Cindy Sheehan Arrested at Capitol

[numbersman]

I would hope to react like the family who sat behind Laura Bush last night. They lost their Marine son in Iraq. I would have acted as that family had it been my DH (who did serve in Iraq). Proud. No way would I disgrace my DH as he was quite proud of what was going on in Iraq during his year.

I am not sure why Cindy was invited as one can almost assume she would try to pull some "antics". Her invitation was "wasted" and could have been enjoyed by so many others.

Absolutely right. Now there's a classy way to honor their fallen son, rather than a t-shirt protest.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

How is she dishonoring her son? How do you all know that he wanted to be there and was all for the war? How do you know that his last thoughts weren't "what the h*ll am I doing here?" You don't. You know, you can join the military, support the country and still not agree with this war.

The point is no one, whether they are on the right, left, middle, or extreme knows what his last thoughts were. Any attempt by anyone to say what he did or did not believe is pure speculation. It is dishonoring to use any wounded or fallen service member for political leverage.

 

[chobie]

How is she dishonoring her son? How do you all know that he wanted to be there and was all for the war? How do you know that his last thoughts weren't "what the h*ll am I doing here?" You don't. You know, you can join the military, support the country and still not agree with this war.

Exactly, not only does no one here know what her son's last thoughts were, though as her mother she has a better idea than most, unless someone has been through this they do not know what the feel or do. So, they should at least give her the benefit of the doubt. Surely there must be other people who disagree with the war that they can save their hatred for.

 

[dcentity2000]

This is a very sad situation

She's lost her son - she'll never get him back and the feeling must be devastating. No parent wants to outlive their offspring

In my opinion, she clearly needs psychotherapy to help her overcome her emotional attachment to the event, which is currently being funnelled into politics.

The debate over whether or not her son would have wanted it or not is moot.



Rich::

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Fascinating... it appears that Ms. Sheehan was not the only person ejected from the SOTU last night. http://www.local6.com/news/6647094/detail.html

Rep. Young is a Republican BTW.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Proving that just b/c Fox News says it, doesn't make it biased or untrue. Thank you.

Fox has a strong Right slant to its news, and a majority of their programing is pointed directly at their Conservative audience...any one who watches it will tell you that. The fact that you posted that you don't watch it leads me to believe that you really don't know what Fox broadcasts, so how can you say?

Besides, my original post said that Fox viewers get a rosier view of the President's agenda, including the war, because the network is a friend of this administration, which is the truth...but again, with all due respect, by your own admission, you don't watch it, so what exactly makes you an Fox News expert?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Fascinating... it appears that Ms. Sheehan was not the only person ejected from the SOTU last night. http://www.local6.com/news/6647094/detail.html

Rep. Young is a Republican BTW.

The chicks dig the slogan t-shirts, T_M...any cashier at Urban Outfitters will tell you that! My fav is "I've got a black belt in keepin' it real"...

 

[numbersman]

Fox has a strong Right slant to its news, and a majority of their programing is pointed directly at their Conservative audience...any one who watches it will tell you that. The fact that you posted that you don't watch it leads me to believe that you really don't know what Fox broadcasts, so how can you say?

Besides, my original post said that Fox viewers get a rosier view of the President's agenda, including the war, because the network is a friend of this administration, which is the truth...but again, with all due respect, by your own admission, you don't watch it, so what exactly makes you an Fox News expert?

Hey, here's an idea - if Fox News has such a Right slant (which apparently you don't agree with), why don't you NOT WATCH Fox News? That way you won't get upset by it! Just an idea, though. And I don't recall saying anywhere that I'm an "expert" on Fox News; I'm not, b/c as you said, and as I said, I don't watch it. But for every "Right" slanted news station, there is also a "Left" slanted one as well, so I think everyone is getting equal doses of what they want to hear, if they're watching the right station. Free speech at it's finest.

 

[toto2]

Just so that we allknow why she was there , what happend and how it happened , here is the story from Miss Sheehan herself:

What Really Happened
by Cindy Sheehan


Dear Friends,

As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of the Union Address tonight.

I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we have lost in our country.


Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan is escorted out of the House chamber by security personnel, January 31, 2006. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press. (Shocker) So this is what really happened:

This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC where I was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh, Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of the Union Address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2245 Dead. How many more?

After the PSOTU press conference, I was having second thoughts about going to the SOTU at the Capitol. I didn't feel comfortable going. I knew George Bush would say things that would hurt me and anger me and I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her. I, in fact, had given the ticket to John Bruhns who is in Iraq Veterans Against the War. However, Lynn's office had already called the media and everyone knew I was going to be there so I sucked it up and went.

I got the ticket back from John, and I met one of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's staffers in the Longworth Congressional Office building and we went to the Capitol via the undergroud tunnel. I went through security once, then had to use the rest room and went through security again.

My ticket was in the 5th gallery, front row, fourth seat in. The person who in a few minutes was to arrest me, helped me to my seat.

I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled; "Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat and roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said something like "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his name is Mike Weight.

The officer ran with me to the elevators yelling at everyone to move out of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said, "That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said: "Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because you were protesting." Wow, I get hauled out of the People's House because I was, "Protesting."

I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked to do any of those things...I would have, and written about the suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately, and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct."

After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2245, huh? I just got back from there."

I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started crying in pain.

What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for still? For this? I can't even wear a shrit that has the number of troops on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing.

I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.

There have already been many wild stories out there.

I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the government for what happened tonight. I will file it. It is time to take our freedoms and our country back.

I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person, whether he/she has paid the ulitmate price for that country, from wearing, saying, writing, or telephoning any negative statements about the government. That's why I am going to take my freedoms and liberties back. That's why I am not going to let Bushco take anything else away from me...or you.

I am so appreciative of the couple of hundred of protesters who came to the jail while I was locked up to show their support....we have so much potential for good...there is so much good in so many people.

Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, I was let out. Again, I am so upset and sore it is hard to think straight.

Keep up the struggle...I promise you I will too.

Love and peace soon,
Cindy

 

[MrsKreamer]

Just so that we allknow why she was there , what happend and how it happened , here is the story from Miss Sheehan herself:

What Really Happened
by Cindy Sheehan


Dear Friends,

As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of the Union Address tonight.

I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we have lost in our country.


Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan is escorted out of the House chamber by security personnel, January 31, 2006. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press. (Shocker) So this is what really happened:

This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC where I was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh, Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of the Union Address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2245 Dead. How many more?

After the PSOTU press conference, I was having second thoughts about going to the SOTU at the Capitol. I didn't feel comfortable going. I knew George Bush would say things that would hurt me and anger me and I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her. I, in fact, had given the ticket to John Bruhns who is in Iraq Veterans Against the War. However, Lynn's office had already called the media and everyone knew I was going to be there so I sucked it up and went.

I got the ticket back from John, and I met one of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's staffers in the Longworth Congressional Office building and we went to the Capitol via the undergroud tunnel. I went through security once, then had to use the rest room and went through security again.

My ticket was in the 5th gallery, front row, fourth seat in. The person who in a few minutes was to arrest me, helped me to my seat.

I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled; "Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat and roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said something like "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his name is Mike Weight.

The officer ran with me to the elevators yelling at everyone to move out of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said, "That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said: "Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because you were protesting." Wow, I get hauled out of the People's House because I was, "Protesting."

I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked to do any of those things...I would have, and written about the suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately, and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct."

After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2245, huh? I just got back from there."

I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started crying in pain.

What did Casey die for? What did the 2244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for still? For this? I can't even wear a shrit that has the number of troops on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing.

I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.

There have already been many wild stories out there.

I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the government for what happened tonight. I will file it. It is time to take our freedoms and our country back.

I don't want to live in a country that prohibits any person, whether he/she has paid the ulitmate price for that country, from wearing, saying, writing, or telephoning any negative statements about the government. That's why I am going to take my freedoms and liberties back. That's why I am not going to let Bushco take anything else away from me...or you.

I am so appreciative of the couple of hundred of protesters who came to the jail while I was locked up to show their support....we have so much potential for good...there is so much good in so many people.

Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, I was let out. Again, I am so upset and sore it is hard to think straight.

Keep up the struggle...I promise you I will too.

