The death Casey Sheehan was certainly a tragedy for the Sheehan family and a great loss for this country. However, it seems that Mrs. Sheehan has decended into personal hell which is most likely inconsolable. She blames the President, but is unlikely to gain any relief if her request were to be granted. She is understandably grief stricken and angry, but also not completely in control of her faculties. Remember that Casey joined the armed forces of his own volition.

More important to remember is that going to a rally to support Cindy Sheehan, includes suppport her ideas about the US and Israel. I'm not quite sure many Westport residents will agree with the statement, "You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism." (CIndy Sheehan). These are the words of an angry anti-American, not a mother who is mourning the loss of a beloved son.

Best to call it an anti-war rally...

Let's see...."nonpartisan" and "organized by MoveOn.org". Bit of an oxymoron, wouldn't you say. Will the 25 folks attending be the same "nonpartisan" folks who stand on the bridge every Saturday morning?

It's "anti-American" to question an ill-founded government policy that has been justified with repeated lies and stonewalling? Funny; I thought the right to participate in the political process and question government policy was what this nation was founded on. We threw off monarchy 230 years ago.

touche

At this point I think we would be doing better with King George. At least that monarchy was more transparent.

My thoughts are with Mrs. Sheehan. Having friends who were wounded (14 years ago)the first time around and how they have been effected by the latest cuts to the VA budget (very quietly last passed last year)and seeing first hand what this does to people and families you can't but not question. It is irresponsible to not question. To think that this has been going on for better than 15 years and before that a full ten between their neighbors and we would have the arrogance to get involved under false pretences and with out a real exit strategy while putting brave American men and woman at risk like they were shares of a company is unbelievable at this point. And i am a republican.

John P., you are correct that our government was founded on the principal of participation and our constitution allows us to present opposing views when we don't agree with the actions of our government. Free speech is one of the things that makes this country so great. However, if you want to protest, be straight forward in your position, don't hide behind rhetoric like " A Non-partisan rally". This rally is many things, but certainly not non-partisan!

Andy,
The majority of the folks there will be of one side of the political spectrum. That goes with out saying. However, to blindly follow and never take stock of what it is we are following is far more damaging than a "partisan" rally to support a particular view. And these are some pretty founded views. I will be there and I voted for him twice

I will do my utmost to attend Wednesdays vigil. It is interesting to see how any protest is interpreted as being a partisan statement. Has peace become a dirty word? Has debate become a challenge? I stood with a candle at Jesup Green prior to our invasion of Iraq...I was in NYC on a peace march before the war. And, after living in this town for more than 35 years, I know many others with whom I have fought over many town issues who agree that we have been driven into this conflict under false circumstances. By the way, are we so intimidated that we are afraid to sign off with our names? Carole Donenfeld

Mrs. Sheehan is out of control. She is refusing to pay taxes (on what, I'm not sure, since she doesn't appear to have a job) She has claimed the solidarity of her family, but her husband of 28 years has filed for divorce over this, and although she claimed her children would be joining her, so far, no kids. Of course, she will probably blame President Bush for her divorce and family problems. When the people who support your position are the likes of Howard Dean, Michael Moore, and Dennis Kucinich, your are traveling with a pretty edgy crowd. I find it interesting that you can't find prominent Democrats in congress calling for troop withdrawl. Many of them are saying that we need to send more troops. Can you blame Patrick Sheehan for wanting to get off this ride, and quick?

Rick the clan meeting is next week.

Thanks, Bill. Sounds like you will be at the bridge on Wednesday night and will "be blindly following and never taking stock of what it is you are following". Have a great time.

The clan meeting? Are you kidding? Bill, you now have a credibility problem. Rick's comments regarding Cindy Sheehan seem completely relevant if we are being asked to attend a rally to support her. A clan rally, indeed. Nice illustration of attack the messenger if you can't attack the message.

The point of that comment was to personalize, as did he, the message. We are very concerned with whom the message is from and not the content of what it is. Sheehan was not the point and is still not the point. The point is about what we are involved in. And to my not so tasteful, but kind of humorous comment, it is exactly what this is about as far as a debate. As soon as we hear what we do not want to hear we immediately go on the defensive (both sides do this) rather than listen, and i mean to actually hear and process what the other party in the debate is saying in an effort to better empathize with the position of the person across the issue.

