Mmmmmm, Hamburgers, Steaks and Yummy Food
Several celebrities are joining a "rolling hunger strike" where the participant fasts for 24 hours then "passes the torch" to the next activist. They are doing this to "put their bodies on the line" to force a withdrawal from Iraq.
"We have done everything we could think of to end this war, we have protested, held marches, vigils … lobbied, written letters to Congress," said Dearborn.
"Now it is time to bring the pain and suffering of war home. We are putting our bodies on the line for peace."
Perhaps the only time the anti-Iraq war movement captured lasting coverage was in August 2005, when Sheehan and supporters pitched camp outside Bush's Texas ranch, where the president habitually stays in high summer.
Even then, the fiercely partisan debate unleashed may have harmed Sheehan, who faced fierce fire from conservative groups and radio talk show hosts, as much as it hurt the Bush administration's image over Iraq.
The hunger strike will see at least four activists, Sheehan, veteran comedian and peace campaigner Dick Gregory, former army colonel Ann Wright and environmental campaigner Diane Wilson launch serious, long-term fasts.
"I don't know how long I can fast, but I am making this open-ended," said Wilson.
Other supporters, including Penn, Sarandon, novelist Alice Walker and actor Danny Glover will join a 'rolling" fast, a relay in which 2,700 activists pledge to refuse food for at least 24 hours, and then hand over to a comrade.
Though the anti-war movement is trying hard to puncture public perceptions, some experts believe such protests have little impact on how Americans view foreign wars.
Those experts would be right. This is the most lame, worthless and downright silly thing I have heard of. A rolling hunger strike. The participants don't even have strong enough conviction in the rightness of their cause to lay down a chicken leg for more than a day.
Me, I'll throw another steak on the grill. Happy 4th of July!
UPDATE: Dan Riehl: Give the chefs a day off. Tigerhawk: Support the terrorists on the 4th. Ace of Spades: On disapproval of Shanghai Surprise and The Crossing Guard.
Dumb Stuff, Left Wing, War | Gaius Tuesday, 4 July , 2006
By Black Jack, Wednesday, 5 July , 2006 @ 5:13 pm
I’m all for the rolling hunger strike, so long as the participants have to publicly weigh-in before they start their shifts. Any hungry rollers who gain weight from week to week would have to step down in favor of an alternative roller who was actually hungry, at least a little bit hungry from time to time.