Angry in the Great White North

From CNN:

Judith Young, national president of the The American Gold Star Mothers of America Inc., said she is concerned the public will mistake her 76-year-old Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization with Sheehan's group.

In Young's group, commonly known as Gold Star Moms, mothers whose children died in the line of duty volunteer in veterans' hospitals and programs. Members don't do advocacy work, Young said.

Strange. She is "concerned". Why? You would think that she would be supportive of the grieving of a fellow Gold Star mom, especially one who is trying to prevent any more mothers from joining their ranks. She suffered her own loss as well:

October 23, 1983, was a typical Lebanese morning, hot and humid, the air laying heavy on Beirut, when a huge blast cut through the Marine barracks. Many Marines were sleeping peacefully when a suicide bomber leveled the four-story brick building. The car bomb was the largest non-nuclear blast ever detonated. Witnesses said that the driver was smiling as he drove towards his death. The result: 241 American servicemen killed and 80 seriously wounded. Among the dead was Judith Young's son, Jeffrey.

Jeffrey Dennis Young served with 2nd Marine Division 2nd Recon. He was 22. "There was never any doubt that Jeff wanted to be a soldier, ever since he was a little boy playing with his GI Joes,'' said his mother. "When your children go into the service, there is always a danger that something bad will happen. We just didn't expect anything of this magnitude.''

Another young soldier lost in a Middle East adventure started by a Republican president, right?

In this case, the Americans did cut and run, and history took its course to where we are today. But Cindy Sheehan would have George W Bush do what Ronald Reagan did 22 years ago. To do that would probably mean many more Gold Star mothers 22 years from now.

I think I understand some of the concerns of Judith Young and the American Gold Star Mothers of America.

I bet the Gold Star Wives of America would be concerned as well:

Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is a non-profit membership organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress as a unique organization. To be eligible for membership, your spouse must have died while on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or died from a service-related disability.

There are currently 10,000 members nationwide, with over 60 active chapters. Their purpose:

To assist in upholding the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, and to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State, and Nation.

To honor the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country.

To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy for which members of our armed services fought and died.

To provide the benefits of a happy, healthful, and wholesome life to minor children of persons who died in the service of our country.

To promote activities and interests designed to foster among its members the proper mental attitude to face the future with courage.

To aid when necessary the widows and children of persons who died in the service of our country.

To do any and all things necessary and incidental to carry out the general purposes and objects of this organization.

These and other groups dedicated to helping people heal and come to terms with their grief. Nice to know that there are people who want to help.