Mother of son who died in Iraq arrested

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Mother of son who died in Iraq arrested
36
Fri, 09-17-2004 - 9:05am
at Laura Bush event.

Did anyone see last night's Countdown? They had actual footage of a mother being arrested at a Laura Bush event. The mom was standing outside a building wearing a t-shirt that read something like "Pres. Bush I blame you for killing my son". It was just her and about 10 reporters and a camera which was videotaping her being interviewed. Then you see two police officers come up and ask her to come with them. She refuses, and they arrest her. She asks what's she be arrested for, which they don't answer and as they're dragging her off she says "but I have a ticket for this event". The media were shocked. I don't think any of them had been so close to witness it and even more to have it on tape!

I think the eventual charge was "defiant trespassing".

I'm assuming after she's released, can't remember, she's being interviewed again. She had written to Bush with her ex-husband and said something along the lines that they blamed him for their son's death. She was asked if she heard anything back. She says "No, but they did get something that asked if they'd like to donate to Bush/Cheney 04".

So for all the doubting Thomases about what's happening at Bush rallies - here's one caught on tape. It hasn't been posted on Countdown yet, or I would've posted the link and of course it doesn't appear as any other media picked up on it yet as I've googled the heck out of it to no avail (but it's early yet). Can anyone add any insight as to why or how the police are doing this too? Or are they just "following orders"? Any legal issues with this? Seems like harassment to me.

This is really out there, but I sometimes wonder if Bush even knows how many people died in Iraq. It seems such great lengths are taken to keep him from seeing any protesters and he has never attended a funeral of any of those that have died. The coffins are brought in late at night at Dover so it never appears in the media. I had heard that he has a thing about death, as in he avoids it and any mention of it, since his sister passed away. Don't know if that's true.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 12:28am
<>

Yeah, you seem like a heartless, deluded republican to me. Both of these stories are local news to me. She and Nick Berg both lost their children. I don't know if you are a mother or not but if I had a child lost in this war I would confront bush or the closest person I could find campaigning for him.

Also, in reading your link, she seems pretty reasonable:

"What were your thoughts on the war before your son left?"

"I was totally against the war then. My feeling was that it was religious war, guerrilla atmosphere. They could care less about human lives. When you don't care about lives it's a war you can't win. I thought it was Bush's vendetta -- cleaning up his father's mess."

Sounds reasonable to me. Don't you understand that is how half of the country feels?

And really, many if not most people in the military join just to advance their career, or help them pay for school or give them something to do because they don't know what they want to do with their lives. Isn't that what bush did? Oh, that's right he got into the guard via priveledge to keep from serving in Viet Nam.





iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 12:38am

On the basis of what she has said. Since she has put this in the public forum, people are free to

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 12:52am

Not heartless. I have the utmost respect & sympathy for who have lost children in war like my family has. I have an issue with people who either consciously or naively

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 12:59am
I agree to some extent. I have a problem with some of the things she said. Her son didn't enlist because of patriotism, but because he had college debts and was the miltary as a way to get his dream job of being in the CIA or FBI and was told he wouldn't go into combat, in 2002 while we were at war? Puleeze! If she was so hell bent against the war then she shouldn't have allowed her son to enlist in the first place. Most people who enlisted after 9/11 did so because of their patriotism. I'm sorry her son enlisted for the wrong reasons during a time of war. And I truly am truly sorry her son died and I hope she can find some closure someday.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 1:20am
<>

Why? If these people lost loved ones in a war representing our country and "exploit" it either consciously or naively... who cares? Who is anyone to question how someone else grieves? If someone is against this war and has a loved one who is killed in it, who are we to question what they are feeling.

<>

Hmm, MOST of the country? Well, first of all the polls are pretty much showing a dead heat. Polls are also showing that most people think the war in Iraq is not going well.

please tell me what bush has done to fight this so called war on terror. Why didn't he strike Al Qaeda after the intel confirmed they were responsible for the Cole attack? Why did bush fight the 9/11 commission at every turn? why haven't we found bin laden? why are we in iraq? Even republican senators are saying that iraq is a disaster.



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 1:51am
<<"If she was so hell bent against the war then she shouldn't have allowed her son to enlist in the first place. ">>.... yes, and IMO the actual grieving has yet to 'set in'. I

Djie

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 2:16am
Only thing I can think of is that people like to sometimes be over-dramatic. *shrug* XOXO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 2:24am
I do agree there. They know what they're getting into. It's like being a firefighter or a cop for example. My uncle and my grandfather were both in the navy and they knew what they were doing but luckily they are still a live and well. I know my grandma wouldn't be like that with my uncle. I don't know about my other grandmother though cause you never know how she's going to be with stuff. *shrug* XOXO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 10:48pm
I am continually amazed, people here love the Iraqi's so much they are willing to sacrifice other people's children to save the Iraqi's. Then they have no compassion for our own fellow countrymen & women.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 11:16pm

Unless you have lost a son or daughter I think you should not be judging someone else's behavior at the loss of theirs.

Donna