t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
10:35 PM
http://truthout.org/cindy.shtml
I am back in the hotel room, sunburned and ant-chomped and utterly thrilled. Being here these last two days was the rarest privilege. It was a Happening in the truest sense of the word, and it is growing. If you can get here, get here.
BUT: Understand that this thing could be killed by its own success in two ways. 1) It could get so large that the cops would be forced to shut it down. Remember, there is very little available space for people and cars. We were all in ditches. 2) A lot of people could show up and turn the thing into a multi-faced multi-subject disorganized mess, and that would be a disaster. If you go, focus on Cindy and the families of the fallen soldiers, and ending the war and calling George to account. Period.
I am off to Boston tomorrow morning but am going to try to get back soon. Meanwhile, t r u t h o u t Editor Scott Galindez is staying here with camera in hand, so the videos will continue on this page.
Cindy and the other families, and all the activists who were there, and everyone keeping this vigil, are patriots and the rarest of heroes. Don't let disgruntled outsiders or blathering right-wing pundits tell you any different. It was an honor to stand in that ditch, to watch these Americans demand accountability from the public servant over the hillside.
Thanks for reading, and keep an eye here for more videos over the next several days. This is William Rivers Pitt, signing off from Crawford, Texas. Peace y'all.
A Nation Rocked to Sleep
By Carly Sheehan
Sister of Casey KIA 04/04/04
Sadr City, Baghdad
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
8:05 PM
I spoke to Cindy about the "so-called" family who attacked her today. This godmother, according to Cindy, did not know Casey at all. They saw each other maybe once a year. As for the other family members, they have always been at political loggerheads, so their response is no big shock.
Cindy treated it with a shrug. Her husband will send out a more detailed response soon. In the meantime, Cindy says the letter is to be treated as little more than bad, dumb noise.
The vigil goes on.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
7:55 PM
The sun is almost gone and the sky has turned a deep pure blue. Most of the crowd is gone, leaving the hard core behind to stand the watch as they have done all week. I am going to start saying my goodbyes to these remarkable, heroic people.
I will post some final thoughts in a bit. If something else happens, I will of course post it.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
7:22 PM
As remarkable and heartwarming as this has been, there are those moments that stomp your heart out. A woman arrived here not long ago with her teenage son. Her husband had been killed in Iraq. She had never in her life been involved in any activism, but heard about this and came out. She too, wants answers, like Cindy.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
6:49 PM
The sun is finally beginning to set behind a small line of trees, and the crowd has begun to thin out. The official count for today's gathering was 705, not counting press. Given the fact that we are in a drainage ditch by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, that is a great number.
It will grow tomorrow again.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
6:34 PM
Update: the Saturday rally at the Peace House will be at noon, Texas time.
It might be in the local football stadium.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:35 PM
A couple of coming events. There will be a rally at the Crawford Peace House on Saturday, details to be announced. On Sunday, there will be a meditation/interfaith service at the House at 1:30PM.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:22 PM
I may sound like a bit of a heretic saying this, but I have a rogue nerve tingling a concern right now.
Until today, the group here was relatively small, everyone knew each other and everyone was entirely on the same page.
Now there are a bunch of new folks here, and they all mean well, but a number of them appear to be interested in dragging the whole thing towards whatever other cause inspires them.
There is Pamphleteer Guy with his anti-theocracy newspaper buttonholing everyone he can find to buy his paper. There are the young radicals who are arguing with themselves about what actions they can take, whether or not those actions have anything to do with Cindy.
There is nothing wrong right now. I just hope the people who have just come, and the people on the way, remember to be down for the main cause that started this. It would be a real tragedy if this turned into an ANSWER rally, with everyone rocking their own rallying cry. Right now this is laser-focused. It needs to stay that way.
It is a good thing this has gotten big. Don't get me wrong. But if you're coming, pledge to stick to the main tent.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:06 PM
Another sudden influx of cars and again this quiet, desolate spot endures a traffic jam.
The Reverend Johnson is here to give a seminar on nonviolent protest. The folks here could give that seminar all by themselves.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By Anita Garcia
Thursday 11 August 2005
4:20 PM
Here is the latest information from Buddy Spell, the house attorney for Camp Casey:
"We've met for the last hour with two representatives of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office - Lt. Side Franklin and Sgt. John Kolinek." The legal team, comprised of Louisiana and Texas attorneys, and the Sheriff's office have a deal with the shared stated goal of having no one arrested, period. And we are prepared to say that any rumors of pending arrests of anyone at Camp Casey are false."
Also, Buddy has informed us that the Texas Civil Rights Project has found contributors of portalettes so that the protesters are able to have bathroom facilities on site. They expect the bathrooms will be delivered within the next few hours.
Buddy states that there are about 400 people total around the triangle. Roughly 100 media personnel and 300 protesters. He says that he has met Argentinean, Asian, German and BBC news people.
Families and supporters are building a mock-cemetery around the original tents. They have been working on the project since 6:30 AM this morning. There is a huge awning above the tents. Families on site have crosses for their children right up front, the rest are comprised of crosses for others killed in the war. They are filling up along the road, about 50 to 70 yards long, 3 deep.
