The amount of media coverage being afforded to mainstream media mascot Cindy Sheehan rivals that of the biggest stories of the past two decades.  Both print and electronic media outlets have stationed adoring reporters in Crawford to record every “f” word uttered by their heroine.  While Michael Moore, their previous mascot, proved to be too repugnant for many on the left, Cindy is perfect for them.  Cindy the victim, Cindy the angry mom, Cindy the activist …Cindy is perfect for the victim-loving and victim-creating leftist, anti-American media.

Even though Cindy has had to leave Crawford due to her mother’s stroke. (luckily, Cindy’s husband filed for divorce before he had a stroke), the newspapers and television outlets continue to devote huge amounts of space to the mother who claims to speak for all mothers of those who have died serving their country in Iraq.  For example, the August 19 Minneapolis StarTribune gave their mascot a below-the-fold front page headline and four fifths of page A6.  But the really telling news was in a separate article on the bottom right corner of the front page of the same paper.  The article was actually printed under the bold headline “War protester leaves camp after mom falls ill”.  The smaller headline under that one stated “Minnesotan says protest dishonors her dead son”.  That article is continued in the lower one fifth of page A6, just under the very large continuation of the Sheehan non-story.  While I give the paper a bit of credit for even mentioning that some mom’s disagree with Cindy, the placement of that article is disgraceful. 

While many will miss the headline and the content of the article, I want to be sure that all of those reading this blog do not.  The article was written by Eric Black, Minneapolis StarTribune, August 19, 2005.  It is re-printed here in its entirety.

“Cindy Sheehan's protest vigil outside the Bush ranch is ‘a slap in the face’ to the soldiers who have been killed in Iraq, in the opinion of Marny Fasnacht, whose son Michael died in Iraq.

“Sheehan wants to challenge President Bush to specify the "noble cause" for which her son gave his life. Fasnacht, the mother of one of 25 Minnesotans who have died in the war in Iraq, would like to answer that.

“Michael Fasnacht, 25, of Mankato (Minnesota), believed the mission was about defending freedom, spreading democracy and defeating terrorism, said Marny Fasnacht, 58, of Janesville.

“To suggest that he chose to risk his life for a cause that was neither noble nor necessary feels to Fasnacht like an insult to his intelligence. ‘He was highly intelligent, and I agree with him,’ Fasnacht said. She then took from her Bible one of her son's last letters and read this passage:

" ‘I feel very good about being here to relieve the men that have already been here a year and are ready to go home. I am also proud to be involved in such an influential conflict in history. ... I hope the Iraqis will be able to capitalize on the opportunity we are giving them. At least the seeds are planted now.’

“Fasnacht said her son believed the mission was also to fight terrorists in Iraq so they wouldn't have to be fought in the United States. If people think the terrorists won't come to U.S. shores, ‘they are kidding themselves,’ she said.

“It upsets her that ‘some Americans take their freedom for granted and enjoy it but don't think about the people that are standing in the gap, defending their freedom,’ she said.

‘For Sheehan to sit out there and scream that their lives were lost for nothing, I feel dishonors my son. It is the farthest thing from the truth, and I appreciate the opportunity to say something about it.’

“Fasnacht said she understands Bush's decision not to meet with Sheehan and ‘I don't think it would do him any good to talk to her.’  She believes that if news media coverage of the Sheehan vigil reaches the troops in Iraq, it runs the risk of undermining their morale. ‘We've got to let them know that we are backing them up,’ she said.  She said she does not support the decision of (Minnesota) State Sen. Becky Lourey and congressional candidate Coleen Rowley to join Sheehan in Texas. Lourey, like Fasnacht, lost her son in the war.

“Said Fasnacht: ‘If these people are right, like Mrs. Sheehan or Mrs. Lourey, then what are they saying about these guys who volunteered. Do they have air in their brains? Let's give them some credit for knowing what they're doing over there.’

“Michael Fasnacht was leader of a platoon that included 33 soldiers and three Bradley fighting vehicles. Their assignment was to find and capture bomb-makers, she said. He died on June 8, after being hit by a bomb while on patrol.  ‘He was a courageous hero. There's no getting around it,’ his mother said. ‘I'm not adjusted to his death.’”

Not all mothers (or fathers) who have lost a child to the war against terror agree with media mascot, Cindy Sheehan.  It is time that the press gave coverage to those who believe their sons (and daughters) died for a valiant cause.