"I think being a woman is like being Irish." — Iris Murdoch

Nomad already had a note about this.  Cindy Sheehan wrote a goodbye letter that you ought to read, and here are some excerpts:

I have invested everything I have into trying to bring peace with justice to a country that wants neither. If an individual wants both, then normally he/she is not willing to do more than walk in a protest march or sit behind his/her computer criticizing others. I have spent every available cent I got from the money a “grateful” country gave me when they killed my son and every penny that I have received in speaking or book fees since then. I have sacrificed a 29 year marriage and have traveled for extended periods of time away from Casey’s brother and sisters and my health has suffered and my hospital bills from last summer (when I almost died) are in collection because I have used all my energy trying to stop this country from slaughtering innocent human beings. I have been called every despicable name that small minds can think of and have had my life threatened many times.

I wish I had something wise to add... all I feel is that this is a woman who tried to make something good, something that made sense out of her son's death.  It was wrong in so many ways to villify her.