Carnal Reason

The sideshow that never ends:

CNSNews.com) - Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan announced Wednesday that she plans to begin an “open-ended hunger strike” on July 4 to urge the Bush administration to bring troops home from Iraq.

“We hope the fast will galvanize public attention, invigorate the peace movement, build pressure on elected officials, and get our troops back home,” Sheehan said in a statement posted on the anti-war blogosphere.

The fast, organized by Code Pink and Sheehan’s Gold Star Families for Peace, will begin on Independence Day in Washington, D.C. In her statement Sheehan said she would move the fast to Crawford, Texas, where the president owns a ranch and often vacations.
…
In an interview posted on Code Pink’s website, the group’s co-founder Diane Wilson said the fast would show solidarity with Iraqis and U.S. troops. “Their bodies are on the line every day,” Wilson said, referring to Iraqi civilians. “And so are the bodies of the U.S. soldiers. So shouldn’t we be putting our bodies on the line?”

Perhaps Code Pink might show solidarity with the troops by supporting their cause rather than opposing it? Nah, grandstanding for the press is much better. No doubt troop morale has shot through the roof already.

So what is an open-ended hunger strike?

The “Troops Home Fast,” Wilson said, means that she will abstain from food and drink, with the exception of water, as long as possible. “I don’t know how long I can fast,” she said, “but I’m making this an open-ended fast. I plan to take this as far as I’ve ever taken anything in my 58 years.”

To my mind “as long as possible” means until death or coma. Anything short of that is “until I decide to quit”. Good luck, ladies. Maybe you’ll surprise me.

Wilson acknowledged that her fast might not get the attention of Bush, who after meeting with Sheehan once to offer his condolences for the loss of her son, has ignored her requests for another meeting. “Some fasts are successful,” Wilson said in her interview, “others aren’t. You never know.”

I’m pretty sure I know.

Posted on June 27th, 2006 by pwyll
Filed under: politics