Peace Mom

Working for peace is not always peaceful.

I can only imagine the pain of loss a parent feels after losing a child. And I do imagine it in my darkest nightmares. Gold Star Mother, Cindy Sheehan lives with this pain every day, and night, I am sure.

On April 4, 2004, her son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan was killed in action after being part of a Quick Reaction Force to rescue American troops in the "Black Sunday" incident that began the Siege of Sadr City. A loss of this magnitude changes you. It can destroy you, or move you into action. Thank God, Cindy took the latter path.

I first became aware of her in August 2005 for her extended antiwar protest at a makeshift camp outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch—a stand that made her many friends... and enemies. Sheehan spent four weeks in Crawford. On some days as many as 1,500 supporters visited Camp Casey, including members of the U.S. Congress, as well as “celebrities”. She lost the support of many of these fair-weather friends when her anti-war stance continued into the Obama presidency. (Obama dropped more bombs and deported more “folks” than any modern president, but he’s half black, so give him a Nobel Prize and be quiet.)

She was supposed to shut up and swallow the narrative that Blue wars are good, and only Red wars are bad. Well, no one or thing can shut up Cindy. She possesses traits that are in short supply these days: Moral consistency, courage and integrity. Her loyalty is to peace and to the truth, not a corrupt political party establishment.

Sheehan ran for Congress and Vice President. She also hosts a weekly radio show which began in 2009. I am honored to be on her show each time I am invited. I’m also a proud guest blogger on her website. She has interviewed countless activists, thinkers and even world leaders.

I was also honored when she asked me to design the cover of one of her books, The Obama Files. The cover image and content of said book remain controversial. (Imagine my surprise) Amazon banned it at one point. People have accused me of racism for creating the image of Obama as a slave to the Pentagon. Larry Pinkney, a founding member of the Black Panthers and the author of the foreword to the book says it’s not racist and that’s good enough for me.

Cindy has been arrested more than anyone I know. The war criminals she exposes have never seen a jail cell. We are not naive enough to believe they will.

On March 7, 2006, Sheehan was arrested in New York "after blocking the door to the U.S. Mission to the U.N. offices" during a protest with Iraqi women against the war.

On March 20, 2010, Sheehan was again arrested in front of the White House, On October 5, 2009, Sheehan was arrested with 60 others at the White House protesting President Obama's continuation of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She tirelessly continues to organize anti-war events all over the country.

She never stops speaking truth to power and working for a more peaceful world by exposing the lies that take us to war.

No matter who happens to be in power.

There is only one Cindy Sheehan.

I am grateful to call her my friend.