[Peace-discuss] Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over war

[C. G. Estabrook]

[From the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader today.  --CGE]

   Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over war
   PRESIDENT RIDICULED AT INTERFAITH RALLY
   By Frank E. Lockwood
   HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

The president of Gold Star Families for Peace, a mother who
lost a son in Iraq, criticized the United States' "illegal and
unjust war" yesterday during an interfaith rally in Lexington.

Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., accused President Bush of
lying to the nation about a war which has consumed tens of
billions of dollars and claimed more than 1,700 American lives
-- including the life of Army Specialist Casey Austin Sheehan.

Sheehan was one of more than a dozen activists who were
scheduled to speak at yesterday's anti-war rally at the Red
Mile, which was organized by the Clergy and Laity Network and
co-sponsored by dozens of liberal religious organizations.

Sheehan ridiculed Bush for saying that it's "hard work"
comforting the widow of a soldier who's been killed in Iraq.

"Hard work is seeing your son's murder on CNN one Sunday
evening while you're enjoying the last supper you'll ever
truly enjoy again. Hard work is having three military officers
come to your house a few hours later to confirm the
aforementioned murder of your son, your first-born, your kind
and gentle sweet baby. Hard work is burying your child 46 days
before his 25th birthday. Hard work is holding your other
three children as they lower the body of their big (brother)
into the ground. Hard work is not jumping in the grave with
him and having the earth cover you both," she said.

Since her son's death, Sheehan has made opposition to the Bush
administration a full-time job.

"We're watching you very carefully and we're going to do
everything in our power to have you impeached for misleading
the American people," she said, quoting a letter she sent to
the White House. "Beating a political stake in your black
heart will be the fulfillment of my life ... ," she said, as
the audience of 200 people cheered.

The "Freedom and Faith Bus Tour" -- which brought Sheehan to
Lexington, has already visited New York, Chicago and
Indianapolis. The next stops include Columbus, Pittsburgh and
Cleveland.

Other speakers included state Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington,
Clergy and Laity Network executive director Rev. Albert
Pennybacker of Lexington, Kentucky Council of Churches
executive director Nancy Jo Kemper and Baptist Seminary of
Kentucky Professor Glenn Hinson.

Quoting scripture and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hinson suggested
the nation is greedy and morally bankrupt and warned that
America's fear of terrorism is excessive and unhealthy.
Denouncing "fear that immobilizes, fear that causes you to
lash out mindlessly, fear that prompts a nation to launch a
preemptive strike against an imagined enemy, fear in excess,"
Hinson said, "Only God's love can bring that kind of fear
under control."

   Reach Frank Lockwood at (859) 231-3211 or 800-950-6397
x3211 or flockwood at herald-leader.com
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