It really doesn't matter if Cindy Sheehan is "helping"!

[benburch]

Her struggle is about her son and what she has to say about his death.

None of us have any right to put words in her mouth.

None of us have any right to try to silence her.

[Stand and Fight]

1. Amen to that! Let's hope FReeper heads explode.

You know how much they hate dissent!

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Well, you are part of the problem or part of the solution,

and Cindy Sheehan is definatly part of the solution.

It seems some have a problem with this. They are part of the problem, IMHO.

[cynatnite]

3. That sounds like 'you're either with us or the terrorists' speak

I disagree with some of what she's said. I wonder how much good she will do for the anti-war effort and in trying to get the obscenity to stop. I cheer her on every step of the way, but how much good it'll really do...I don't know.

I think there needs to be more high profile dems standing shoulder to shoulder with her for it to do any real good. No Hillary, no Kerry and no other top dem leaders. No Howard Dean, either. It's disappointing.

[RoyGBiv]

5. Question ...

When WEB DuBois and his allies started a public campaign to end lynchings, which political leaders helped them? Can you name the political leaders who stood shoulder to shoulder with MLK in, oh, 1956? How about the political leaders of India who propped up Gandhi? Who were they? Which political leaders said, "You know, that John Brown has a point"?

Should I be placing Cinday Sheehan in such lofty company? You're damn right I should. She's doing more for all of us right this minute than any of us are doing sitting here discussing her, and, yes, I do include myself in that.

[rodeodance]

9. she jumpstarted this movement from a ditch outside of Crawford and I,

for one, am with her.

[cynatnite]

10. Well, I'm reserving judgment on placing her with such esteemed company...

If others choose to do so, that's fine.

The best thing she has done is to put a face on those families who have lost loved ones. The only thing I worry about at this point is that corporate media will spin her actions to being so far out there and she's well on her way with a controversial group like ANSWER.

My preference...and this is just my little old opinion...is that she should have just stuck with Gold Star Families for Peace only and not allied herself with any others. To me this would have given her far more credibility and far less amunition the right will use to paint her as a left wing wacko. Sure, they'd keep trying anyway, but they wouldn't have much to work with.

But as far as putting her with MLK, Rosa Parks and others...I'll hold off before deciding if I think she belongs there. It's all a matter of perspective and opinion.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. Why don't you write her a letter and express your concerns to her

directly? That would be the honorable thing to do, I think.

[beam me up scottie]

17. So those that disagree need to shut up?

Because that seems to be the point of this thread.

[cynatnite]

19. It's a counter thread

Because the OP didn't like the other, they had to start one of their own. :eyes:

I'm scared...I'm learning what the insanity means :silly:

[beam me up scottie]

20. I'm learning that many on DU don't tolerate dissent

any better than the freepers.

[benburch]

22. This *is* dissent.

Dissent is ugly, boisterous, unruly. And it ought to be.

[Binka]

32. Wait A Minute You Two

You are here spouting off because "many on DU don't like dissent" yet this particular thread doesn't suit you and you are capping on it. Oh the irony is rich beyond fucking belief.

You do realize that your view on Cindy is in the minority here on DU? Is that why you are all over the board with the same script?

Please don't waste any band width responding to me you are both on ignore. Ciao.

[Mr_Spock]

36. Absolutely beautiful post!

I couldn't have said it better myself!!

"You are here spouting off because "many on DU don't like dissent" yet this particular thread doesn't suit you and you are capping on it. Oh the irony is rich beyond fucking belief.
"

Tell 'em like it is!!

[Mr_Spock]

39. Stupendous post!

:D

[Mr_Spock]

37. Yeah, don't post opposing viewpoints on an issue

Then people will think you are trying to stifle THEIR voice - hahahaha - that's so completely laughable!!

[John Q. Citizen]

7. That is a quote from H. Rap Brown I believe during the civil

rights struggle in the sixty's.

I disagree with some of what you say, and I wonder if you are doing much good for the anti-war movement.

I cheer you on but I'm really a little skepticle that you will do much good. I hope, but i don't know.

You know, if you would get some Dems here at DU writing and talking to the folks, shoulder to shoulder with you so to speak, I think that would really make a difference. But where are they? It's disappointing....

Peace out!

[wellstone_democrat]

4. Yes, some act as if they were "employing" her personally

and that its time to "let her go"

Well, she started on her own path and if walking along with her no longer suits you, strike out on your own but don't suggest that she no longer follow her own path.

We can't control who joins us in opposing the war, how they express it or what their reasons are. What we can do is mind our own conscience and actions.

I have no problem with Ms. Sheehan and hope that somehow she achieves peace and the answers she seeks. Its neither my job nor anyone else's to tell her what she should do and certainly not to suggest that she subordinate her own struggle to that of others and their strategies. Frankly, I find it offensive to even suggest that she should.

[Lex]

8. Damn skippy. Who the heck do these people think they are?

Do they think they are moving little players around in Sims or something?

Cindy can keep on doing whatever the hell she wants to.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[John Q. Citizen]

12. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if

you didn't post that post...but you did.

[niyad]

18. just popped in from freeperland, did you? is rush off the air at last?

