NYT: In War Debate, Parents of Fallen Are United Only in Grief

[kskiska]

David Clemons seethes when he sees Cindy Sheehan on television, standing among small white crosses in an antiwar encampment named for her dead son.

To Mr. Clemons, her protest is a crushing insult to his own son, who was also killed while fighting in Iraq.

"The lady is not honoring her son's sacrifice, because we don't have a draft, and he went and signed his name on the dotted line," said Mr. Clemons, of Winchester, Tenn., whose son, Nathan, 20, was killed by a roadside bomb on June 14. "She'd better not be presenting herself as the voice of all the fallen."

Andre Lieurance, a retired naval officer whose son, Victoir, 34, was killed by a bomb just last week, said he found Ms. Sheehan so stirring that he might join her vigil at Camp Casey.

"I just want some answers about why we're over there," said Mr. Lieurance, of Knoxville, Tenn. "I don't even see the purpose anymore. It's frustrating, and I'm angry."

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http://nytimes.com/2005/08/28/national/28parents.html?hp&ex=1125201600&en=82939af7a6279206&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[XanaDUer]

1. I feel for the parents' grief

but do they not see the difference between their precious child dying to protect America or dying based on a lie?

I do not understand this.

Even if one volunteers for the military, and he is correct about them signing on the dotted line, does that make lying the US into an invasion okay , then?

[deadparrot]

2. I'm so goddamn sick

of these people presuming that Cindy speaks for everyone.

She has NEVER said she speaks for all fallen soldiers and their families. These people are free to believe what they want about their child's death. I think their reasoning is shitty and their philosophy insane, true, but they've earned the right to say their piece. But stop making claims about a woman you've never met or spoken to.

[XanaDUer]

3. You make a good point.

...

[othermeans]

6. I was thinking the same thing. She's not as presumptious as they are

in their acrimonious prattling.

[MADem]

4. I cannot understand why someone expressing GRIEF over these deaths

...is viewed as DISHONORING them. Oh, I guess you have to wear those GOP rose colored 'light at the end of the tunnel' glasses to see it that way....

[Nite Owl]

5. They volunteered to serve and

protect America but not for the lies which are bringing harm. The lies, that the rest of the world is aware of, have lost us decades of hard earned good will, have ruined our reputation and it will be harder to do anything else because of this. It isn't ok to die for a lie. They were betrayed. Maybe this is the only way these families can cope with their loss but they are being blinded to the truth and hopefully someday they will find the strength to face it.