GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Men and women every day are sent to war to fight a cause. What is that cause exactly? Some will never know. Mrs. Cindy Sheehan is an anti-war activist who lost her son. Sheehan’s son Casey was among the many killed in . Casey lost his life on April 4th, 2004 at the age of 24. There are very few people in this world that will stand up for a cause they believe in. Sheehan does not just stand still, she stands strong.

A woman who is as strong willed as Sheehan is in no case going to back down. We are not talking about any ordinary protestor. Instead a woman who had the courage to set up her own peace camp in front of President Bush’s Texas ranch in 2005.

It is now 2007 and there is still no stopping Sheehan. She at the moment is challenging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her congressional seat. In the year of 1987 Pelosi began representing California ’s eighth district in the House of Representatives. Pelosi is the first woman in all of American history to lead a major party in the United States Congress.

What is the end result of mixing two unstoppable women? Well we are dealing with two women that have two completely different views. Sheehan has threatened to challenge Pelosi for her congressional seat, and in exchange Sheehan asks that Pelosi impeaches President Bush by July 23rd, 2007. Sheehan feels that President Bush is only going to kill more young soldiers by sending them to war. A war that Sheehan feels is not necessary. “You can’t bring the troops home if you give George Bush $100 billion to wage this war,� she said. “You’re not supporting them. You’re keeping them in harm’s way.� It is indeed harms way to all of the parents and families that have and will continue to lose loved ones in this war.

It takes a strong person to stand up for what they believe in. It is evident that when one loses their own child they are going to fight harder and longer. Sheehan is proof of a driven individual that will stand up for her life and the life of her late son Casey Sheehan.

Where are Sheehan and her anti-war movement now? Well she plans on returning to the Presidents ranch in Crawford this weekend. She is planning not to protest, but instead to say her goodbyes to the peace movement. Sheehan has made it clear that she is not walking away from the anti-war rally. “I feel great,� Sheehan told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I’m feeling like it was the right decision for me. I feel like it was the best thing to do.� Sheehan will continue to stand up in the honor of her son. In 2006, she bought a lot for permanent protesting, with the insurance money from Casey Sheehan’s death. Sheehan has put more then her two cents in on many issues concerning President Bush. “…he has dragged me kicking and screaming back in.� It is clear that Sheehan will always feel passionate about this subject matter. When one loses life in which they created, the love and connection is still there.

Sheehan would like to move onto other projects, but is unable to do so until Pelosi is challenged. Sheehan will keep her fingers crossed in hope that Pelosi will brings up those papers to impeach President Bush. Sheehan would like to go onto several humanitarian projects overseas and in addition even run for office. As for now, Cindy Sheehan will continue you to make notice on issues that she feels very strongly about. She wants Bush out and the War over. Most importantly, she wants the young men and women out of , and home to their families.

Written by Laura M. Sacks

First published in Los Angeles Free Press

July, 2007