What I’ve Read: Peace Husbands
December 6th, 2006 | by Scott |It was a slow reading week for me. Outside of my work-related reading, I only finished two books. Neither of them wowed me.
First off, I read Dean Koontz’s The Husband. Koontz is very hit or miss for me, so the unevenness of this work was not a surprise. Mitch Rafferty receives a call telling him that his wife has been kidnapped. He has 60 hours to deliver the 2 million dollar ransom. The only problem is that Mitch is a gardener and has no access to that kind of cash. Are there limits to Mitch’s love for his wife? Will he do what it takes to get her back? While the action sequences are riveting, I found the book riddled with too much exposition that slowed down the pacing of the book. And for a book of this type pacing is everything. Overall, I enjoyed it but I can give it no more than 3 stars.
Next, I read Peace Mom by everyone’s favorite conservative Cindy Sheehan. Since we are only about 20 minutes away from the location of Camp Casey and GW’s Crawford Ranch we have been inundated with the story and I was fascinated to read her account of what led her to camp out during a central Texas August.
There are names that evoke great disdain on both sides of the political aisle. The left has their Ann Coulters and Rush Limbaughs that they despise. The right has their Clintons and Michael Moores. Over the last year and a half, Cindy Sheehan’s name has surfaced on that list. That is not completely undeserved.
I am not a Sheehan basher. Nor am I one of her supporters. However, we do share some of the same sentiments: disagreement with the conflict in Iraq and disappointment of the job performance of the president. However, she never should have become the focal point for peace activists.
I’m not sure that is what she set out to be. And obviously, there is enough hatred and vitriol in her heart that makes her a poor front person for those who advocate peace and reconciliation. Her missteps, poorly planned photo ops, and brash comments has given too much ammunition for those who think nonviolent proponents are “whack jobs.”
Ultimately the book is not well written. However, the recounting of learning of the death of her son is heart-rending and gives context to the events of the last two years. At the end of the book, I came away saddened. Saddened that a mother lost a son. I cannot begin the depths of pain and grief that can elicit. This is a book written by a grief-stricken, bitter woman. For that, I feel for her.
And I hope that she, like the rest of us, can know True Peace. Two Stars.
3 Responses to “What I’ve Read: Peace Husbands”
By gina on Dec 8, 2006 | Reply
I haven’t read the one you mentioned but I have a feeling that American Mourning - which also covers Cindy Sheehan might give you a different perspective of her. I too am saddened of her loss of a child, as any woman who has a son who had been in the military would be. I felt her words and actions however to be insulting to those who have fallen and those who are there still trying to finish the difficult task set before them.
By Scott on Dec 8, 2006 | Reply
Gina, in no way was I defending Cindy Sheehan. I said there was too much hatred and vitriol in her heart for her to be the frontperson for peace.
I think she has made a series of poorly thought out statements that have hurt and upset a lot of people. For those of us who think that the Iraq war is wrong and misplaced but still value those who feel differently, that is unfortunate.
By SG on Dec 9, 2006 | Reply
You know there are lots of people who just despise Cindy Sheehan and I guess for good reason. many of my family and friends are in that boat. But honestly, it’s hard for me to be one of them. Whether I like or agree with her or not, her son died fighting where his country asked him to fight. She is a grieving Mom. I can’t imagine how horrible that grief is and I wouldn’t wish it on any one. President Bush can take her antics and protest, it’s a part of his job. He ultimately ordered her son to fight and he died. No matter how crazy she acts I just can’t despise the woman because she lost her son. Grief does crazy things to people.
Thought of you and Tracy after what happened at H elementary last week! So sorry that happened …has to be very scary and hard to deal with.