A crowd packed the Weiser Gym at Drury University in Springfield on Thursday to hear a speech from noted antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan. The event was all part of Drury’s Democracy and Dissent Forum.
Sheehan told students they don’t have to agree with her but they do need to be passionate about what they believe in. While speaking, she made a lot of negative comments about President Bush and the war in Iraq, and even spoke out on lawmakers’ latest war spending bill that includes a timeline to withdraw troops. She says it does not do enough.
Army Colonel Michael Meese, an instructor at West Point, balanced out Sheehan’s views at the event. He commented on what he sees as unbalanced media coverage of the events in Iraq, but says most of the troops are too busy with other business to pay attention to the media coverage. He adds protest is a good thing as long as those who do it are well educated, and open minded.
Download/Listen (Cindy Sheehan & Colonel Michael Meese (:32 MP3)