Apparently, many families with members serving in Iraq aren't as impressed with Mother Sheehan as the MSM seems to be. And seems to want us to be.

[9 AM EDT Update]

Here's a specific grieving father who says that Cindy Sheehan doesn't speak for him. Does he (in defiance of the meaning of the word "absolute") have less "absolute moral authority" than she does, Maureen? Or is it only grieving parents who are opposed to the war, and think that Bush did it for oil and imperialism, and is waging a nuclear war in Iraq, and should be impeached, who have that quality?

And he makes an excellent point. If, as she says, the moral authority of parents whose offspring (and no, they're not children, despite your and others' attempt to infantilize them for political purposes) are killed in Iraq is truly absolute, how does she reconcile these apparently conflicting views?

[Update at 11:40 AM EDT]

Mark Steyn has further related thoughts at The Spectator (registration required).

While the loss of her son or any American serviceman or woman is a tradegy, she is tarnishing the honor of all who have served and sacrificed in any war. All these bleeting sheep will never understand what it means to wear the uniform, or even why they have the right to whine and demand that the POTUS join in the pity party. I'm disgusted. Maybe if they had ever served, as I did in the US Navy for ten years, spending Christmas' in the African desert and months on end at sea, rarely seeing my family, maybe they would have an appreciation for what our brave men and women do for this country every day. And the MSM is even more to blame for this travisty by providing 24X7 coverage and glorification of this left wing pawn whackjob.

She sees a terrorist This is a terrorist.
From Michael Yon's post:

http://michaelyon.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_michaelyon_archive.html

Calling homicide bombers martyrs is a language offense; words are every bit as powerful as bombs, often more so. Calling murderers “martyrs” is like calling a man "customer" because he stood in line before gunning down a store clerk. There's no need to whisper. I hear the bombs every single day. Not some days, but every day. We're talking about criminals who actually volunteer and plan to deliberately murder and maim innocent people. What reservoir of feelings or sensibilities do we fear to assault by simply calling it so? When murderers describe themselves as "martyrs" it should sound to sensible ears like a rapist saying, “she was asking for it.” In other words, like the empty rationalizations of a depraved criminal.

Hear hear! Right on target JJS

I know a few retired military with sons and daughters in Iraq. Some of them disapprove of the war. I'm acquainted with a man who resigned from the Army after he saw what was happening in Iraq.

I know a retired Army colonel who said to me during the 2004 campaign "All my life I've been letting my fiscal conservativism trump my bleeding heart. Now what do I do?"

I know some current and retired military people who strongly support the war.

They all seem to get along better than the shouters in the blogosphere.

There's a wide range of opinion on the war. Sheehan, by this time, could well be a pawn of some of the truly nasty extreme leftists opposing the war in Iraq. They're only a few people, though.

Guys, I think both sides on this question would do better if they spent more time listening and thinking than shouting at each other -- and the rest of us.

She's no pawn Chuck. Look at her speech from San Francisco State University. I agree with you shouting gets us nowhere. Logical analyses of the facts, not emotional tirades are the only way I would ever discuss the issue. Nothing I have posted, or Michael Yon posted is in any way inflaming. It’s just simple truths.

NOT ONCE, in all this have we heard from dad on he subject. He is seeking a divorce from Cindy the wacko. Cindy the wife and mother have left tpown never to return. Her other kids don't understand why mommy isn't home, and have evidently written her letters to get her to come home. Her husband doesn't understand her doing this, would her dead son?

Nor have we heard what Cindy's son said in letters home. Surely he had something to say, positive or negative about his serviice. I never met a service member who wasn't willing to tell you what they thought of their present duty or situation. Perhaps he was SO dupoed he was speechless. Did her son indeed feel like a dupe? Or like 99.9% of the people sent to the "Unjust War", was he proud of his service?

Not to mention, we have never heard IF her views have changed SINCE her son was killed?!?!?! Was she dismayed at his JOINING the Army to start with, or was she supportive. And he did join, the draft ended long before he was born. Was she a bleeding heart, hand wringing, whining liberal even before her son was killed? Or did the loss of her son drive her to the Liberal side of the force.

BTW, who is paying for her sojourn to Texas?

JJS,

Michael Yon's piece was honest and thoughtful. So was the former Army officer's (name Oscar Estrada) piece which appeared in the Washington Post. It was highly critical of the war.

I can't find Oscar's piece on the war on the web anymore. He was transferred and his marriage delayed because of it.

I can also say -- from personal knowledge (we both hang out in the Hash House Harriers) -- he's a good man and responsible citizen.

I don't know you well enough, JJS, to comment on you. Your posts in this thread seem measured and thoughtful. Andy, the man who posted previously to you, though, seems a bit narrow minded. He hasn't given me any real reason to agree with him. He might have served in the military, but he's not in combat now. He's not doing the supporters of the war good, at least in my mind.