Love and peace soon,
Cindy

She new she was going to cause a disruption.

 

[toto2]

She did not cause a disruption, she was wearing a t-shirt: if she would have screamed someting , or unfurl abig banner , or answering her cell phone , that would be disruptive. But the pasive act of wearing an item of clothing can be disturbing , but not disruptive.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Thanks, Toto2...great post. Unfortunately, there are many who have already made up their minds and could care less what really happened. That's the beauty of the Bush Administration's PR agenda. They've said "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" so many times, their far right base automatically assumes the worst from the left and that the Administration can do no wrong.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Just so that we allknow why she was there , what happend and how it happened , here is the story from Miss Sheehan herself:

This from the woman who pledged to continue civil disobedient protests. She knew full well what would happen, but is now attempting to play the martyr card.

 

[inaminute]

What follows is my translation of just about everything Cindy Sheehan says and does:

"Look at me. Look. Look. I'm here. See? Here I am! Poor me. My son died in the war. Bush killed him. I'm over here, now! Look, look! Here I am! I'm going to run for Senate. Bush killed my son. Look at me! Here I am...me...me...me...me..."

What the hell is she even trying to say? Never mind. I'm not even interested any more.

 

[numbersman]

What follows is my translation of just about everything Cindy Sheehan says and does:

"Look at me. Look. Look. I'm here. See? Here I am! Poor me. My son died in the war. Bush killed him. I'm over here, now! Look, look! Here I am! I'm going to run for Senate. Bush killed my son. Look at me! Here I am...me...me...me...me..."

What the hell is she even trying to say? Never mind. I'm not even interested any more.

Bang! Pretty good summation. If she, as she says, doesn't want to live in a country anymore where she perceives her rights are being taken away, I say let her move. Why doesn't she move to Iraq? They're a nice peaceful country, and evidently had nothing at all to do with killing her son, since it was apparently all Bush's fault.

 

[Nancy]

What follows is my translation of just about everything Cindy Sheehan says and does:

"Look at me. Look. Look. I'm here. See? Here I am! Poor me. My son died in the war. Bush killed him. I'm over here, now! Look, look! Here I am! I'm going to run for Senate. Bush killed my son. Look at me! Here I am...me...me...me...me..."

What the hell is she even trying to say? Never mind. I'm not even interested any more.

This was the first post that made me want to respond!

 

[WIcruizer]

The point is no one, whether they are on the right, left, middle, or extreme knows what his last thoughts were. Any attempt by anyone to say what he did or did not believe is pure speculation.

I understand what you're saying, but I don't think it's PURE speculation. By all accounts, her son was proud to be a soldier and was in full support of the war. Of course he could have had a change of heart in his final days or final hours, but it's fair to say based on his history that his attitude didn't change. We'll never know for sure, but it's more than just pure speculation.

so many times, their far right base automatically assumes the worst from the left and that the Administration can do no wrong.

And so many times the left assumes the worst from President Bush and that he has the worst possible intentions. In fact, this has grown to pure hatred and conspiracy theories by too many people on the far left.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

And so many times the left assumes the worst from President Bush and that he has the worst possible intentions. In fact, this has grown to pure hatred and conspiracy theories by too many people on the far left.

Sure, the far left does have them as well. I appreciated Bush's call for new research into renewable energy sources. Now he needs to put his money where his mouth is. He gets no free passes from this kid.

 

[LaLa]

I feel for the lady for losing her son. I cannot imagine that pain. And I also agree that she has a right to free speech. But this was not the place nor the time. She deliberately wore the shirt and was hoping the cameras would focus on her during the President's speech. She was hoping to cause a disturbance and get away with it during the State of the Union address with all of America watching. This was the Big Daddy of press attention for her. She stepped over the line, and was rightly removed. I would expect to see anybody exhibiting the same behavior escorted out regardless of their political agenda. Although I am personally VERY tired of her, I think there is a place and time for protests but this was not one of them.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

And so many times the left assumes the worst from President Bush and that he has the worst possible intentions. In fact, this has grown to pure hatred and conspiracy theories by too many people on the far left.

Doesn't the two cancel each other out?