Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey through Heartache to Activism

by Cindy Sheehan

The determined mother of Casey Sheehan, an army specialist who was killed in action during his service in Iraq, describes the epiphany that led her to dedicate her life to promoting global peace, her decision to become an anti-war activist after meeting with President Bush, and the impact of her Crawford, Texas, vigil at the president's ranch. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Politics, Memoir, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan is an American anti-war activist, whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the Iraq War. She attracted national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended antiwar protest at a makeshift camp outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch—a stand that drew both passionate support and criticism. Sheehan ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008. She was a vocal critic of President Barack Obama's foreign policy. Her memoir, Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache to Activism, was published in 2006.

Sheehan was the 2012 vice-presidential nominee of the Peace and Freedom Party, and received 1.2% of the statewide vote in the 2014 California gubernatorial election.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spring of 2000, twenty-one year old Casey Sheehan returned home and announced that he had joined the United States Army. His surprised parents asked him why. Confused, he said, 'I thought I was supposed to.'

Casey joined the army on the Delayed Entry Program. Enticed by the recruiter's promises of college, being a chaplain's assistant, and never seeing combat, Casey thought he could help his country and be of service to his fellow soldiers. The recruiter broke every promise he made. On April 4, 2004, Casey was killed in combat just five days after he arrived in Iraq. His mother knew - even in the deep shock and pain she felt on learning that her son was dead - that she was not going to be a good scout. A gold star was not a good trade for sacrificing her son's life.

Cindy Sheehan tells the story of Casey's life and her desire to make his death stand for something other than war. This is an honest and touching account of her love for her son and the disillusionment she felt for the government who put him and other soldiers in harm's way for Weapons of Mass Destruction that never existed. A soccer mom turned activist, Sheehan helped publicize the peace movement, which was getting little coverage from the press, into the news.

[Deedee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking memoir from a "gold star" mother. The death of her son in Iraq motivates Cindy Sheehan to join the anti-war movement (sort of like how the death of a child in a drunk driver accident motivates mothers to join MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers)). Very emotionally moving book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are you willing to lose? This made me look at war and sacrifice in a whole new way.

[MaryAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure when I read "Peace Mom." My blog post about Cindy's book comes after a post dated Feb. 8, 2007. My habit back then, was, as soon as a new library book became available, I checked it out.

What I said in that blog post, was, I liked Cindy more before I read her memoir. She seemed to label herself a leader in Peace Activism. She was not aware that Pulitzer Prize winner was arrested for protesting at the White House, years before she got involved.

Alice Walker, like me, was active in Code Pink protests, before the Bush Congress authorized invading Iraq. She said “One simple person changed history with a simple act.” Sit Ins actually started back in the late 1960s, early 1970s. Did she not know Jane Fonda and the infamous "Hanoi Jane" uproar?