11 April 2007

I was perusing articles on Media Matters for America today, when I came across an article referring to Cindy Sheehan wearing a tee shirt depicting the current count of American servicemen KIA in Iraq, with the question, "How many more?" Apparently, the Baltimore Sun referred to it as "less patriotic" that a tee shirt worn by Beverly Young, stating "Support the Troops -- Defending Our Freedom." Media Matters goes on to note, "Neither AP nor the Sun explained how decrying the deaths of more than 2,000 American service members indicated a lack of support for the troops or lack of patriotism." Since the folks at Media Matters are apparently incapable of processing the situation, I will sum it up. I will begin by stating, unequivocally, that I cannot imagine a more vile or reprehensible thing for a mother to do, than what Mrs. Sheehan has done to her son. She uses her own son's heroic sacrifice in the name of honor and human liberty to claim moral authority to denounce the very cause for which he fought. Further, she attaches that moral authority to people like Michael Moore, and organizations like United for Peace and Justice, who have explicitly stated that they believe that the people who killed her son were justified in doing so. I lack knowledge of any invective strong enough to condemn her. Now, on the subject of the patriotism of her shirt: what that shirt does, is give the illusion that the American servicemen fallen in Iraq are victims whom Sheehan is championing. What arrogance! These brave people do not need a champion-they are the champions of human life, liberty and dignity in face of inhuman cruelty. To denigrate her son-a hero who knowingly and willingly volunteered to put himself in harm's way to promote freedom and democracy abroad-by transforming him into a victim...this is the very opposite of patriotism. Patriots honor the memory of fallen heroes. Patriots volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to promote the best ideals of their community, and to defend their community from harm. I cannot imagine how anyone would be confused regarding the patriotism of Cindy Sheehan's continued denigration and victimization of the U. S. Armed Forces. Sincerely,

Jason C. Diederich