A Sad Mother's Day for Some
by Cindy Sheehan
Sunday 08 May 2005
When I woke up this morning, the "official" death count in Iraq was
1576. The first thing I do in the morning after I boot up my computer is
to check the DoD website to see if any more of our nation's precious
children were killed in this horror of a nonsensical war. I was talking
to another Gold Star Mom, Celeste Zappala, today and she sadly advised
me that the count rose to 1579 (note: the official count is now 1594)
while she was out to lunch.
Celeste and I and too many other moms know what the significance of
"Pending Notification" means: it means that there are people in our
country going through their lives right now not even knowing that they
are about to be ambushed with the most devastating news of their lives:
"We regret to inform you�"
Somewhere in America, there is a mom (I always think of the moms
first) shopping for groceries, driving home from a long week of work, or
maybe even planning her soldier's homecoming party. Somewhere, here in
our country there is a mother who is hoping that she will receive a
Mother's Day card from her soldier, or perhaps, if she is extremely
lucky, a rushed telephone call. There is a mom out there who has been
worried sick about her soldier since they arrived in the combat zone.
Maybe the mom still supports George Bush and the occupation or maybe the
mom is certain if her child is killed in this abomination that her sweet
baby, her soldier will have died for lies and betrayals. In the end, and
at that moment, the mom is not going to care about politics or about
reasons for invasion and occupation. She won't care if her child died
for freedom and democracy, or to make some people wealthier and more
powerful. All she will see is the Grim Reaper in a uniform standing at
her door before she collapses on the floor screaming for her child and
pleading with the Grim Reaper to take her with him.
Somewhere there is a father in America who won't know what hit him
and who won't know whom to hit back. There are brothers and sisters,
nieces and nephews, spouses, and children who are about to step on the
path of unbearable pain and seemingly endless grief. Today there are the
families and friends of three wonderful human beings who never, until
now, knew that the human body could produce so many tears. Somewhere in
America live our fellow citizens who never even knew that a broken heart
is not theoretical or symbolic. These most unfortunates are about to
find out that a broken heart hurts far worse than a broken limb, and
does not heal so readily, if ever at all.
The families of these soldiers are also departing on a long tour of
banalities uttered by well-meaning, but let�s face it, uninformed
people. I hear these phrases over and over again: �Time heals every
thing,� �Casey�s in a better place,� (oh really, I didn�t know that home
with his mom was such a bad place to be) �Casey wants you to be happy,�
�Casey died doing what he loved doing,� (he did?) or, my favorite,
�Casey died defending his country.� Let me assure the reader, phrases
like this do not help. They are clich�s for one thing, and for another,
none of them are true. None of them help a grieving family. If you, the
reader, are ever in the situation facing a mom who had her son brutally
murdered, God forbid, I will give you hints on what does help: hugs
(lots and lots), make sure she eats, make sure she drinks plenty of
water (tears are dehydrating), make sure she hears wonderful things
about her child, bring boxes of tissues and toilet paper, and bring
yourself. Leave your tired and impotent clich�s at the door.
Of course, the most tragic thing about the 1579 is that not even one
should be dead. Our "president" cheerfully rushed this country into a
needlessly horrendous and devastating invasion. Our "president" thinks
stolen elections confer a mandate. Our Congress cheerfully relinquished
their Constitutional responsibility to declare war. If they had any
courage or honor they would claim that right back and end this travesty.
I have a feeling our mis-leaders will be having a nice day with their
moms or their children on Mother's Day. As they are eating their
brunches and giving and receiving bouquets of Mother's Day flowers, they
probably never even think about the moms in this world that their
insanely reckless policies have destroyed. It never enters their wicked
brains that they have ruined Mother's Day for so many families. This is
a tragedy.
Our media was, and still is, a willing shill for the Administration
and has never told the American public the truth. Reporting about Iraq
is always trumped by such as child molesters, Martha Stewart, Terri
Schiavo, Scott Peterson, the American Idol, or now, Runaway Brides!
Another tragic thing about this illegal and disastrous invasion and
occupation is that there are only 1579 families in this country who even
have to think about Iraq. Most Americans probably don't even know where
to find Iraq on a map. The Halliburtons, Bechtels, KBRs, and the oil
oligarchs of the world, who are laughing all the way to the bank, think
of Iraq with greedy glee each day. Sorrowfully, there are 1579 families
in this country who have "Iraq" carved on their hearts and souls for
eternity. We have sacrificed more than the $1.99 it costs to buy a
"Support the Troops" magnet for our cars. We have had a violent
amputation. Even if our fellow citizens don't realize it, by allowing
this occupation to continue, they are also losing a very important part
of themselves: their humanity.
My heart, my prayers, and my love go to the three families who are
now embarking on this mournful, unnecessary journey. We at Gold Star
Families for Peace are here for them. I hope they find comfort in what I
know now seems like a comfortless world. Peace.
--------
Cindy Sheehan is a co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace. Her son,
Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq on April 4th, 2004.
www.gsfp.org <http://www.gsfp.org/>
A Nation Rocked to Sleep
Casey's Poem
By Carly Sheehan
Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq on April 4th 2004.
This poem was written by Casey's 18 year old sister, Carly Sheehan
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
Casey Austin Sheehan
Born May 29th 1979 ~ Died April 4th 2004
Beloved Son, Brother, Grandson, Nephew, Friend
more from Military Families Speak Out can be accessed here:
<http://www.mfso.org> http://www.mfso.org
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