The problem with Cindy Sheehan's nickname

The news media loves to trivialize important issues and by giving them nicknames. They especially love to trivialize women and women's issues. This has been going on a long time: Consider that suffragists were called "suffragettes" (and unfortunately, still are, by both news professionals and other citizens). Second Wave feminists were called "women's libbers." And now Cindy Sheehan is the "Peace Mom."

Calling Sheehan the "peace mom" accomplishes a number of things. It makes her and her cause "cute," which is always the first line of attack against women who should be taken seriously. It also invites images of the 60's--hippies, war protesters, drugs--all the things that conservatives hold in contempt. And it implies weakness. That the word "peace" is a synonym for impotence is sad, but it is a fact, thanks not only to conservative talking points, but to the fourth estate.

So I have a new nickname for Sheehan: She is the "Truth Mom."