Open letter to Prez Obama from Cindy Sheehan

[G_j]

Open letter to Prez Obama from Cindy Sheehan
February 17, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Recently, your Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, said that the DoD would be "re-evaluating" the blockade on the press taking photos of the returning flag-draped coffins from the illegal and immoral occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.


In 1991, George H.W. Bush signed an executive order banning those photos and early on in George W. Bush's War OF Terror, his mother, and the wife of the 41st president, Barbara, agreed with that order saying that she did not want to "bother her pretty mind" with the images.

President Obama, first of all, you do not need to have the DoD "re-evaluate" that order. In the transparent Republic that you claim to seek, the Department of War should never get to pick and choose what the members of that transparent Republic see. That seems like military tyranny to me. You can sign an Executive Order reversing the one that the first President Bush signed during the First Gulf War.


Secondly, as a mother whose pretty mind was not only "bothered" but whose heart was torn to pieces on April 04, 2004, by the news that my family would be receiving our dear Casey in one of those flag-draped coffins, I implore you to lift the ban on the images.


The order was put in place 18 years ago to remove the costs of war as far away from the average American as possible. Only a relative few American families have had to bear the burden of these fiascoes in the 21st Century (although 100% of Iraqi families have) and if there are conflicts going on where American flesh and blood is being slaughtered (with which I wholeheartedly disagree), then the entire country should be required to share that sacrifice.


I think there should be a "war tax" levied against every American when there is a conflict to help pay for it. In my opinion, if there is a valid, Constitutionally declared war for defensive purposes, then there should be a universal draft (no exemptions or exceptions) with the children of Congress-members and Presidents being the first to be drafted. I think CEO's and other executives of companies that profit off of war should have their salaries reduced to that of the Infantry during times of war and their children should be second in line for a draft. My proposals are designed to make war obsolete, but at the very least, Americans should be able to see the devastating images of the flag draped coffins.


Taking photographs of the coffins does not violate any kind of privacy, because when the coffins are at Dover AFB, the remains are anonymous. If the families wish privacy when the loved one returns home, that is the family's prerogative.


President Obama, I have a shirt with my son's picture on it and the dates of his birth and death. When he was first killed in April 2004, I would wear it and many strangers would ask me who was in the picture and what happened to him.


I would say: "This is my son, Casey, and he was killed in the war." I cannot tell you how many times the next question was, "What war?" The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are waged on lies, but that there is little to no shared sacrifice is a national disgrace. Yes, removing the ban is a political ploy, but so was instituting it.
If more Americans shared in the grief, then maybe more Americans would protest the cause for that grief?

Bringing our needlessly dead children home under the shadow of secrecy exploits their sense of honor, even if the wars and the reasons for secrecy are ignoble.


Bring our troops home immediately and/or lift the ban.


Sincerely,

Cindy Sheehan
Gold Star Mother and President of Gold Star Families for Peace

[EmilyAnne]

1. This line really hits home.

"The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are waged on lies, but that there is little to no shared sacrifice is a national disgrace."

So true.

[NeedleCast]

2. In my opinion

"I think there should be a "war tax" levied against every American when there is a conflict to help pay for it. In my opinion, if there is a valid, Constitutionally declared war for defensive purposes, then there should be a universal draft (no exemptions or exceptions) with the children of Congress-members and Presidents being the first to be drafted. I think CEO's and other executives of companies that profit off of war should have their salaries reduced to that of the Infantry during times of war and their children should be second in line for a draft. My proposals are designed to make war obsolete, but at the very least, Americans should be able to see the devastating images of the flag draped coffins."

That's pretty fucking insane.

Why does Cinday always feel the need to include some crack-pot lunacy in what is otherwise a pretty darn good idea?

[Hydrazine]

9. Constitutionally declared war...

If that happened, there would be a draft. But there have been no Constitutionally declared wars since the 1940's.

[NeedleCast]

10. SO why punish the children of congress critters?

Make them first in line for a draft because of the occupation of their parent? That's insane.

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. I'm with you on that one

To be a citizen of this country and to be treated UNEQUALLY due to the occupation of one's parents is a travesty and I'm embarrassed for Cindy for making such an asinine and anti-Constitutional suggestion.

[NeedleCast]

13. That's why she drives me so nuts sometimes

I know she means well and overall, I think it's a good idea. The public is rarely reminded of the cost of war unless they go looking for it. I can understand not wanting to make flag-draped coffins into a media circus, but maybe that's what it'll take for the chicken hawks to wake up (doubtful though, they're notorious for resistance in change to their world view).

Just seems Cindy is determined to invalidate herself by adding that sort of bizarre thing to what is otherwise (I think) a good idea.

[G_j]

17. I don't think it's bizarre at all, I just don't agree on that point.

there are many who agree with her and want a draft, believing it to be fair.

Personally, I think the military should be a lot smaller.

[EFerrari]

21. It would be more embarrassing to miss her point, which is that

the political elite and their families are completely insulated while the poorest kids in the country pay with their lives for their dumbfuckery.

[Cronus Protagonist]

28. I doubt anyone here on DU missed that point

And I don't know why you would think they would.

[G_j]

14. I'm dead against a draft, so I agree with you. nt

[Greyhound]

35. Are you really this stupid or is it just the smell of stirred shit that turns you on?

This and the idea of business leader's spawn being next in line, would ensure that we saw an end to war.

[truedelphi]

11. Why is it crackpot lunacy to ask that those who are

In the very positions that benefit from our wars for profit have exposure to those wars?

