job they have taken, and yet they choose to fight regardless, a bravery many of us knowingly lack. How difficult it must be to have to believe that today's pathetic display was what they are fighting for.
[Update:] Drudge changed his headline (Damn), but the cheeky original was "Sheehan Arrested in Cunning Stunt"...
Sheehan, 48, was the first taken into custody. She stood up and was handcuffed, then led to a police vehicle while protesters chanted, "The whole world is watching."
The whole world is watching what? You continue to tarnish the heroism of your sons achievements in Iraq? You continue to knowingly break the law ("Organizers had said some planned to be arrested.") and claim to be in the right even then? You continue to deny the valor of your sons actions, and others like him, as they protect the very freedoms you knowingly abuse and are arrested for?
This situation is frustrating in so many ways, because the grief of a mother is so real, so powerful. Yet we cannot pretend that it gives license to pontificate unceasingly, to break the law, and to endanger more US soldiers by aiding the very cause of the enemy.
Perhaps she isn't aware that her son's actions saved the lives of other soldiers, and that caring for the lives of men and women in harms way entails protecting and encouraging them while they fight, not denigrating their sacrifice and demanding a retreat. They know the risks of the job they have taken, and yet they choose to fight regardless, a bravery many of us knowingly lack. How difficult it must be to have to believe that today's pathetic display was what they are fighting for.
[Update:] Drudge changed his headline (Damn), but the cheeky original was "Sheehan Arrested in Cunning Stunt"...
Comments:
I like how you refer to "her rabble of several dozen" supporters. It effectively implies that no one supports her, while completely ignoring the 100,000+ people that came out to hear Sheehan speak at the anti-war demonstration on Saturday. Good twist!
Opinions vary but you should at least get the facts straight: about 370 protesters were arrested with Sheehan.
Opinions vary but you should at least get the facts straight: about 370 protesters were arrested with Sheehan.
# posted by 
: 6:22 PM
: 6:22 PM
I think it would be difficult to state that the 100,000 + protestors at the rally on saturday came to an "Anti-war" rally for the express purpose of hearing Cindy Sheehan. The anti-war movement is a diverse one, composed of all sorts of ideologues of varying extremity. Note, for example, the usual presence of the so-called "anarchists," their attendance at an organized war rally an irony in itself. Even amongst them there must be some who disagree, and the number is perhaps fewer who came to the rally because of Cindy Sheehan.
And further, the figure of "several dozen" is taken directly from the article which is referenced in the post:
"Sheehan and several dozen other protesters sat down on the sidewalk after marching along the pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests."
Thanks for the input anyway!
And further, the figure of "several dozen" is taken directly from the article which is referenced in the post:
"Sheehan and several dozen other protesters sat down on the sidewalk after marching along the pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests."
Thanks for the input anyway!
"Wow, look at that pine forest over there"
"I think it would be difficult to state that 100% of the trees in that forest are pines. The forest is a diverse one, composed of all sorts of trees of varying height. Note, for example, the usual presence of the so-called Black Gum tree, its presense in a pine-forest an irony in itself. Even amongst them there must be some different species of pine, and the number is perhaps fewer because of that tall tree."
Hopefully, my point is obvious.
---
I was trying to help you out with some factual information. Michael Moore was blasted for quoting a Washington Post article that tallied Bush's vacation days. It was known that the article included weekends and holidays in the overall total, yet he quoted it anyway. If you know the source you are quoting is wrong, but use it anyway because the distortion supports you're purpose, then you're no better than MM. You don't want to be like Michael Moore, do you?
My guess is 'no' so I figured you were only misinformed and would appreciate a veracious account.
Yet we cannot pretend that it gives license to pontificate unceasingly.....
It takes balls to express your opinion that others do not have 'license' to express their own opinions.
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"I think it would be difficult to state that 100% of the trees in that forest are pines. The forest is a diverse one, composed of all sorts of trees of varying height. Note, for example, the usual presence of the so-called Black Gum tree, its presense in a pine-forest an irony in itself. Even amongst them there must be some different species of pine, and the number is perhaps fewer because of that tall tree."
Hopefully, my point is obvious.
---
I was trying to help you out with some factual information. Michael Moore was blasted for quoting a Washington Post article that tallied Bush's vacation days. It was known that the article included weekends and holidays in the overall total, yet he quoted it anyway. If you know the source you are quoting is wrong, but use it anyway because the distortion supports you're purpose, then you're no better than MM. You don't want to be like Michael Moore, do you?
My guess is 'no' so I figured you were only misinformed and would appreciate a veracious account.
Yet we cannot pretend that it gives license to pontificate unceasingly.....
It takes balls to express your opinion that others do not have 'license' to express their own opinions.
# posted by : 11:36 AM
: 11:36 AM
