South Beach Fast

Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Cindy Sheehan and others suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome (and we thought Dick Gregory was already dead), have announced a "hunger strike." But wait -- just as we prepared to shout, "Lord, hear our prayer," we learned that just as the lives and the politics of these folks are mostly made up, so their "hunger strike" is mostly made up.

The point of a "hunger strike," as most effectively practiced by Mohandas Gandhi, is to refuse to eat until one's political demands are met. The tactic has the great advantages of being gradual (giving the other side a chance to react, act, or negotiate) while attesting to your (increasing) seriousness. Being willing to starve to death for a cause is an excellent demonstration that you're not kidding. Both his followers, and the British authorities, knew that Gandhi might very well go through with his threat, with potentially catastrophic political consequences.

See if you think that this is the mark of serious people:

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.

Starving to death just ain't what it used to be.

Agence France-Presse story HERE.