My thanks and apologies

Cindy Sheehan has resigned as the "face" of the anti-war movement. You can read her resignation letter on Michael Moore's blog.

Cindy, I want to thank you. And I want to apologize.

Thank you for your continued witness, for speaking truth to power. I am sorry that we let you be our mouthpiece, and then we let you be our scapegoat. We let you speak for us, and we didn't back you up.

Thank you for fighting for peace in our world. And I am sorry that we are a nation bent on war, a country profiting from war at the cost of human life.

Thank you for trying to make our country better, for calling us to live into the values we profess. And I am sorry that we resisted such change, that we continue to play partisan politics and allow the lives of our troops and Iraqi civilians to be used as pawns in the political maneuverings.

Thank you for sharing your grief with us and for reminding us of the very real, human costs of war. And I am sorry that we as a nation, ridiculed you, accused you of being a bad mother, and mocked you in your time of sorrow.

Cindy, I understand why you must step down from this role in which you were cast. We may not be the country you love, but you represent the best of the country I love. And my hope, my prayer, is that we, as a nation, will heed your words, follow your example, and establish true peace with justice in our land.