As most of you have heard, Cindy Sheehan recently ‘resigned’ as the unofficial face of the anti-war movement. Her post Here at the Daily Kos will make you weep well-founded tears for this country.

My friend Maddi posted these bittersweet but moving and unfortunately accurate words in regards to Sheehan’s letter.

What a sad, sad statement from Cindy. That she sacrificed so much comes oozing through her words, and yet she exudes a “fire” which will never burn out. We the people in the United States have comfortized ourselves into no-think. How awful for us and for our kids and their kids. And yet, it is a good thing that Cindy finally realized all her standing and writing and urging and pushing and money was for naught. This country we all have loved is on the downhill slope we’ve been stuck on since shortly after the founders floundered. Which makes us flounderers of the 1000th degree. Her words also make me realize that we are not meant to proselytize nor drag the masses into our way of thought. That seems to be the fruitless way to go. The propaganda of right and left ultimately kills off ideas and spirits. In the stages of grief, and in the 10-step program that “Bill” started we might have some sparks that will light our ways. Who will find the many ways? Who will experiment? Who will step up to the plate with new ideas? Where are you hiding?

Maddi, Cindy Sheehan, and a growing number of others are coming to grips with something that I have been confronting for many years myself, some of which was apparant through the work with UnCommon Sense TV. Trying to do what one could, use what one could, use the resources available, to do anything possible to awaken a consciousness in people, in our fellow humans, to understand what is happening around them, to them, by them. This in order to address these critical problems before they became any worse, and caused any more damage and hurt than they already have.

But alas, there comes a time, filled with heartbreaking realization, that one can only truly help where the other is ready and open to being given those gifts of recognition and an authentic willingness to truly accept what is happening and what really needs to be done to make for a better life, a better world. And America is simply too deluded, too comfortable in its ways, and most importantly, too AFRAID to be able to accept the truth that so many of us, in this instance the likes of Cindy S., so passionatly struggle to get them to understand. Whether it is for one’s country, one’s society, neighbors, or even one’s personal relationships, you can only give so much before you have nothing left to give, because the gift was not returned in a way that is fulfilling, rejuvenating and sustaining. And if it is not able or willing to truly receive what you giving, (or if it is not the right thing at the right time), then there comes a time you have to just let it go the way it’s going to go, and make sure that you do not let yourself become another casualty of the very problem that you are trying to confront.

Maddi’s closing sentiments are especially resonant, as to finding new ways, asking who will experiment and who will step up to help lead with new ideas and new visions. That is encouraging during these very troubled times of great stress, tumult and transition for so many in so many ways. It is in the air, and Cindy Sheehan is just one example of our need to reach the end of tolerating old ways, and relying on old processes that no longer work, and are even designed not to work and will fail to get us where we say we want to truly go as a society and as individuals. And the very first, and most important factor in all of that and in beginning to break through this current era, is through honesty and truth. If there is anything our nation, our politics, our very selves need it is authenticity. If we truly hold anything dear, there is no greater gift one can give it and no greater way one can serve it than by giving it your honesty and truth. That is the highest form of love anyone can express, one that rises above all fear in its path, and is something we all could be well served to be striving to achieve. It is a big part of that plate to step up to that Maddi refers to here.

- Andy Valeri, USTV Media