Is everyone aware that David Duke -- the celebrity Jew-hater who refers to himself as "former Klan leader" -- is a big booster of Cindy Sheehan?

According to his website, Mr. Duke loves Mrs. Sheehan based on her letter to Good Morning America where she states: "Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered...killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel."

Personally, I want to go by this "Peace" rally tomorrow and see which of my fellow citizens are hateful enough to join forces with the likes of David Duke...or just too ignorant to know better.

Bill, you attacked him. At least, you implied, in some fashion, that he was a racist or that he was in sympathy with the clan. You cannot now say that it was a humorous aside meant to empathize with his position. That's nonsensical. Seriously. How is trying to shut someone down by calling them a clan member empathetic?

Also, your remark that "Sheehan was not the point and is still not the point" is, at best, disingenuous when the rally is being called exactly to support her. She is the point. Unless the announcement regarding the rally was somehow wrong.

i have to tell you folks, aside from all of this banter and claims and facts and semi facts and name calling ( the clan thing was to point out a perceived ignorance and nastyness of some toward others, Rick i apologize)this is a great thing to have don't you think?

This does not exist in a lot of places on the planet. Regardless of what one believes in we can do this all day long and not fear reprisals other than a curt comment or sharp word. And to Carole, it is not the best idea to put your full name on an unsecured site anywhere on the internet.

Bill, If Sheehan is not the point, why are we asked to support her? She has taken a tragic event and politicized it. She is demanding that President Bush meet with her and answer her 3 questions:
"Why did you kill my son?", "What did my son die for?", and "If the cause is so noble, why don't you send your twins?"

The answers are simple:
1)Bush didn't kill her son. A terrorist attack on his convoy did. 2)A Sunni Iraqi can best answer her second question. 3)Bush can no more send his daughters to Iraq than Mrs. Sheehan could prevent Casey from re-enlisting. These are choices of an adult, and Casey's choice suggests that he believed in what he was doing.

Cindy Sheehan is a tragic figure. She lost her son, and now she has apparently lost relationships with her family. And for what? Nothing is going to bring her son back, and she is not going to affect foreign policy. She needs to spend her time on something more productive. Bush met with her after her son died, and she seemed very gratified by his visit. Other families of fallen soldiers have not had that honor. But now that some have decided to use her, she has elected to go on a public crusade. She is definately a sad case.

Bravo to Carole Donenfeld. I agree that "posters" should feel able to use their names. In fact, were this my site, I would require it. Anonymity breeds nastiness.
A reminder - this is a "volunteer" site, not a commercial news effort. If something is not posted, then send it in yourself and stop complaining.
It seems to me that "non-partisan" means that anyone is welcome to join no matter what your recorded affiliation may be.
And why, oh why, can we not listen to content and reasoning instead of continually attacking or becoming defensive? Blind following of any position will not advance our understanding.

Rick i hope you read my apology above. I have no idea and or do I really care what Mrs. Sheehan’s real or perceived motivation is. The point of my, i guess you could say aggression, is the fact of the situation we are in. And it is not really we, it is them, we just get it on the news in the AM while we are trying to make a tee time or make our train. Our diplomacy is tragic and our forethought has been basic if at all existent. We played cat and mouse with the soviets for years, fought a multitude of wars sacrificed thousands of people along the way and earned every stripe on our shoulders as Americans in victory. And now we are reduced to this. No lessons learned, no accountability and for the second time in our history we have decided to move unilaterally. We have gone from the leaders of the free world to the legions of the free world. We are better and smarter than this.

It's amazing to me how someone can call Michael Moore, Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich an "edgy crowd" and never once questions the competency or the outright extremism of the likes of Cheney, Pearl and Wolfowitz (and of course Bush II) – the neo-cons nutcases who are the architects of this country's utterly failed foreign policy.

And, let me get this straight, if I think the war in Iraq is an immoral tragedy, I am a self hating, anti-Israeli Jew. Eat me, you puke!

Let me make this clear. I am patriot, and Bush and his cabal are a bunch incompetent, corrupt and immoral chickenhawks.

Doesn't anyone have a comment about the David Duke connection, or do you all just want to ignore it?

"Those with long hair are encouraged to restrain it." Put away the tie-dye and love beads.

