Post by TRIPWIRE on Jan 31, 2006 23:03:44 GMT -5
January 31, 2006
Cindy Sheehan: Arrested
Written by David M. Hickerson
Originally Posted at tripwire.hickersonfamily.net/2006_0131.html
I'm sure this will make me look like a huge prick, but I got a big laugh tonight when I was updating CNN's website only to read that Cindy Sheehan had been arrested in the House chamber [1] prior to the start of the State of the Union message. MSNBC also has an article about the arrest [2], as does FOX news. [5]
Sure, she lost her son, Casey, as a result of the conflict in Iraq, and I understand that she must feel somehow as though the President directly owes her something in return, but how can anyone deny that her persistent stalking since (at least) the middle of 2005 is kinda strange? I think that under any more normal circumstance between any two regular citizens her actions would be seen similar to the way we see harassment and stalking, and if I were the President, I would have been seriously concerned about whether she might be on an assassination mission.
Some people I've talked to seem to think that this is a ridiculous rationale. I respect their differing opinion, but I honestly can't fathom why they think so. If nothing else, as a result of the sign she was wearing, she was protesting "without a permit," which is a misdemeanor offense. What she was doing was against the law, at least in D.C. Call it activism, call it civil disobedience, call it whatever you want, but to do their job properly the police had to arrest her.
Of course, the articles aren't exactly singing in unison; CNN's article now states that she was arrested for "unlawful conduct," whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. You'd think that these laws would be a little more specific... Of course, I'd call protesting without a permit unlawful conduct so I guess technically both could be true.
Just a bit of background information: Cindy was invited to the speech by Democrat Representative Lynn Woolsey of California [3]. Woolsey was the primo House member to introduce a bill that would require the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, [4] so she automatically gets the title of "crazy woman" in my book (I don't have to like the war to see that leaving now would be a horrible idea). I have to admit, I'm not surprised that she'd invite Sheehan. I have a hard time believing that she had no idea of Sheehan's intention to wear a ridiculous shirt in protest of the President's decision to invade Iraq.
I'll offer further observations if I have any, of course, but I really don't see why this should balloon into a big deal other than the fact that certain people are going to find it offensive that a "grieving mother" was arrested.
References:
1. www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/index.html
2. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11120353/
3. woolsey.house.gov/
4. www.woolseyforcongress.com/
5. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183392,00.html
Cindy Sheehan: Arrested
Written by David M. Hickerson
Originally Posted at tripwire.hickersonfamily.net/2006_0131.html
I'm sure this will make me look like a huge prick, but I got a big laugh tonight when I was updating CNN's website only to read that Cindy Sheehan had been arrested in the House chamber [1] prior to the start of the State of the Union message. MSNBC also has an article about the arrest [2], as does FOX news. [5]
Sure, she lost her son, Casey, as a result of the conflict in Iraq, and I understand that she must feel somehow as though the President directly owes her something in return, but how can anyone deny that her persistent stalking since (at least) the middle of 2005 is kinda strange? I think that under any more normal circumstance between any two regular citizens her actions would be seen similar to the way we see harassment and stalking, and if I were the President, I would have been seriously concerned about whether she might be on an assassination mission.
Some people I've talked to seem to think that this is a ridiculous rationale. I respect their differing opinion, but I honestly can't fathom why they think so. If nothing else, as a result of the sign she was wearing, she was protesting "without a permit," which is a misdemeanor offense. What she was doing was against the law, at least in D.C. Call it activism, call it civil disobedience, call it whatever you want, but to do their job properly the police had to arrest her.
Of course, the articles aren't exactly singing in unison; CNN's article now states that she was arrested for "unlawful conduct," whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. You'd think that these laws would be a little more specific... Of course, I'd call protesting without a permit unlawful conduct so I guess technically both could be true.
Just a bit of background information: Cindy was invited to the speech by Democrat Representative Lynn Woolsey of California [3]. Woolsey was the primo House member to introduce a bill that would require the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, [4] so she automatically gets the title of "crazy woman" in my book (I don't have to like the war to see that leaving now would be a horrible idea). I have to admit, I'm not surprised that she'd invite Sheehan. I have a hard time believing that she had no idea of Sheehan's intention to wear a ridiculous shirt in protest of the President's decision to invade Iraq.
I'll offer further observations if I have any, of course, but I really don't see why this should balloon into a big deal other than the fact that certain people are going to find it offensive that a "grieving mother" was arrested.
References:
1. www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/index.html
2. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11120353/
3. woolsey.house.gov/
4. www.woolseyforcongress.com/
5. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183392,00.html