In Search Of Utopia: The Sad Case of Cindy Sheehan

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August 14, 2005

The Sad Case of Cindy Sheehan

I am going to fasten on the old Body Armor here, and give you my thoughts on Cindy Sheehan.

Why Body Armor? Well because I suspect that I am going to get unloaded on from my fellow Progressives. You see, while I support the concept of pressuring the President to deal with the tragedy that is Iraq, I believe Cindy's Protest has passed the point of being a legitimate voice for that challenge, and has simply become a media attraction, with all the ego that goes with it. The symbolism associated with her request to meet with Bush was appreciated. But lets face it, it was symbolism... As much as I disagree with Bush, as much as I think the war in Iraq is a sham perpetrated on the American People at great cost, as much as I believe Ms. Sheehan's grief is legitimate.... It was not realistic from the jump street to think that the President would meet with her. He would have been setting a precedent that though idealistic, is not realistic.

I have come to the conclusion that Progressives have hurt their own cause more than helped it by the form of our dissent. Rather than taking an aggressive political and legal course to address our grievances, we create circus side shows that as much alienate those who we would seek to sway, as convince anyone of the justness of our cause.

Bush's weak poll numbers and declining support among the American People, represents an opportunity we have not had in 5 years, an opportunity to present an alternative. It is my belief that we are missing the boat on that opportunity by supporting "well meaning publicity stunts," rather than presenting a strong, positive, counter position.

Ms.Sheehan deserved her moment in the Spotlight. We should be grateful that her actions helped create a national debate on Iraq and the sacrifices of our young men and women, but it is time to move on. Cindy's new found celebrity provides her credentials to be a spokesperson for the issue of Iraq, and to continue to promote discussion and debate. Time to end the spectacle and get on to the business of that debate.

UPDATE: Okay, I knew I was going to piss some people off with this post, but Dru, please don't question my support of women or imply that my position is sexist. I would feel exactly the same if Cindy was a Father. I tried to post this on your blog, but got a server error:

Dru,this has nothing to do with Putting women in their place. I supported Cindy's Protest from the beginning. But I don't believe it is accomplishing much of anything right now. It is time to take practical steps, not symbolic protest. Thanks for the link.

Now I am not going to go on infinitum clarifying my position, I wont do it for the Right, and I won't do if for my Sisters and Brothers on the Left either. I will simply state for the record, that I believe Cindy's protest has served it's purpose. It has elevated awareness of the debate over Iraq. It has exposed lies on the part of the administration, and it has personalized the conflict in a way that raw casualty numbers could not. For that alone, Cindy is a hero in my eyes. But... And it is a big But, it is time to move on with action. It is clear that Bush is NOT going to meet with her. What purpose is served by continuing what HAS become a sideshow?

The problem with us on the Left is we have a limited attention span. First there was Florida, soon forgotten, Ohio, mostly forgotten, Downing Street, Karl Rove, etc. etc. etc. Instead of coordinating our efforts and winning battles, we fight skirmishes and move on, barely making a dent in the Administration Armor. In the feeding Frenzy over Cindy's case, Karl Rove has been pushed off the front page, Downing Street is at a Dead End, and when the media grows tired of this story, they will move on. We need leadership, plans, coordinated actions and a sustained, clear message if we are going to take our country back. Cindy has the opportunity to play a leadership role in that, but in my opinion the message is being lost in the show.

Posted by David A at August 14, 2005 02:31 PM
Filed Under Cindy Sheehan | 727 Words

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» Cindy Sheehan's fellow travellers from Kesher Talk
The longer Cindy Sheehan sits by the road in Crawford, the more of her questionable political views and associations will come to light. Solomonia has the rundown on Sheehan's association with the Crawford Peace House, convicted terrorist supporter Lyn... [Read More]

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Comments

You have no idea what you just waded into...

Posted by: John Cole at August 14, 2005 03:26 PM

If anyone thinks that there is a single tool that Progressive America can use to foil Bush's Neocon dreams, they're wrong.

Cindy Sheehan is attracting those who don't like staring at their computer screens, bravely blogging. Her one-woman show can be one element of a broad progressive voice against the Bush agenda.

Dissing Cindy is silly. She's following her conscience and trying to do right by the sons and daughters of America. That's a good thing, and your elitism doesn't dampen that.

Blogging/media and activism can work alongside each other without coordinating our actions. Sometimes we will coordinate, and that'll be super, but there's nothing wrong with what Cindy Sheehan's up to.

