I was reading Allison’s post and have also been following Cindy Sheehan’s story in the news. It’s interesting how people have been so polarized by this woman’s plight. Even my own discussions with my husband have ended in bitter banter. Not because he’s defending Bush or the war but mainly because he thinks she’s crazy. Not even quite crazy but he isn’t quite sure what she’s trying to accomplish. He thinks she must be crazy because even her husband is divorcing her (such a male perspective) but I read a statistic yesterday in the NYT that said that 52% of couples who lose a child have a marriage that ends in divorce.
There is someplace in me that feels like I understand. Not what she’s going through–the concept of losing a child is not something I can even get my head around and frankly when I try I also try desperately to push it out of my consciousness. I actually heard one of the conservative talk show hosts call it, “the ultimate bad day.” I was completely ashamed for him. He must not have children.
But, I went to college at the University of Michigan in the late 80’s. At that time there was a weekly protest or demonstration on whatever topic you can think of. At that time, the main focus was putting an end to apartheid. I was never quite sure at the time exactly what our end goal was–I knew with our small demonstrations we would never end apartheid but it was the idea of “collective voice” that inspired me. That if everyone around the world was doing the same thing someone had to listen, right? Apartheid did end, and I still wore that bracelet for a long lost political prisoner of it for a long time after (yes there were other support bracelets even before Lance Armstrong.) And in the end, we did feel like what we did mattered.
The war in Iraq doesn’t seem near an end. And so I’m sure now that Cindy is headed home she must be asking herself some of the same questions. What did I accomplish? Is anyone out there listening? Is Bush listening? And if he is does he care? Have I inspired “collective voice?” I would say by the response and the fact that her supporters have remained in Texas while she returns home is a testament to what she’s accomplished–leaving because her mother had a stroke. Geez, when it rains it pours! So I too will light a candle for you, Cindy—but mostly for your son. I am not a supporter of the war; I am a supporter of a free Iraqi people. My heart bleeds for all the families and friends who will never see their loved ones again. To quote George Orwell, “The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it” so maybe we should call it, let the Iraqi people continue to fight for their freedom—after all, we’ve given them a good head start haven’t we? “
Posted on August 19th, 2005 by Sam
Filed under: Uncategorized, Daily Life, Guilt and Getting Over It
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