The 'swiftboating' of Cindy Sheehan
CATHY YOUNG raises a litany of concerns about Cindy Sheehan's motivation and background (''The Cindy Sheehan you don't know," op ed, Aug. 22). A letter (Aug. 23) praising Young's column describes Sheehan as ''closed-minded, extreme, and hypocritical."
This is a textbook example of what New York Times columnist Frank Rich recently described as ''swiftboating." The core issue is sidestepped by shifting focus to the person raising the issue.
But no amount of real or projected shortcomings, or no number of legions of ''swiftboaters" attacking her person, can diminish the veracity, immediacy, and importance of Sheehan's question:
''What did my son die for?"
It is a question that will continue to resonate with more and more Americans, even if the swiftboaters could come up with a photo of Sheehan holding hands with Michael Moore in a ditch in Crawford, Texas.
ROB COOPER
Cambridge 