War Gets Personal in Crawford

"I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars." E. M. Forster

Cindy Sheehan is mounting a legal, nonviolent antiwar protest outside the president's Crawford, Texas ranch while he's there on vacation. It's garnered national attention and catalyzed thousands of similar protests around the country. Mrs. Sheehan's actual group of grieving parents is of fairly modest proportions. But their supporters, and those opposed to the protest are growing in number, causing some traffic jams in the area.

So what's the local response to this "inconvenience" posed by Cindy Sheehan's protest? Residents lean on their horns and shout, "GO HOME!" One man was arrested for mowing down hundreds of memorial crosses commemorating the deaths of soldiers in Iraq. Another fired shotgun blasts in the air. Still others are organizing a petition to run Mrs. Sheehan and her supporters out of town.

Because of Traffic Jams?? What is WRONG with these people?? There's more traffic after any one high school football game in every Texas town than on all the days Mrs. Sheehan has been in Crawford put together. Citizens of Crawford have to deal with mile long motorcades, hundreds of press vans and a wide variety of protesters every single time Mr. Bush is in residence at his ranch. Which, by the way, for this president is a hell of a lot.

Yet now many are whining about the safety of their children with so many protesters around. Hello?? Cindy Sheehan and her tragic colleagues are protesting the deaths of their own children. These people need to remember how LUCKY they are to have living, breathing children. Local parents should be joining Mrs. Sheehan's group, not scorning them.

Frankly, as far as I'm concerned all they need to do is put on some white sheets and we'd see them for what they really are.

In one small ray of light, a local landowner is making his property available to Mrs. Sheehan's group. The rest of the folks in Crawford, Texas should take note and stop shaming their town, themselves and America. Instead of defiling and reviling the heartbreak and anguish of Gold Star families, they should hold their own children close, grab some candles and bring their kids to join a vigil for grief and peace.

MoveOn.org has organized almost a thousand candlelight vigils around the country Wednesday, August 17 in support of Cindy Sheehan, all who support her and other grieving parents -- and who want to stop the deaths of any more soldiers in Iraq. Find one in your area here Vigils for Cindy Sheehan.

As MoveOn says, "These vigils aren't rallies or places to give long-winded speeches. They are moments to solemnly come together and mark the sacrifice of Cindy and other families."

Because as the final straw, Mr. Bush had this to say about being too busy to meet with Mrs. Sheehan, ""But I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life ... I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy. And part of my being is to be outside exercising. So I'm mindful of what goes on around me. On the other hand, I'm also mindful that I've got a life to live and will do so.''

Casey Sheehan and thousands of others had lives to live, and lost then as a result of their president's "crisp decisions." The president should know that more than seeing him ride a bike, the people would prefer he exercised some compassion, and much better judgement.