Controversy over Sheehan's shirt at SOTU

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush's State of the Union address."

By allowing the arrest of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan to go unpunished, we are giving away the very freedom that our soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq are fighting to defend. Cindy is neither an opportunist nor a tool of any one individual or group. She is an American with a right to speak her mind.

When the right to free speech is limited to content that supports one idea over another, it is no longer free. Supporters of this administration who suggest that protests are un-American and/or that people who offer dissent should move to another country miss the point of our country's founding fathers (and mothers).

Freedom isn't free. Cindy knows this all too well. That's why she's fighting to be heard.

Angela A. Clemente

My grandmother on my father's side passed away. In addition to sorrow, I feel guilty for losing touch with that side of my family. I hadn't spoken to her for nearly a decade. After leaving college to pursue a career in music/production, communications ceased. Since then, I have tried to reach out to my father. Our conversations are pleasant, but I initiate them all. He never even called to say that Nana died. She will continue to be missed.

"Angela A. Clemente of Kingston and formerly of Wilkes-Barre died Monday evening at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Pittston, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Michaleen (Mastropaolo) Arcarola, and was former co-owner of Pat's Shoe Repair of Pittston. She was a former member of Holy Rosary Church, Wilkes-Barre, and its Altar and Rosary Society. Angela was a homemaker all her life and dedicated to her family and friends who considered her the best cook in the Valley.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Frank, Matthew and Michael Arcarola; sisters, Helen Arcarola, Phyllis Cooke and Mary Dryer; great-grandson Jake Debro.
Surviving are her husband of 63 years, Patrick Sr., Kingston; daughter and son-in-law, Margherita and Sam Storti, King of Prussia; son and daughter-in-law, Patrick Jr. and Kate, Kingston; grandchildren, Patricia Martin, Susan Debro, Patrick Clemente III, Kara Clemente and Christopher Clemente; great-grandchildren, Emily, Benjamin, Matthew Martin, Gianna and Ryan Debro.
Funeral will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Corcoran Funeral Home, 20 S. Main St., Plains Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church, Kingston. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.
Friends may call Friday 6 to 8 p.m."
Published in the TimesLeader on 11/9/2005.