Black Heart

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over war

PRESIDENT RIDICULED AT INTERFAITH RALLY

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 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.

This is really sad.

My heart goes out to Cindy Sheehan for her loss.

She seems to have poured all her pain into hatred for the President.

"Beating a political stake in your black heart will be the fulfillment of my life." That's a very strong statement, obviously coming from unbearable suffering.

If Sheehan finds solace in working against Bush, then good for her. She needs to do what she needs to do. Nevertheless, her display of such hate for President Bush personally doesn't really serve the memory of her beloved son very well.

I'm uncomfortable criticizing a mother who has lost her son in a controversial war. I don't want to even try to imagine her agony. It's one thing to grieve for a son and quite another to believe her child died in vain, that he gave his life for nothing.

Still, if Casey was proud to serve in the Army and believed in his mission, maybe one day she'll find comfort in that. I pray she finds peace.