History's Garbage Dump - TANSTAAFL

Cindy Sheehan is camped out on a dusty road in Texas, slowly parboiling her brain in the heat of a Texas summer. She seeks, no, demands, an audience with the most powerful national leader on the planet. An audience that she has already had. Cindy Sheehan's son, SPC Casey A. Sheehan, died in action in Iraq. I didn't know the man. What I know about him is that he was a volunteer, that he served our country honorably, and that he died while performing this service. I can think of no worse thing to happen to a parent than the loss of a child. That said, I have a harsh message for Ms. Sheehan: get over it.

All the men and women serving in today's U.S. military are volunteers. These men and women dedicate their lives to the protection of the United States. They do this for many reasons, but not for glory or martyrdom. Most do this quietly, without much recognition. They serve because they choose to.

All of us who do or have worn the uniform understand that, from time to time, we are required to to perform difficult or dangerous duties. We know that not all of us will return home safely. When we are young, we don't believe that anything will happen to us. As we get older, we breathe that guilty sigh of relief that it didn't happen to us. SPC Sheehan was at an age where he had some awareness of these truths.

This morning, I watched Ms. Sheehan interviewed by an MSM reporter. As a psychiatric nurse, I'll give you my snap diagnosis: Ms. Sheehan is unhinged. She has chosen to nurture her grief and turn it to destructive effort, as a pawn of those who seek the defeat and destruction of our country. Ms. Sheehan is being used in a most despicable and cynical fashion by these people. The reasons for our troops being in Iraq or, for that matter, anyplace else outside the U.S., have been endlessly debated in many forums. I will not add to that debate any more than I have previously on this site. I will instead remind Ms. Sheehan and all my other countrymen, that once embarked on a war, one must conclude it. Wars conclude with clear victory, ignoble defeat, or uneasy truces. That is the real world, not the fairy-tale land that Code Pink and other neo-hippies and '60s-era refugees seem to prefer.

I lived through the '60s and the '70s. I was on active duty 1971-74. I saw first-hand what the national debate and discord did to our war effort, our military, and our country's future. Code Pink, the neo-hippies, and the '60s-era refugees need to STFU and STFD, right NOW. We need to follow our actions to noble conclusions, for the sake of our nation's future and that of our children. One does not achieve a noble conclusion by turning tail at adversity, and surrendering one's culture and country to one's very real enemies.

Ms. Sheehan, honor your son's memory and the sacrifice he made on our behalf. Place his flag and decorations on the mantle, and celebrate the path that Casey chose.

Specialist Casey A. Sheehan, U.S. Army
29MAY79-4APR04
R.I.P., Brother


Addendum-
Drudge has a report on Cindy Sheehan's changing stories:
http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2005/08/08/20050808_141400_flash4.htm
PROTESTING SOLDIER MOM CHANGED STORY ON BUSH
Mon Aug 08 2005 10:11:07 ET

The mother of a fallen U.S. soldier who is holding a roadside peace vigil near President Bush's ranch -- has dramatically changed her account about what happened when she met the commander-in-chief last summer!

Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., who last year praised Bush for bringing her family the "gift of happiness," took to the nation's TV outlets this weekend to declare how Bush "killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity."

CINDY 2004

THE REPORTER of Vacaville, CA published an account of Cindy Sheehan's visit with the president at Fort Lewis near Seattle on June 24, 2004:

"'I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis,' Cindy said after their meeting. 'I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith.'

"The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.

"The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.

"For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.

For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.

"'That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy said."

CINDY 2005

Sheehan's current comments are a striking departure.

In an interview Sunday on CNN, she claimed Bush "acted like it was party" when she met him.

"It was -- you know, there was a lot of things said. We wanted to use the time for him to know that he killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity. And we wanted him to look at the pictures of Casey.

"He wouldn't look at the pictures of Casey. He didn't even know Casey's name. He came in the room and the very first thing he said is, 'So who are we honoring here?' He didn't even know Casey's name. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear anything about Casey. He wouldn't even call him 'him' or 'he.' He called him 'your loved one.'

Every time we tried to talk about Casey and how much we missed him, he would change the subject. And he acted like it was a party.

BLITZER: Like a party? I mean...

SHEEHAN: Yes, he came in very jovial, and like we should be happy that he, our son, died for his misguided policies. He didn't even pretend like somebody...

Developing...

In the interest of fairness, here is a link to the original Reporter article:

original Sheehan story

I stand by my commentary above.