--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't let somebody rise to the top who…" description: "\"We can't let somebody rise to the top who will pardon these war criminals. Because they need to go to prison for what they've done in this world. We ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cindy-sheehan-4928_because_we-can-t-let-somebody-rise-to-the-top-wh_1159335.png" --- # We can't let somebody rise to the top who will pardon… ![“We can't let somebody rise to the top who will pardon these war criminals. Because they need to go to prison for what they've done in this world. We can't have a pardon. They need to pay for what they've done.” quote by Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cindy-sheehan-4928_because_we-can-t-let-somebody-rise-to-the-top-wh_1159335.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cindy-sheehan-4928_because_we-can-t-let-somebody-rise-to-the-top-wh_1159335.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/cindy-sheehan-4928_because_we-can-t-let-somebody-rise-to-the-top-wh_1159335.png) > “We can't let somebody rise to the top who will pardon these war criminals. Because they need to go to prison for what they've done in this world. We can't have a pardon. They need to pay for what they've done.” [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calls for strict accountability for war criminals, rejecting any pardons, emphasizing justice. **In simple terms:** War criminals must face prison, no pardons. Key Takeaway Demand justice without exception. Themes justice accountability war crimes politics Mood passionate urgent Type activist political When to use this quote - government policy - international law - public protest Key Concepts human rights legal ethics retribution Questions to Reflect On - Should any crimes be forgiven for peace? - How can societies ensure fair trials? A Different Perspective Balancing peace negotiations with accountability can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Rise to the top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-to-the-top/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I know people have tried to make citizens' arrests on Tony Blair and so on, but really it's time the international criminal court has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-gun/i-know-people-have-tried-to-make-citizens-arrests-on-tony-blair-and/) [Katharine Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-gun/) > [To confront criminals, we need to finish with corruption. If we don't do this, there is no hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/to-confront-criminals-we-need-to-finish-with-corruption-if-we-don-t/) [Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/) > [There is no sin that God cannot pardon. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-is-no-sin-that-god-cannot-pardon-all-we-need-to-do-is-ask-for/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I dont need a pardon. I need a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-dont-need-a-pardon-i-need-a-job/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“We desperately need pardon. We need to have the past erased. We need, somehow, to have sin dealt with so that it no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-webster/we-desperately-need-pardon-we-need-to-have-the-past-erased-we-need/) [John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-webster/) > [If we stick together as an American people we can bring down the war criminals that are running our country right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/if-we-stick-together-as-an-american-people-we-can-bring-down-the-war/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“I learned that the way governors projected the numbers of beds they'd need for prison facilities was by examining the reading scores of third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-learned-that-the-way-governors-projected-the-numbers-of-beds-they-d/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [I need a prison in order to dream of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-need-a-prison-in-order-to-dream-of-being-free/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Non-custodial sentences are certainly something to look at, more support in the community rather than within prisons is something we have to look at.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/non-custodial-sentences-are-certainly-something-to-look-at-more/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [I don't need your prison I don't need your pain. I don't need your decision So what should I do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dope/i-don-t-need-your-prison-i-don-t-need-your-pain-i-don-t-need-your/) Dope > [People who look the other way when they see these war criminals are smaller criminals themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malalai-joya/people-who-look-the-other-way-when-they-see-these-war-criminals-are/) [Malalai Joya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malalai-joya/) > [Let's forgive the Nazi war criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/let-s-forgive-the-nazi-war-criminals/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [“A t the end of World War II, the Nuremberg war tribunal sentenced the Waffen SS, possibly the finest fighting force the world has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillblad-ed-thorolf/a-t-the-end-of-world-war-ii-the-nuremberg-war-tribunal-sentenced-the/) Hillblad (ed.), Thorolf > [If we don't prosecute war criminals, what's the next horrible thing they can do? As anyone knows, if you're not held accountable, you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-evans/if-we-don-t-prosecute-war-criminals-what-s-the-next-horrible-thing/) [Jodie Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-evans/) > [“They’ll be tried with other war criminals and treated as the tribunal sees fit,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/they-ll-be-tried-with-other-war-criminals-and-treated-as-the-tribunal/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Cindy Sheehan > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“Casey was a faithful Christian filled with the spirit of the Christ; George is a hypocrite who says he is a Christian but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/casey-was-a-faithful-christian-filled-with-the-spirit-of-the-christ/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I feel like I gave my son to this country in an illegal and immoral war. I'll never get him back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-feel-like-i-gave-my-son-to-this-country-in-an-illegal-and-immoral/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Let's push the Pentagon off the fiscal cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/let-s-push-the-pentagon-off-the-fiscal-cliff/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/if-the-people-of-america-do-not-rise-up-take-ownership-of-our-country/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I think some of the people on the Left... were extremely jealous of me getting what they thought was all of the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-think-some-of-the-people-on-the-left-were-extremely-jealous-of-me/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Loyalty to the true, core values and roots of democracy is what makes a true patriot, not loyalty to a symbol of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/loyalty-to-the-true-core-values-and-roots-of-democracy-is-what-makes/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [58% of the American public are with us. We're preaching to the choir, but the choir's not singing, if all of the 58% started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/58-of-the-american-public-are-with-us-we-re-preaching-to-the-choir/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Everything I say comes from my heart - and it's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/everything-i-say-comes-from-my-heart-and-it-s-the-truth/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [So what really gets me is these chickenhawks, who sent our kids to die, without ever serving in a war themselves. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/so-what-really-gets-me-is-these-chickenhawks-who-sent-our-kids-to-die/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I was told my son was killed in the war on terror. He was killed by George Bush's war of terror on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-was-told-my-son-was-killed-in-the-war-on-terror-he-was-killed-by/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I can't speak for the other people whose children have died, but I can speak for my family and the other members of Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-can-t-speak-for-the-other-people-whose-children-have-died-but-i-can/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [It's up to us, the people, to break immoral laws, and resist. As soon as the leaders of a country lie to you, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/it-s-up-to-us-the-people-to-break-immoral-laws-and-resist-as-soon-as/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [People demonize me; people idolize me; everything I say and do has been scrutinized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/people-demonize-me-people-idolize-me-everything-i-say-and-do-has-been/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I love my country. But how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-love-my-country-but-how-many-more-of-our-loved-ones-need-to-die-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) [Explore all 105 Cindy Sheehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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