It is interesting, to me, that the organizers of the protest-vigil find it necessary to disguise their sympathizers' looks, but are not ashamed to do so publicly.

For those who are not aware, the restrain-your-long-hair message is part of MoveOn.org's standard operating procedures. Along with don't-smoke-weed-in-front-of-the-cameraman and tuck-in-your-t-shirt. If you don't believe me, check out their website.

Ken,
You are so off-base it makes my head spin. I am the host of the event on the bridge. I added the comment about long hair to my message. It had nothing to do with ANY organization. Several years ago a friend of mine had her hair singed at a private candle vigil for someone who had died. I simply wanted to avoid having that happen to someone who comes tomorrow night. So...not only do I not believe you, I know you are as wrong as wrong can be. Marla Cowden

It seems that in the last 5 odd years to question the US government and its actions has become synonymous with anti-American, treason...Instead of bashing individuals on either side of the spectrum (who have their right to speak out in our so-called democracy); whatever happened to the weapons of mass destruction that began this whole misguided policy. Isn't this what the real issue of Saddam being a threat was all about? Where is the government's accountability? Lets be honest, how many think in 5 years the Iraqi people will be our friends? Think democracy will 'take root' there? Lets not forget Saddam was on the CIA payroll, as was Kaddafi and Manuel Noriega...now all menaces to the 'free' world.' Maybe we should pick better allies that truly have the same values as we do. Also remember, democracy can not be forced.

This is like the jury room from Twelve Angry Men.

Bill, I see....that was an apology when you said "the clan thing was to point out a perceived ignorance and nastyness of some toward others". So you perceive me as not only ignorant, but nasty. Tough to accept that apology. As to whether we should or should not have engaged in this war is another issue. We are there, and bringing the troops home now, IMHO would be a mistake. As I said earlier, most prominent Democrats agree with that assessment, and many think that we should send more troops. And when you say that "we decided to move unilaterally", perhaps some "Brits", or Spaniards, or Italians, etc. who read these posts might disagree. Maybe that's why Europeans consider many Americans arrogant, because of comments like yours...that America is the only country that can make a difference.

Doesn't anybody know how to spell "Klan" as in Ku Klux Klan (KKK)?

Check out the headline article on Salon.com today. If it doesn't give you the full article, just click on the "day pass" and watch a motorola advertisement to access.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/08/16/mother/

Also, I'm for leaving full names, but after google searching myself, a comment of mine on Martha Stewart popped up out of all the things out there in cyberspace. Just be aware of what other people can read about you with one click of a mouse.

//Doesn't anyone have a comment about the David Duke connection, or do you all just want to ignore it?//

I'll take this one, and I'll answer it with what I believe the kids call a "syllogism".

A likes B
C likes B
A does not automatically like C

Let's try it out with a couple of examples, shall we?

1. As a high school teacher, I'm sort of tuned in to this one: Andy likes Beth. Chucky likes Beth. Andy does not automatically like Chucky.

2. Or this, from history: The United States liked fighting Nazis in WWII. The USSR also liked fighting Nazis in WWII. Did the US like the USSR? (Hint: The Cold War)

3. Oooh, here's a good one: I support Cindy Sheehan's attempts to get Prez Georgie to explain, once and for all, why we're in Iraq after all of the justifications we've been given have fallen through. David Duke, who is a white-supremecist scumbag, likes that Cindy Sheehan is, along with many others, also in favor of Israel withdrawing from the Occupied Territories (which is another issue that we can deal with somewhere else). Do I automatically support David Duke, then? And if I do, please tell me so I can throw myself off the R.S.C. Bridge and drown in the muck of the Saugatuck.

Puh-leaze.

Christopher Hitchens has quite an interesting opinion in Slate, and you don't have to sit through a stupid banner ad to read it. For some reason this software censors the link, but once you get onto Slate look for id/2124500/

Rick, your comment I was commenting on not you as i do not know you. They were done to illustrate a point of our (all of us) recent inability to debate with the idea of debating.

And if one does count the token troops supplied by our grand allies as multilateral I guess one could say that we have not moved unilaterally. Great Britain currently has more troops in Belfast that it does in all of the Middle East let alone Iraq.

Reading the many comments has encouraged me to reread Albert Hourani's 1991 best seller "A History of the Arab Peoples." For those who go to blogs rather than sources it might be a revelation. Carole Donenfeld