[Bozita]

11. "Accountability!" cries Bush ... uh ... Does that apply to everyone?

Time for Bush to step up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Agreed, she has made some statements that were

ahem not warranted, but we all do. People forget no leader, natural or otherwise, is pure....

That said I did have a small bone to pick not with her, but with most of DU.

As important as the March was, I am sorry folks, but the double disasters in the Gulf Coast do take precedence... now did the media spend more time than they should? Yes... should they have had the march on teeevee? Yes... but this is my bone I pick... believe it or not, the march was not the most important story of the weekend, just among the most important stories, but not the most important story

Flame away

Reaching for the popcorn... it needs to be popped anyway... (sorry my bias as a disaster worker is coming out I guess, before you ask why I am not over there, I have not done that in over seven years and my body cannot handle it any more, but I have done my part)

[LittleClarkie]

15. As if expressing a differing opinion about her on a message board

could silence her.

You have your opinion. Others have theirs. We express them. That's democracy for you.

[ruggerson]

21. Apparently Ben Burch doesn't like democracy

He's too busy mischaractering other people's posts and then not having the guts to admit he's wrong.

I'd shout "shame, shame", but I don't have it in me. :)

[benburch]

23. Clearly YOU cannot take Criticism.

You want Democracy without Criticism?

Can't have it.

Develop a thicker skin.

If you cannot run with the big dogs, stay off the porch.

[ruggerson]

24. I wasn't the one typing

"shame, shame!" at someone for merely expressing an opinion.

I welcome variant opinions, as I think they are what make us stronger than the rightwingers.

You seem to prefer their strategy: "You must walk and think exactly like we do or you must be marginalized!"

[mondo joe]

25. You say you welcome variant opinions but then condemn benburch for having

one.

[ruggerson]

29. Nope

I am commenting on how he presents it. Screaming at someone and lying about their motivation does not engender civil, productive discussion.

Respectfully disagreeing and proffering up a different opinion does.

[benburch]

33. I was screaming???

I thought you got a really mild rebuke from me! :eyes:

I think there are others here who could tell you about what it is like when I am "screaming".

[mondo joe]

40. Screaming? I didn't catch any screaming. What are you talking

about?

[benburch]

27. Shame isn't criticism?

What dictionary are you using?

BTW, in case you haven't noticed, *I* am the marginal one here. I am a loudmouth and a verbal bomb-thrower, and very few agree with me, so you are in a big group.

And seems to me that you are now want ME to STFU? Well, ain't happening, bunkie. Not now. Not ever.

[ruggerson]

30. Back atcha

Not a word you type is going to deter me from what I experience and believe. I'm sure you're a nice guy, but distorting my posts does not engender either respect or rational discussion. And, it almost goes without saying, I have no desire to silence you. What I am referring to is the manner in which you disagree with people.

[beam me up scottie]

16. Who's trying to silence her ?

It seems you're the one trying to rally against those with differing opinions by starting another thread.

[txaslftist]

26. I'm fairly sure Ms. Sheehan could give a shit what we think.

And for that reason alone I admire her position.

[benburch]

28. Bingo!

You have nailed it.

[Generic Other]

31. I am ashamed of many DUers yet I still consider you allies

Cindy Sheehan has taken action. I support that action 100%.

When DUers who don't approve of her message or her actions do something besides moan and groan themselves, I will support their actions too.

If you need someone to criticize and pick on, you can find a whole freakin' administration full of loonies and wingnuts to target.

Cindy is not "hurting" Democrats. We are hurting ourselves.

I am disgusted that Ben Burch has to start a thread like this to counter all the "trash Cindy" crap on DU.

A lot of DUers worked really hard to make Camp Casey a success. Time, money and tremendous energy was spent. I don't remember the naysayers doing much but whining about her "actions" from the moment Cindy pitched her tent in the ditch in Crawford until the moment she was arrested in DC.

Our fellow DUers were also arrested yesterday in DC standing up for all of us, saying what all of us need to say. Liberal women are being attacked and all a bunch of DUers are able to focus on is how it doesn't help.

If it had been up to some of you, we'd still live in a country where slavery was legal, where women weren't allowed to vote, where Jim Crow was still the law of the land, because you wouldn't approve of the manner in which those who opposed such policies expressed their dissent.

Well, when you decide what will help us rid the land of the curse of Bush, please let the rest of us know. Some of us are goddamn sick of the bellyaching.

I support milk toast Dem candidates who take NO action, defend NO beliefs and even betray their own consciences when it's politically expedient, because the alternative is to support assholes on the other side. While I don't approve of their "message," I give them my support, because I support liberals no matter how watered down their message seems.

When you trash your fellow liberals, it speaks volumes about you. Trash Cindy and you trash the leftwing of our party and of DU.

Maybe you don't think you need us to win elections.

Crap. I can't believe I have to even say this.

[benburch]

34. Be careful!

You too may be called a "Liar!" :rofl:

[Mr_Spock]

35. I agree with you completely

We have a right to criticize her.

We might want to be careful about telling our fellow DUers that we sould walk away from her at this time. That goes one step beyond criticism.

[benburch]

38. Just so.

:)