Buddy relates that he and the rest of the legal team feel confident enough with the deal made with the local Sheriff that the Texas legal team was able to leave, which leaves Buddy and Annie on site as house attorneys for the protesters.
Pictures should be forthcoming, if they are not up already. NOGoddess from politicalswitchboard.com will be getting them up as soon as possible.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
4:11 PM
I think I am going to be on with Randi Rhodes at 4:30 Texas time
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
10:35 PM
I am back in the hotel room, sunburned and ant-chomped and utterly thrilled. Being here these last two days was the rarest privilege. It was a Happening in the truest sense of the word, and it is growing. If you can get here, get here.
BUT: Understand that this thing could be killed by its own success in two ways. 1) It could get so large that the cops would be forced to shut it down. Remember, there is very little available space for people and cars. We were all in ditches. 2) A lot of people could show up and turn the thing into a multi-faced multi-subject disorganized mess, and that would be a disaster. If you go, focus on Cindy and the families of the fallen soldiers, and ending the war and calling George to account. Period.
I am off to Boston tomorrow morning but am going to try to get back soon. Meanwhile, t r u t h o u t Editor Scott Galindez is staying here with camera in hand, so the videos will continue on this page.
Cindy and the other families, and all the activists who were there, and everyone keeping this vigil, are patriots and the rarest of heroes. Don't let disgruntled outsiders or blathering right-wing pundits tell you any different. It was an honor to stand in that ditch, to watch these Americans demand accountability from the public servant over the hillside.
Thanks for reading, and keep an eye here for more videos over the next several days. This is William Rivers Pitt, signing off from Crawford, Texas. Peace y'all.
A Nation Rocked to Sleep
By Carly Sheehan
Sister of Casey KIA 04/04/04
Sadr City, Baghdad
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
8:05 PM
I spoke to Cindy about the "so-called" family who attacked her today. This godmother, according to Cindy, did not know Casey at all. They saw each other maybe once a year. As for the other family members, they have always been at political loggerheads, so their response is no big shock.
Cindy treated it with a shrug. Her husband will send out a more detailed response soon. In the meantime, Cindy says the letter is to be treated as little more than bad, dumb noise.
The vigil goes on.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
7:55 PM
The sun is almost gone and the sky has turned a deep pure blue. Most of the crowd is gone, leaving the hard core behind to stand the watch as they have done all week. I am going to start saying my goodbyes to these remarkable, heroic people.
I will post some final thoughts in a bit. If something else happens, I will of course post it.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
7:22 PM
As remarkable and heartwarming as this has been, there are those moments that stomp your heart out. A woman arrived here not long ago with her teenage son. Her husband had been killed in Iraq. She had never in her life been involved in any activism, but heard about this and came out. She too, wants answers, like Cindy.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
6:49 PM
The sun is finally beginning to set behind a small line of trees, and the crowd has begun to thin out. The official count for today's gathering was 705, not counting press. Given the fact that we are in a drainage ditch by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, that is a great number.
It will grow tomorrow again.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
6:34 PM
Update: the Saturday rally at the Peace House will be at noon, Texas time.
It might be in the local football stadium.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:35 PM
A couple of coming events. There will be a rally at the Crawford Peace House on Saturday, details to be announced. On Sunday, there will be a meditation/interfaith service at the House at 1:30PM.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:22 PM
I may sound like a bit of a heretic saying this, but I have a rogue nerve tingling a concern right now.
Until today, the group here was relatively small, everyone knew each other and everyone was entirely on the same page.
Now there are a bunch of new folks here, and they all mean well, but a number of them appear to be interested in dragging the whole thing towards whatever other cause inspires them.
There is Pamphleteer Guy with his anti-theocracy newspaper buttonholing everyone he can find to buy his paper. There are the young radicals who are arguing with themselves about what actions they can take, whether or not those actions have anything to do with Cindy.
There is nothing wrong right now. I just hope the people who have just come, and the people on the way, remember to be down for the main cause that started this. It would be a real tragedy if this turned into an ANSWER rally, with everyone rocking their own rallying cry. Right now this is laser-focused. It needs to stay that way.
It is a good thing this has gotten big. Don't get me wrong. But if you're coming, pledge to stick to the main tent.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
5:06 PM
Another sudden influx of cars and again this quiet, desolate spot endures a traffic jam.
The Reverend Johnson is here to give a seminar on nonviolent protest. The folks here could give that seminar all by themselves.
t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By Anita Garcia
Thursday 11 August 2005
4:20 PM
Here is the latest information from Buddy Spell, the house attorney for Camp Casey:
"We've met for the last hour with two representatives of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office - Lt. Side Franklin and Sgt. John Kolinek." The legal team, comprised of Louisiana and Texas attorneys, and the Sheriff
- The Proverbial Truth About George W. Bush and Cindy Sheehan — Fri Aug 12 02:03
- [houston] Crawford Update and Info — Fri Aug 12 02:22
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