Thoughts on Cindy Sheehan

A moving editorial in the Wall Street Journal from Ronald Griffin, father of a soldier killed in Iraq, on the controversy surrounding Cindy Sheehan.

Grief manifest itself various ways. At the death of a loved one, some turn to God, some turn inwards, and some lash out and assign blame. These responses can be equally "valid" and legitimate, especially to outside observors. Death is a sensitive and private subject, and the loss of a son or daughter - not necessarily a "child", is particularly sad.

Cindy Sheehan, camped out in Crawford, Texas, protesting the war that her son died in, has chosen to take her grief public. There is no shame in this, and I have no interest in analyzing her motives, background or goals. I have nothing to add that both sides of the debate have not already said about her and her actions.

(It is clear that this is not about Iraq alone. Sheehan's comments about our support of Israel and the Israel/Palestinian conflict make it clear where she stands on broader political questions. She also told Chris Matthews recently that she would probably have felt the same way she feels now (about the Bush administration and her son's death) if Casey had been killed in Afghanistan.)

But, regardless of where one stands on the war, her anger is understandable. Of course, as most who have lost loved ones may understand, this anger is ultimately pointless - even if is tied to "political" issues. As one mother of a soldier killed in action points out in the WSJ piece, she "cannot add the additional baggage of anger" to her grief.

My hope for Ms. Sheehan is that she can someday respect and honor his decision to volunteer and fight for his country. Short of that, I hope that she will eventually be able to look at a picture of Casey and not feel the anger she likely feels today.