Cindy Sheehan: And So This Is Christmas

[Hissyspit]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122506Z.shtml

And So This Is Christmas
By Cindy Sheehan
t r u t h o u t | Guest Contributor

Monday 25 December 2006

And so this is Christmas,
And what have you done?
Another year over,
A new one just begun.
- John Lennon

Today is the 21st birthday of my youngest child, Janey. It is the third birthday that she has "celebrated" since her oldest sibling, Casey, was killed in Iraq. My other son, Andy, turned 21 the year Casey was killed. Carly, my oldest daughter, turned 24 the year after Casey was killed ... the same age he was when BushCo sent him to die in their oil war for profit. In the one letter that Casey was writing three days before he was killed in the ambush that took the lives of six other soldiers, he expressed regret that he wouldn't be home for Janey's high school graduation that June. Little did we know that he would be home, buried in his "final resting place," forever.

Christmas 2006 will be the third Christmas that our family has endured since the death of Casey. The holiday season is hard for so many people as evidenced by the skyrocketing number of suicides and suicide attempts. Many people feel lonely and separated from joyous events, and the orgy of consumerism that now is the "reason for the season." Especially since Christmas 2003 was the last time we saw Casey alive, this season is so difficult for our family. Imagine getting out the boxes of Christmas decorations and pulling out your dead child's stocking or "Baby's First Christmas, 1979" ornament. Well, the Sheehan family and almost 3,000 other American families don't have to imagine the pain - we deal with the trauma 24/7; Christmas, birthdays, graduations, weddings, births, anniversaries, will never, ever, be the same for us again.

2006 was a year of ups and downs for our family and for the nation. Despite the facts, the criminal and corrupt occupation of Iraq continues unabated, and in fact - worsens on an hourly basis. Body bags are coming home from the Middle East in the dark of night at a steady clip, and our troops are being grievously wounded for no other reason than to reward the CEOs of the war profiteers with phenomenal holiday bonuses. Our children are being sacrificed like Christmas turkeys so the turkeys in the White House can strut around and posture like dictators of banana republics.

With the transfer of power in the legislative branch of Congress, our nation has a unique opportunity for true change in 2007. But with the Democratic leadership cozying up to the killers who have led our country down a path of destruction in the name of "bipartisanship" - which in this case can only be truthfully called criminal collusion - we have little hope of the change that we the people voted overwhelmingly for this past November.

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[Ken Burch]

1. Merry Christmas, Cindy. Somewhere, Casey is smiling at this...

La Lucha Continua!

[Joanne98]

2. Thankyou Cindy. That's exactly how I feel....

I thought I would be happy after we finally won one but I'm feeling betrayed already.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Happy to give the 5th R to the bravest mother among us.

MKJ

[shance]

4. Change never comes from the top down, or from the very rich. It comes from us.

We are the ones who create change.

And what an amazingly courageous example Cindy Sheehan has proven to be.

She shows how much one person can make a difference.

Happy Holidays everyone***

[Jcrowley]

6. Yes

Happy holidays shance.

K&R

[shance]

32. Thanks JC - Back atcha**

I always appreciate your insightful and thoughtful posts - a great addition to DU**

Here's to seeing better days in 2007!

:toast:

[mzmolly]

5. I think Cindy has gotten ahead of herself?

But with the Democratic leadership cozying up to the killers who have led our country down a path of destruction in the name of "bipartisanship" - which in this case can only be truthfully called criminal collusion - we have little hope of the change that we the people voted overwhelmingly for this past November.

The best holiday presents for my family, our nation and the world, would be for the troops to speedily and safely exit from Iraq and for BushCo to be held accountable for their crimes against our Constitution and humanity. These gifts, however, will not be realized unless the grassroots community who put the Democrats back in power redouble our efforts for peace and accountability.

Let's wait until we take the house before we assume Democrats are "cozying up." Additionally, it wasn't "the grass roots" that put Democrats in power, it was left and center and even some conservatives.