Your interpretation of the way Cindy Sheehan's actions will be interpreted is one more building block towards a negative skew. Blog as you like, and let Cindy Sheehan try to effect change in the way she best can.

p.s. Nice Blog, blogga

Posted by: Screwy Hoolie at August 14, 2005 03:39 PM

First time ya been by huh Screwy? Thanks for your comments, I am sure many will agree with you on Cindy. I happen to dissagree. But I dont advocate throwing Cindy out of Crawford. I simply feel that we as progressives need to focus more on substance and less on spectacle. One man's point of view.

Posted by: David Anderson at August 14, 2005 03:51 PM

Um... We've got lots of people watching the Ohio scandal madness, Fitzgerald isn't ours, but he's most certainly digging deep on the Plame case. We've got people watching Roberts (rather less than more, unfortunately), we've got Conyers and others looking into voting and the DSM. We've got investigations into ethics spanning the entire Congress, we've got the upcoming St. Patrick's Four trial, and what I suspect will be a nasty backlash against the administration. We've got Intelligence Professionals for Sanity still focusing on the misused and stovepiped intelligence, and we've got all kinds of people doing all kinds of things at once both within the legal system, and standing out front waving signs. Cindy Sheehan is one of those people.

The SCLM is focusing on her at the moment, both positively and negatively, because it's better copy than focusing on the Plame case, and they're catching flack over the dead/missing blonde white girl syndrome. To boot, how do you think serious activists come into being? Something big touches their lives, and they focus on it. Who knows where this will end up, but it *is* only one part of a very large story. Don't blame Cindy Sheehan's actions for the myopic view of modern television news.

Posted by: StealthBadger at August 14, 2005 04:25 PM

Already got my first hate mail talking about this issue on my blog. JOY! I personally hate the reaction of the left and right concerning Cindy Sheehan. And that includes the Blogosphere. Some folks elevating her to "mythic" status and some folks tearing her down like rabid dogs. I don't get it.

Posted by: T-Steel at August 14, 2005 06:38 PM

Well, I respect her and admire her for having the courage to make the statement, but the comparrisons to Rosa Parks are WAY over the Top. Rosa Parks was a quiet woman who was tired and wanted to sit down, she did not seek the publicity she got, in fact she shunned it, and quietly went about her job in the NAACP. Like Rosa, Cindy is a hero, but it will be a while before she is deserving of elevation to that type of status.

Posted by: David Anderson at August 14, 2005 06:44 PM

David, you are totally contradicting yourself. First you call for Cindy Sheehan to pull up stakes now that she's made her point, and in the next paragraph you say that we have a short attention span and we don't stick with one thing long enough before moving on to the next.

Which is it?

I think you ought to go out to Crawford before you decide what it's all about. Basically, what is there is about 100 people, a great number of whom are family members of soldiers both living and dead, who are camped out in the heat (with the bugs and snakes. Don't forget the bugs and snakes!) UNFLINCHINGLY asking George Bush to show either accountability or compassion. He is choosing to show neither, and I think they ought to stay there, and, as a fellow blogger wrote, cling to him like Jacob Marley's chains.

Quietly or loudly, but always persistently.

Look, I also see some sexism in what you are saying. I feel it in your comment about Rosa Parks "quietly going about her work." While that may have been well and good in Parks' time, it doesn't work now. Ms. Sheehan is vocal, but she is also unbelievably kind. She yells, but she is incredibly soft-spoken. She cusses, but she is undeniably articulate. And, you know, I'll bet there was as much or more opposition to Rosa Parks' stand as there is to Ms. Sheehan's.

I can't say whether or not history will compare the two favorably, but I can say that Cindy Sheehan is the most compelling and inspiring activist in MY time. It does us no good to tear her actions down from this side. The other side is stuttering for ways to do it, because it's pretty fucking difficult to do without distorting what's going on in Crawford. You are distorting what is going on in Crawford. I can tell you that what is in Crawford is a visceral memorial to fallen soldiers, a bunch of families who are directly affected by this & seeking answers or at least catharsis, and a handful of people there to stand behind them in support...with an occasional rally thrown in for good measure.

I have so much more to say about this...and I'll probably post on my blog later. The comments are not working on my blog & I apologize for that, but I will link back to you so people can see your response here.

Posted by: drublood at August 15, 2005 07:56 AM

And, by the way, why can't someone else do some other form of protest WHILE Cindy Sheehan is standing down in Texas? Do we really have to do one thing at a time? I'm still waiting for your brilliant political strategy that is going to end this. While you are typing, people ARE "moving on with action."

Posted by: drublood at August 15, 2005 08:03 AM