However, for you to make him a political, anti-war issue opens you up to scrutiny and analysis. There were many statements that showed you have a total lack of comprehension of the real world. You seem to be a very naive person. I hate to waste this column pointing out your mistakes, but I can’t ignore them.

You said, regarding the attack on 9/11, "(Americans’) reaction to 9/11 was inappropriate to say the least." Also, you said, "(Americans) attacked two countries in an act of war for what was essentially a criminal act."

That is one of the silliest things I have ever heard. Our response was an act of war, but killing 3,000 innocent people was simply a criminal act?

Also, quote, "I had friends who went to Iraq to stand in front of tanks and airplanes to try to stop the invasion."

I think you’re confused. We didn’t have tanks and airplanes in Iraq before the invasion. Maybe you were thinking of Tiananmen Square in China in 1989.

I also found it unbelievable for you to quote Tariq Aziz (Iraq’s deputy prime minister under Saddam). You would accept as an unbiased statement of fact when he said, "They (Iraq) were trying to comply with everything we told them to do; but you are going to invade us anyway, so why are we even putting up this pretense?"

Your response was very deep. You said, "Wow, he’s right."

This probably started out to be a very noble cause. When did your son drop out of the picture? Do you want the attention directed to you? I don’t see any Casey coffee mugs or Casey T-shirts. Your name is on these items. You couldn’t even put your son’s face on the cover of your book!

But enough of this, although I had much more to criticize about your speech. I want to point out a few facts about the other Cindy Sheehan.

Cindy, why do you think you are so special? Did you forget that you already had a meeting with President Bush in June 2004?

Your hometown newspaper ran a story on you. The reporter: "The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustration or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves . ...

"... But in the end the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat (Casey’s father) noted that Bush wasn’t stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election."

Another: "We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn’t have to meet with us," Pat said.

Another: "I now know he’s sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he’s sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he’s a man of faith."

One more: "That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.

What happened, Cindy? I guess your anti-war, leftist friends wouldn’t have chosen to use you the way they are using you now had you maintained your original position.

Do you think your credibility will be affected by your association with people and organizations such as: George (Bush-hater) Soros, Jesse Jackson, Michael Moore, Al (Tawana Brawley) Sharpton, Maureen Dowd, Maxine Walters and websites such as Socialist Worker on Line, Communist Party USA.upj, and MoveOn.org?

Ms. Sheehan, just remember this. Your adult son volunteered for service and then re-enlisted. I don’t know the reason for his doing this, but I am sure it was a noble one. I am sure he fought bravely. I am sure his fellow soldiers trusted him to cover their backs. I’m sure he died a hero’s death. I would have been proud to have known him.

Cindy, please think what your son would want. Go back to what you felt in June 2004. You dishonor his good name by your current actions.

Last but certainly not least: I want everyone to have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Please, remember what the day truly stands for.

——— Tom Sears is a professor of accounting at Hartwick College in Oneonta and serves on the Unatego Central School Board of Education. He can be reached at SearsT@hartwick.edu. His column appears every other week.