Text 14758, 76 rader
Skriven 2005-08-25 19:25:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: Cindy
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Excellent.  The feel a movement coming on...

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cindy-sheehan/camp-casey-day-18_b_6184.html

I got up really early today to head back to Camp Casey. On the way, I had some
amazing conversations with people. In one of those conversations, I was talking
to Tyler who was sitting next to me on one of the planes.

We were not talking about me and what I have been doing. Randomly, he told me
he had just been in Texas about an hour north of Crawford. I said: "Wow that's
where I am going and that's where I have been all month." He said: "I know I
own a television." I thought that was pretty cute.

I got to Camp Casey and I arrived with a mom whose son, John, was killed on
January 26, 2005, and his wife and baby, who never met his dad. We arrived in
Waco at about 4:30 to the local press. The White House Press Corps was still
with the president.

When I arrived at Camp Casey II this afternoon I was amazed at what has changed
since I was gone. Now, we have a huge tent to get out of the sun; caterers; an
orientation tent; a medic tent (with medics); a chapel, etc.

The most emotional thing for me though was walking through the main tent and
seeing the huge painting on canvas of Casey. Many things hit me all at once:
That this huge movement began because of Casey's sacrifice; thousands, if not
millions of people know about Casey and how he lived his life and the wrongful
way in which he was killed; but the thing that hit me the hardest was how much
I miss him. I miss him more everyday. It seems the void in my life grows as
time goes on and I realize I am never going to see him again or hear his voice.
In addition to all this, the portrait is so beautiful and moving and it
captures Casey's spirit so well. I sobbed and sobbed. I was surrounded by
photographers, I looked around until I finally found a friendly face, then the
news people crushed in on me and I couldn't breathe. I didn't mean to have such
a dramatic re-entrance to Camp Casey, but the huge portrait of Casey really
surprised me.

I can take all of the right wing attacks on me. I have been lied about and to
before. Their attacks just show how much I am getting to them and how little
truth they have to tell. What really hurts me the most is when people say that
I am dishonoring Casey by my protest in Crawford. By wanting our troops to come
home alive and well, that I am somehow not supporting them.

So, after Joan Baez gave us a great concert tonight, I got up and I talked
about Casey. About the sweet boy who grew up to be a remarkable young man.
Casey was not always a brave, big soldier man. He was my sweet, sweet baby
once. I told the people at the Camp named after him, that when he was about 2
years old, he would come up behind me and throw his arms around my legs, kiss
me on the butt and say: "I wuv you mama." I also talked about the loving big
brother and wonderful, nearly perfect son. Casey was a regular guy who wanted
to get married, have a family, be an elementary school teacher, and a Deacon in
the Catholic Church. He wanted to be a Chaplain?s assistant in the Army, but
was lied to about that also by his recruiter. The last time I talked to him
when he called from Kuwait, ! he was on his way to mass.

For Casey to even join the Army, let alone being killed in battle was the thing
that was most uncharacteristic of him. He was a gentle and kind soul who only
wanted to help others. What did his untimely and unnecessary death accomplish?
It accomplished reinvigorating a peace movement that was sincere, but not very
active -- or if active, not well covered by the main stream media.

Joan sang the song Joe Hill In it Joe Hill says: "I never died." Well, looking
out at the faces here at Camp Casey, and knowing that for everyone who is
present here, there are thousands of others who support our work, I am
convinced that Casey never died, and he never will. When I look into the eyes
of the kind and gentle souls who have come here, I see Casey and the faces of
all the others killed in George Bush?s war for greed and profit. We will never
forget them and we will honor them by working for peace.

Joan also sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." A thousand angels waiting there for
me? I know Casey will be waiting for me when it is my turn, and I know when I
finally get there he?'s going to hug me and say: "Good job, Mom."

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