[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends]

January 27th, 2006

10:13 pm [Link]

Mother Courage: Cindy Sheehan in Venezuela Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sent by Waldo Granma Daily - January 26, 2006 http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu Cindy Sheehan, Mother Courage I share my pain with all the mothers who are victims of the empire PEDRO DE LA HOZ Special Correspondent CARACAS- "There is no difference between my pain and that of an Iraqi mother or another that has lost a son or daughter to hunger, misery or lack of medical care in the impoverished and plundered countries. I share my pain with all the mothers who are victims of the empire's policies." Cindy Sheehan is like a burning flame. Months ago she became a real Mother Courage to the world. It is impressive how this pale, blond and gentle woman -never before involved in public affairs- has been had able to systematically denounce her government's war against Iraq, where her son Casey died. Currently in Caracas, Sheehan is one of the most prominent participants at the World Social Forum. With the help of Joel Suarez of the Martin Luther King Center in Havana, Granma conducted a brief interview with her. It stands out that Cindy uses the word "empire" to refer to the US government. "Empires -she explains- have always existed; unfortunately we have perfected this insane concept of pursuing world hegemony at any cost." What began as an example of one person's pain has become not only a symbol but also a way of confronting the foundations of the system itself. Cindy describes it this way: "For me, peace and justice have to go together. I hope the occupation of Iraq ends as soon as possible, but that is not enough. We need a philosophy of peace to prevail in the world, that there be no more military ventures. However, for this to take place there must be a more just world where wealth is equally distributed and where human dignity is respected; a world in which the human being is really human and overcomes racial and religious prejudices." "I know -she clarified- that those are lofty goals, but I won't give them up. It is the way I can honor my dead son." I asked Sheehan to comment on the situation at the US Guantanamo Naval Base, a 21st century concentration camp. "It is shameful that such a thing could exist at this time in history. Not even the most minimal human rights are respected there. We have also learned with horror that these practices are not only conducted in that territory that the United States occupies without the consent of the Cuban people. I was shocked by the news that soldiers from my country have concealed torture camps in other countries allied to the empire." A Brazilian colleague joined in the conversation introducing an interesting twist by asking Sheehan her opinion of Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, asking if they had shown solidarity with the losses faced by US mothers. "I don't think those women have maternal instincts, not even true human instincts. I call them 'women' in quotation marks. Rice is convinced that the war in Iraq is correct and should be waged in all its intensity against the growing resistance movement. Clinton wants to solve the problem by sending more troops, exposing both us and Iraqi mothers to death. Both women are totally removed from the feelings of the majority of US mothers." Why is Cindy here in Caracas at the World Social Forum? "It's the kind of event where many ideas are exchanged and the best are promoted. I believe that talking about our movement, of the struggle we are fighting, is of great value in the ears of the young people." Cindy pauses and then continues: "In the end, it's about no more mothers losing their sons to the whims of a ruler." * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ ================================================================ UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545 Informant: David Silver From ufpj-news