[The Count]

7. So far, dems are against sending new troops, right? So, I agree, I won't

pass judgement until I see the dems enabling this war, now that they have SOME power(they still are not in charge of stopping it - but can starve the beast)

[mzmolly]

8. Yes,

they have said that the people voted to see change on Iraq, and Pelosi has vowed to fight for that change.

:hi:

[pberq]

9. Kick & Nominated

[otohara]

10. Kick For Casey

thank you Cindy for your continued anti-war voice.

[femrap]

11. Let's hold the Dem's feet to the fire...

I want to believe that our Dems will abide by the will of the People.

Cindy is right...we cannot become complacent. Getting the House and Senate was Step One in a process of restoring our Democracy.

Thank you, Cindy, for your words. We will be fighting beside you.

[Irishonly]

12. Merry Christmas, Cindy

I can't help but feel that Casey is looking down on you, smiling and telling you, "You go,mom." I can't imagine the supreme sacrifice that you and thousands of other families have made. Our Christmas gift to you, all of the families of our troops and all of the young men and woman in Iraq and Afghanistan is to work tirelessly to bring them home and to make sure it never, ever happens again.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

13. Thanks for all your hard work

Keep up the spirit. We are all behind you. Merry Christmas.

[oasis]

14. The Chimp is NOT a turkey, so stop saying that. (n/t)

[cali]

15. She's jumped the shark.

I think she jumped it before this, but this accusation:

"With the transfer of power in the legislative branch of Congress, our nation has a unique opportunity for true change in 2007. But with the Democratic leadership cozying up to the killers who have led our country down a path of destruction in the name of "bipartisanship" - which in this case can only be truthfully called criminal collusion - we have little hope of the change that we the people voted overwhelmingly for this past November."

is just nutty. Accusing the new dem majority of fucking criminal collusion before the 110th has even been sworn In? That's just bullshit. And so is her message of "little hope". Sheehan has always seen things in a simple black/white way, and while that was effective initially in drawing attention to the war, it's less so now.

Sheehan is marginalizing herself with every passing day.

[Tarc]

16. She's just another attention whore

Whose 15 minutes petered out a long, long time ago. I support same-sex marriage, affirmative action, pro-choice, absolute separation of church and state, getting the troops out ASAP, and many other "liberal/leftist causes". But I am also for stricter immigration control and support gun ownership, which in the eyes of black n' white thinkers like Sheehan would likely make be out to be someone on par with David Duke.

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. Attention "WHORE" she is NOT! Maybe you should pay greater attention

to the content and context of her devotion to causes... Have your children served in a war? Have you?

[cali]

18. I want to disassociate

myself from your sentiments. Cindy Sheehan doesen't deserve to be called a whore. Doing so is callous. I don't agree with Sheehan. I don't lke the way she puts things, but I have no reason to doubt her sincerity.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tarc]

22. "black n' white thinkers"

Thank you for stepping forward to prove my point.

[iamthebandfanman]

36. lol

that person and half the people on DU

you either agree with them completely or you are scum...
where have i heard something similiar to that before...

oh yeah... you are either with us or against us!

you know, for people who dislike republicans(as i do as well) alot of people on here could be confused with them on their conduct of general hospitality and civility with others. lol.

by the way the person who responded to you acted like you called her a whore(in the sexual sense of the word). we forget there are words that can be used in other contexts i guess. lol.

i dont post much anymore, and for a reason, because some people around here would rather argue and just straight up tell you that you are stupid or become a smartass to you rather than actually have a discussion(which this forum would imply).

dont get me wrong, i think everyone on DU show a great level of intelligence...but sometimes i think people forget what they stand for you... you know.. TOLERANCE. that does apply to ideas too sometimes(as long as it doesnt directly hurt others well being).

ah well. one day people will stop acting like third graders when they hear something they dont like. until then, woohoo! its recess!
lol

[WinkyDink]

24. Like you, perhaps? Or is that what you call every citizen who raises her or his

voice for a cause, and doesn't SHUT UP just because OTHERS find that voice BORING or LOUD or BOTHERSOME?

