The Difference Between Harry and George

I've been following with great interest the story of Cindy Sheehan as she digs in at "Camp Casey" near the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX, hoping the President will meet with her. Sheehan's son Casey was killed in Iraq, and she actually did meet with the President in June with about 15 other families and found the experience to be pretty impersonal and platitude-filled.

When I heard the story, I could not help but recall the Harry Truman tale of how, after Truman's death, the library staff was going through his desk and found a purple heart and an angry note Mr. and Mrs. William Banning of New Canaan, CT which read:

"Mr. Truman:

"As you have been directly responsible for the loss of our son's life in Korea, you might just as well keep this emblem on display in your trophy room, as a memory of one of your historic deeds.

"One major regret at this time is that your daughter was not there to receive the same treatment as our son received in Korea."

Truman had kept that letter in his desk till the end of his days as a silent reminder of the gravity of being Commander-In-Chief. I have always been struck how extraordinary that act was, to keep such a letter in one's desk drawer, always there, always whispering your own sins in your ear.

I wonder...today, would Mr. and Mrs. Banning's letter even reach George W. Bush? Or would his handlers carefully keep it away from him so he doesn't have to be bothered with the pain of families who have lost their children, spouses, siblings in Iraq? If Bush received such a letter, where would it end up?

Meanwhile, a grieving mother sits outside the Bush compound, silently waiting.