The Iraq War
Picture
Picture

Cindy Sheehan Vigil

     Not more than five days after entering the war, on April 4, 2004, Army Mechanic and Specialist Casey Sheehan was killed in action.  It left his mom, Cindy Sheehan completely destroyed.  Sheehan wanted George Bush to be held responsible for her son’s death.  She thought she deserved a confrontation with the President and insisted a meeting.  Setting up a vigil outside Bush’s home in Crawford Texas on, August 3, 2005, she, with numerous other peace activists until August 29, 2005.  Cindy Sheehan had recently created the Gold Star Families for Peace, an organization dedicated to supporting families who lost soldiers in the war, as well as ending the occupation in Iraq.  Before the vigil, President Bush had stated that, "We have to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by completing the mission.  The families of the fallen can be assured that they died for a noble cause."  Hurt and disgraced by the statement, Cindy Sheehan with her GSFP set up a vigil outside Bush’s Texas ranch where he was vacationing.  Sheehan said that she would not leave until speaking to the president, who rejected the meeting stating that though he knew all people had something to say to him but he had to get on with his life.  Throughout the vigil, counter rallies and angry neighbor’s gunshots tried forcing Cindy’s group from their place.  However, she refused.  Sheehan’s protest managed to gather huge recognition all around the world as well as rallying those opposed to the war.  On August 7, 2005, a video ad, paid for by the GSFP, was aired on cable changes throughout Crawford and other known vacation spots of President Bush’s.  Besides from that numerous supporters of the anti-war movement and other organizations wrote articles and helped spread the news of the vigil.  Sheehan and others demanded that the truth about the Iraq war finally be told.  At this time it had become apparent to the public that America had entered Iraq under false pretenses.  Due to the Duelfer Report and other findings, it had become clear that there was no imminent threat of nuclear weapon building in Iraq.  Sheehan stated that, “we aren't doing the country a favor when we present recent history in a way that makes our system look better than it is. Sometimes the public needs to hear unpleasant truths, even if those truths make them feel worse about their country.”  Also at the time of the vigil the President had responded to Bin Laden’s newest determination to attack the U.S. by going fishing at his house.  This further helped Sheehan’s point that Bush was safeguarding himself in a protective bubble.  The vigil lasted until President Bush returned to Washington after the horrific Hurricane Katrina.  Overall Cindy Sheehan and her group of protesters helped raise awareness for the problem at hand.  Though Sheehan never met face to face with the president (his staff had come out to talk with the group a few times), the steadfast determination eventually made national news.  Because President Bush never confronted Sheehan, he received much flak from across the country for cowardice and failure to communicate with the public.  Cindy Sheehan’s vigil helped bring to attention the lack of judgment the administration had throughout the entirety of the war.