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tarc]

30. She is a mouth, nothing more

What have I done? I and many, many others up here helped put Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter in office, sunshine. A lot of hard work went in to flipping a frequent red state into solid blue in fact, and now we have John Sununu in the crosshairs for `08. I'll gladly value the actions of many that produce tangible results over the actions of some tart who stood in a ditch near Dubya's vacation ranch house holding a placard.


As for "innocent animals", I have nothing but love for them....


...especially with a bit of A1.

[Doctor Panacea]

20. "Jumped the shark?"

Well, I am not expecting much out of this Democratic congress, either. The statements that have come out so far have not been encouraging.

I guess I am with Cindy on this. Pretty good company, too, I would add.

[cali]

25. Care to be specific?

What statements haven't been encouraging beyond the statements that impeachment is off the table? I can think of at least a dozen very encouraging statements, from such dem leaders as Waxman, Murtha, Levin, Leahy, and many others.

The Congress hasn't even been sworn in, and Sheehan is accusing the dems of criminal complicity. Screw that kind of conclusion with no basis. And yes, Sheehan has, at least for me, completely jumped the shark.

[ThirdChoice]

21. Merry Christmas...

Let's hope we find peace.

[Hissyspit]

23. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

:patriot:

[Imagevision]

26. But with the Democratic leadership cozying up to the killers...

with Dems installed to power, will we see a change?

[LittleClarkie]

27. I'll give Congress a chance. It would be nice to have them in their seats first

at the very least.

First thing that will happen: Bush will announce his plans. Then the Dems will react, badly I reckon if Bush has decided to "stay the course" or worse, escalate.

Why the hell do people think that the Foreign Relations committee have been all over the Middle East, people like Dodd and Kerry, trying to show that diplomacy could work if Bush actually knew what that was.

Give them a chance for fuck's sake. What they have to say now means little until they are in session and things begin to happen.

[Higans]

31. Surge = Escalate. The draft is next.

[ritziecracker]

29. Stay strong Cindy we LOVE ya!!!

I promise we will not let the Dems get away with anything, but what we mandated them to do!!!Bring the Troops Home&!!!Impeach Bush!!!

[Dissenting_Prole]

33. Let's all take some credit for the killing

"...our troops are being grievously wounded for no other reason than to reward the CEOs of the war profiteers with phenomenal holiday bonuses."

I don't like greedy CEOs or soulless corporations either, but we're all implicated in this.

Watching the X-mas feeding frenzy for the past couple of weeks, it seems to me that the lifestyle most of us enjoy would not be possible if somebody wasn't dying or being maimed somewhere else on the planet. Want the freedom to buy cheap plastic crap at Wal-Mart? Want the freedom to load the kids into the van and drive 400 miles to visit grandma? How about the freedom to keep the heat cranked up to 75 degrees in a 4000 square-foot house? Most of us are not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help create a more peaceful world. We should stop heaping all the blame on Exxon, General Motors and Nike as long as we continue to feed them.

Sorry for the reality-check, but sometimes there's truth in unkind words.

[cali]

34. Speak for yourself.

Many of us have made sacrifices to live a life in accordance with fundamental beliefs. I guess the only thing I want to add is that I don't think of it as sacrifice.

[deaniac21]

37. "fundamental beliefs"? ???

I'm getting suspicious!

[cali]

38. You're fucking kidding right?

Or now is the word fundamental verbotin because of fundamentalist Christians? That's just screwy.

[deaniac21]

39. Just displaying my wit....

[Tarc]

35. In general I'd agree, but...

I'm not anti-war per se, but I am definitely anti-IRAQ war. The problem with all of it is that the invasion had nothing at all to do with fighting terrorism or keeping America safe.

So yes, I value the sacrifices that our armed forces make so that the rest of us can drown ourselves in Wal-mart bliss. But invading Iraq did nothing but hurt America. Not help. Not protect.