Of course, I would prefer it if the CEO's themselves have to enlist whenever there was a war. Rather than their kids (Some of my most anti-war friends were kids from families of Generals, and war profiteering companies.) Not sure that the kids should pay for the sins of the fathers.

[NeedleCast]

16. I'm more talking about making someone's kids first in line for a draft

based on their occupation.

Why is that any sort of sane? Why would punishing the children of people working a certain occupation make any sense? How is it non-discriminatory? Cindy wants to do this even for a legitimate, declared war.

How far are you willing to take the CEO thing? Are we talking about just the major contractors or any CEO of any company in any way involved with military contracts? Theres a thousand small businesses out there that do things like make plates for body armor or make lug nuts for army trucks or manufacture the paper that military buys to distribute pay stubs. So which government contractors do we force down to E-1 salary and who gets a break?

It's simply a ridiculous idea.

[Winterblues]

18. Why do you think putting a price on declaring war is ridiculous?

The Price if you want a war is to send your child first. I think that is an excellent idea. If that happened to be the case I would imagine very few wars would be started. It isn't just any profession that gets singled out but those that make the decision to go to war. Do you doubt that would have an affect on their decision? When there is no personal consequence it is quite easy to decide to send other people's children off to die. In fact not only is there now no consequence but there seems to be huge rewards for those that choose war. War Profiteering has become their mainstay..

[NeedleCast]

24. Yes

Part of the job of congress is to declare war when they feel it neccessary. That should not come with the attached stigma of "fine, but your kid goes first" when it comes to defending the country. I have no idea in what sane world we punish children for the occupation of their parents. It's the same as saying "Hey, if you're going to be a drug dealer, we're going to lock up your children!" It's as stupid as saying "if you work for Boeing or Lockheed or Halliburton, no matter in what capacity, your kids get drafted first." Fuck that tyranny!

Moreover, if we NEEDED to go to war, it might cause people congress critters to hesitate, and that's even worse.

And, the punishment is applied unequally. What about congress critters who don't have children or who's children are not of military age? Maybe we should get Obama's daughters fitted for some desert BDUs?

I can't believe anyone would defend that sort of idiocy.

[EFerrari]

20. There is nothing insane about spreading the cost of war to the warmongers.

What happens now is crackpot lunacy.

[bvar22]

29. Actually makes a lot of sense.

She explains herself here:
"My proposals are designed to make war obsolete,"

If the people who profited from WAR were made to share the expense, we would have no "Elective Wars".
Tax Cuts for the War Profiteers is certainly NOT the way to go.
We end up with what we have now....Endless Wars.

[NeedleCast]

30. Its the means to the end

Punishing a person's children based on their occupation is wrong.

The easiest way to end all war is to kill everyone...

[bvar22]

33. Whose children do you propose they should punish?

?

[rvablue]

3. She is one of many, many mothers ......a broad section should be asked and listened to before

Gates and Obama make their decision.

I think the ban should be lifted, but then again, I haven't had any family members serve in any of these wars, so frankly, my opinion doesn't really matter.

[Captain Hilts]

26. I've been roasted for saying the same in another thread. It's not the Pentagon or Obama's decision.

Or shouldn't be. Take a vote from the families of those that have been killed.

I've talked to families at Bethesda Naval with all views. There is no ONE view on this and the views of those that shout the loudest or win the talk-to-the-president lottery should not be worth more.

It's not my issue.

[bdab1973]

4. I have personally flown some of these kids home...

and no one on my crew took any photos out of respect for the dead. It had nothing to do with "privacy". Flying these guys home is a big deal, and it just seems...cheap...to be snapping away with a camera.

[indygowoman]

5. The idea of snapping pics isn't done to be tabloid-esque

It's to show the true cost of war. We don't see that, therefore the outrage isn't really there.

[bdab1973]

6. I wouldn't allow the press on my airplane anyways...

It's not about politics at that point.

[EFerrari]

22. Beyond politics and out of respect, these soldiers homecoming could be recorded.

Not by the commercial media. We should do it and do it right and the pictures should run on frontpages.

[mdmc]

7. usa!

[Hydrazine]

8. Prosecute Bush for Murder

Your son was killed in this war based on lies. You know, Vincent Bugliosi wants to prosecute Bush for murder at the state level. Why don't you meet with prosecutors and see if one of them is willing to take the case. I am sure there are other family members of soldiers that died in this war that will support that.

[Akoto]

15. No exemptions or exceptions, Cindy?

Gee. I guess I need to get some new wheels on my bed, seeing as I can't get out of it most of the time. Better stock up on my pills, too. Not everybody of draft age is suitable for military service.

[earth mom]

19. Go Cindy! Bring back the draft & let the rich & privileged & politicians kids go first!

Cindy: :yourock:

[NeedleCast]

25. Yes, punishing children

for the actions of their parents is a super idea!

[earth mom]

32. NO-let the rich get a taste of what it means to lose their children. Instead of letting the poor

fight their wars FOR them.

Interesting how you would defend the rich & privileged or politicians whom everyone knows RARELY allow their children to go fight the wars-that they start. :puke:

[deaniac21]

23. Cindy proves, once again, that she is a mental GIANT!!!

[Captain Hilts]

27. One woman's view.

And I respect it. But she doesn't speak for all.

[bvar22]

31. She doesn't speak for those who profit from elective wars,

....but she speaks for me.

[Captain Hilts]

34. So, when was your child killed in Iraq/Afghanistan? nt

[Mira]

36. Tearfully Kicked and Recommended. I think it is so stalwart that Cindy does not give up.