by Cindy Sheehan
Book Published on September 18, 2006
(Also see Military Mom Cindy Sheehan Resigns from Anti-War Movement, May 28, 2007)
If you're reading this book review, the name Cindy Sheehan is likely familiar to you. Cindy is the mother of US Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, a Humvee mechanic who was killed in Iraq in 2004 by an enemy bullet to his head. Casey was 24 years old, and had been in Iraq for only five days.
Cindy's Conversion to Feted Anti-War Activist
"Peace Mom" is Cindy's heartfelt story of her conversion from "apathetic, ignorant, materialistic and TV-logged" wife and mother of four before Casey's death to internationally-feted anti-war activist and probable 2006 Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
"Peace Mom" is the classic and yet, ancient, account of a plain-spoken, naive, single-minded crusader who, spurred by an event, arose from the common masses to fill a desperate void in leadership. Writes Rev. Jesse Jackson, "Cindy Sheehan is a witness in the great tradition of Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Harriet Tubman."
And this book is classic Cindy, with quicksilver wit, painful honesty, astonishing courage, four-letter epithets, emotional storms, and, at times, too much personal information.
But that's all part of Cindy's extreme honesty. She hides nothing.
Despite the media fanfare and celebrity hype that now surrounds Sheehan, she's correct when she writes:
"What I am is a devastated, broken-hearted mother who will mourn the needless death of my son for the rest of my life. I just want the killing to stop before there are any more American or Iraqi Casey and Cindy Sheehans."
Casey Sheehan
The first chapters provide vital context for the rest of the book by telling of early life in the Sheehan home: the birth and growing-up of four children, Cindy's seven years as a youth leader at a local Catholic parish, and much about Casey, the person and son.
As a mother, one of the more emotional chapters for me was "April 4, 2004," which was the day Casey was killed. Ever excruciatingly authentic, Cindy describes the heart-wrenching moment when she returns from walking the family dog to find the "Army's Angels of Death" in her living room, as well as the following days and weeks.
Meetings with John McCain, George Bush and Hillary Clinton
The more intriguing anecdotes of Cindy's book involve the hallow condolences and callous treatment from government officials and agencies after Casey's demise, from "letters from George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld that were signed by machines" to several startling meetings with Senator John McCain and President George W. Bush.
I won't give away the details of two McCain meetings, one with President Bush, as well as a later meeting with Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Harry Reid, but suffice to say, since absolutely no one is threatening to sue Cindy over the facts, these revealing moments alone are worth the price of Cindy's 242-page book.
Cindy tells it like it is. No holds barred. That's her beauty as a reformer and activist. And that's why her unbridled honesty scares so many. Love her or hate her... she's telling the truth.
(CONTINUED on page two)
