American Views Abroad


Sunday, August 14, 2005
 
Cindy Sheehan's speech at the Veterans for Peace National Convention is at http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=7436.

It's a powerful moving speech. Here a few of her words:

....It's up to us, the people, to break immoral laws, and resist. As soon as the leaders of a country lie to you, they have no authority over you. These maniacs have no authority over us. And they might be able to put our bodies in prison, but they can't put our spirits in prison.

....And we demonize the Iraqi people, where, most of this country doesn't even think we're killing innocent people. Because, 'Oh Cindy, don't you remember what happened on September 11th?' 'Yeah, but, were any of those people in Iraq? And the people who flew those planes into the World Trade Center, were they from Iraq? When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's 'Terrorists'. So you always have to have somebody to fight and be afraid of, so the war machine can build more bombs, guns, and bullets and everything.
But I do see hope. I see hope in this country. 58% of the American public are with us. We're preaching to the choir, but the choir's not singing, if all of the 58% started singing, this war would end.

....The opposite of good is not evil, it's apathy. And we have to get this country off their butts, and we have to get the choir singing.

Sheehan mentions Kevin Benderman in her speech. Sgt. Benderman was sentenced to 15 months confinement, loss of rank, forfeiture of pay and a dishonourable discharge for refusing to serve a second tour of duty in Iraq. Amnesty International declared him a 'prisoner of conscience' and is seeking his immediate release. Monica Benderman, his wife, has written an open letter making the case for peace in There is No Enemy Greater Than Ourselves at www.truthout.org/docs_2005/081205D.shtml.

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