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'Peace Mom' and 'Patriot' tackle tough topics
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Published: October 24, 2009
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan will make an appearance at the Statesville Civic Center today from 5-7 p.m.
In a statewide tour being touted as "The Peace Mom and the Patriot," Sheehan will appear with retired Air Force Lt. Col Bob Bowman.
Sheehan became famous for her protests near the Crawford, Texas, ranch of former President George W. Bush.
Sheehan began protesting after her son, Casey, was killed in combat in Iraq in April 2004.
According to event coordinator Farren Shoaf, topics will range from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the state of the economy.
Sheehan said she had misgivings about the war even before her son entered the Army.
But after Casey was killed, Sheehan became something of a poster child for some parents and anti-war activists.
In an interview at the time, Sheehan said, "We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled. The President has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
Shoaf said statements like that made Sheehan a pariah in Bush strongholds like Iredell County.
"This area is dyed-in-the-hide Republican," Shoaf said. "And they saw her as a Bush-basher."
Shoaf said Bowman's talk will be a sort of a "what-if" speech that touches on changes he would implement if he were president.
Bowman, the former Director of Advanced Space Programs Development for the Air Force during the Ford and Carter administrations, was a 2000 candidate for president in the Reform Party. He eventually was beaten out for the party's nomination by political pundit Pat Buchanan.
"He is a very intelligent man," said Shoaf. "And he has some incredible ideas."
The event at the Civic Center is free but donations will be accepted.
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