A Letter To Cindy Sheehan: Darkness Comes Just Before Dawn

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7786

A Letter To Cindy Sheehan: Darkness Comes Just Before Dawn
by Danny Schechter | May 30 2007


It was sad to read Cindy Sheehan's letter of "resignation" from the peace movement because she offered so much of herself--despite all the personal pain she suffered from the loss of her son, the breakup of her family, and all the vicious and insensitive attacks on her politics and personhood.

I could feel her frustration and exasperation with Democrats who patronized her only to end up supporting the war in the end. I share her anger at elements of the "peace movement," which is really a movement in pieces, often marching in lockstep with Congressional Democrats and only paying lip service to the grassroots constituencies and the many who have given and suffered so much to oppose this bloodbath in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cindy inspired the following, she did because she was a genuine convert to activism, an articulate mainstream person who put her body on the line and spoke truth to power with an unmistakable sincerity.

Her honestly and energy contrasted sharply with the agenda-driven caution of those on the Hill and the many organizations that think politics is about raising money on time to fund political commercials in the mainstream media or occasionally take symbolic stands.

snip//

Cindy, please don't leave us--understand that frustration, factionalism, fatalism and infighting is part of the process of dissent and often makes working for peace or media change an ordeal.

You need a long-term perspective and a willingness to fight like a warrior.

Your son Casey perished in one war, please don't allow yourself to perish in this one. Understand that it is a war, and in wars, you don't win every battle. The goal has to be--and I say this with love and respect—to live to fight another day. It's always dark just before the dawn.

[blueworld]

1. Terrific letter, thank you. Now, my own loony two cents.

Cindy Sheehan may be too young to remember Peace Pilgrim. She was someone about whom I knew too little during the '60's, but with whom I was impressed. Peace Pilgrim deliberately was not "associated" with any organization, including the Quakers (I believe her original faith) and ended up divorced when her husband chose military service.

I can't know Cindy's pain, but like many other DU'ers, I care & I'm grateful. I like to think that if Cindy undertook a walk from coast to coast, staying only at the homes of DU'ers, she would see for herself that in spite of occasional attacks, she's appreciated & supported. If she included all the other Americans who support her, I think she'd be shocked.

Young folks in particular frequently have black & white opinions & that's how it should be. Education is a great first step, but wisdom comes with pain & suffering & sacrifices, which ironically usually result from our mistakes & stupid choices & questionable associations. C'est la vie :hippie:

http://www.peacepilgrim.net/htmfiles/mdppbio.htm