DIVIDED WE STAND What happened to our country?

The Peaceful Occupation of Crawford (Day 13 - one day late); Leaving Camp Casey

-- a message from Cindy Sheehan

Today started out okay. I did my usual stint with Mark and Mark on the Morning Sedition on Air America Radio. I always love talking to them because they are so funny and smart. We have a 7:10am time. Nightline was also following me to do a “Day in the Life of Cindy Sheehan” piece so they got there nice and early to mic me up. I gave two interviews early this morning where I said that the Camp Casey Peace Movement has taken on a life of its own. With all of the vigils last night and the Camp Casey’s springing up all over the country, nothing can stop it, not even me. I said if I had to leave today, the movement would continue to prosper and grow.

The only thing that Matt Drudge could dig up on me today was a speech I had given at a College Not Combat rally at San Francisco State where I said some cuss words. This posting of his may be the first true thing he has ever said about me. I wonder, though, if any of the words I used shocked him. I wonder if he has ever used those words himself. I wonder if he has ever had a child killed by senseless violence in a war that is such a waste.

Some Gold Star Moms from Oregon joined me today and another from California. Another mom whose son was killed this past February arrived last night. Then we had a Gold Star Dad whose son had died this past June 15th show up at Camp Casey today with his family. Ruben said he just came to give me a hug. He said until today he had felt so lonely. Every time I meet a Gold Star parent whose son died after Casey, I feel so badly. I have been struggling for months to call attention to this mistake of a war to end it sooner. Every new death is like a stab in my heart.

Even what Rush Limbaugh said about me yesterday, although very idiotic, wasn’t really bothering me that much because it is so ridiculous. He said that I am not real, my son is not real, and Camp Casey is not real!!!???? He said my entire story is based on ‘forged documents.’ I wonder just exactly what he meant. Did he mean that Casey’s KIA report is forged? Did we bury an empty coffin on April 13, 2004?  Am I just a really good actress playing a grieving mom? Does he realize how much I wish that all this were true? He is a clanging gong! How can anyone say anything so monstrous and so obviously false and how can anyone believe him?

So, although a scorching day in Crawford, things were going pretty well. We were planning our move and what turned out to be a successful mother’s march up to the ranch to deliver some letters to Laura Bush. Then my sister received the phone call from a hospital in California: our mother had a stroke. We were on a plane from Waco heading to Dallas within 2 hours. The cameras beat us to the airport in Waco and filmed me getting my ticket, waiting to go through security and actually going through security. As I sit writing this on the plane from Dallas to Los Angeles, I am sure there will be a mob of cameras waiting to greet me in L.A. (Apparently whether I am walking to the out house at Camp Casey or through a small airport in Texas, it is fascinating stuff). The camera guys all wished us well and sent their best wishes to our mom, though. The camera and sound guys and I have been spending lots of time together lately.

I hated leaving Camp Casey, but this is a family emergency and the doctor couldn’t really tell us about the status of our mother by phone. I couldn’t bear to be worrying about her from so far away. We are carrying Camp Casey with us in our hearts, though, and Camp Casey will be moved to its new location and thriving when I get back.

In the first paragraph, I told you that the Camp Casey movement will continue to grow and thrive even if I am not there. Dozens of people work so hard to keep it going. Now we shall see. I am sure it will be fantabulistic.

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