Past Issues :: 2006 July 14 :: Column: Hungry in Portland
Action works when individuals awaken the larger solidarity
Code Pink Portland has joined the international hunger strike for peace that began July 4. Three thousand people around the United States and the world are fasting for at least one day. Among those who have committed to fast: Cindy Sheehan, Diane Wilson, Dick Gregory, Willie Nelson, Michael Franti, Danny Glover, Dolores Huerta, Medea Benjamin, Susan Sarandon, Arun Gandhi, Eve Ensler, Ann Wright, Kim Gandy, Ray McGovern, Laura Flanders, Daniel Ellsberg, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Michael Berg and Alice Walker. Recently The Rev. Al Sharpton has pledged his support of the movement.
According to Code Pink, they'll be fasting in memory of the dead and wounded and calling for the troops to come home from Iraq. "Fast for a day, for a week, for as long as you can," they suggest. They encourage fasting in a public place.
I
knew I wanted to share the facts about this event, which is both local and
national, with Street Roots readers, so I contacted the organizer, Terri Grayum.
She pointed out that the best way for me to understand the movement was to
participate, so I joined her at Hollywood Farmers Market, Saturday, July 8.
Since I am concerned with folks who are "Hungry In Portland," it seemed a bit ironic that I was going to be hungry in Portland by choice for 24 hours. There was no doubt that I supported the movement to bring the troops home. If this was a way to stand up to be counted, I was eager to be a part of a movement that would raise awareness of this very important issue. I found a pink shirt, pink socks and a pink hat to wear. Next, I made a sign to display that stated I would be fasting from 10 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday because I wanted to see the troops come home fast. I was ready to face the Hollywood Saturday Farmers' Market folks.
Terri Grayum from Code Pink, Betsy Toll from Living Earth and Tom Hastings from Vets For Peace joined me. We distributed information about the "Troops Home Fast" movement and talked to whoever wanted to know more about what we were doing. There was a lot of support for the basic issue — bring the troops home. Many comments seemed to be a welcomed opportunity to vent frustration about the war issue. Discussions included the following topics: the war is illegal; it was based on lies; it's costing too much and hurting health, welfare and education programs; the media reporting is guilty of lies and omissions; the returning vets are not getting appropriate benefits and their injuries and diseases are outrageous; and absolutely — we must bring the troops home now. These conversations were evidence that many of us share our concerns about the war.
Some folks brought up issues that left me with more questions than answers. I did a lot of listening, and when I got home, I searched the Web for some other opinions. The typical comment that left me wondering was "How can one person who is fasting for one day make a difference? We can't even be sure they actually stick to the fast if they don't remain in public view for the entire 24-hour period. The Bush administration will not be moved by this 'token fasting' as it does not really demonstrate a noticeable commitment to anything."
On MSNBC's Hardball, Norah O'Donnell on Cindy Sheehan's hunger strike said, "Isn't this really just more of a publicity stunt?" During the discussion of Sheehan's two-month protest, O'Donnell accused Sheehan of "trashing the president" three times during a five-minute interview and presented a distorted version of Sheehan's position on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
During the interview, O'Donnell asked Sheehan, "Do you honestly expect Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld or the president of the United States to say, "Cindy Sheehan is going on a hunger strike, and so I'm going to end this war?"
Sheehan replied, "Well that would be nice, but what we're trying to do is also awaken consciousness in the U.S. and around the world to get more people out and active. We know two-thirds of America disapprove of George Bush and his policies in Iraq, but I don't see two-thirds of America out protesting, writing their congress-people and changing policy."
Friday, July 7, on FOXNews, Alan Colmes asked Al Sharpton, "Why are you joining Cindy in the hunger strike?" Sharpton answered that he believed attention needs to be raised about this war.
"The fact is that overwhelmingly, Americans are saying they're opposed to this war, and there needs to be some moral outrage," Sharpton said. "I think this fast is to raise the moral outrage and self-sacrifice of those of us who are saying, 'Wait a minute. We need to deal with this war.'"
Later in the interview, co-host Sean Hannity said, "You are fasting with a woman who called our troops rapists and war criminals." Sharpton replied, "I celebrate Christian holidays with people that are members of the Ku Klux Klan. It doesn't mean I agree with them."
How effective will the fasting be? After examining my position, I doubt if any one 24-hour fast will result in action or be recognized as a "demand." However, I do believe that whenever we can stand up to be counted and help raise consciousness on an issue, we strengthen the movement. If a more effective demand is the goal, we will need action that truly disturbs our oppressors. Right now, I don't think they will respond to any one individual action as passive as the 24-hour fast will be interpreted. But, if more folks take more action, we know it can result in change. Women won the vote, people power influenced the Vietnam crisis, and the action of the immigrants has kept HB 4437 from being finalized.
It disturbs me that the international media sometimes allows the image of the Bush administration to represent the working class of the U.S. Those of us engaged in activism know how many folks oppose the war policies of the ruling elite. If we continue to be in the street, our voices will be heard internationally.
Some facts I have previously stated come to mind. People power works. Solidarity builds movements. Participation takes courage. Follow your conscience. Critical analysis is the path to basic issues. Class-consciousness reveals the irreconcilable difference between the capitalists and the workers. When we fail to resist, we usually submit or collaborate — two poor choices. If we are not actively resisting — we are passively submitting. If only the "chorus" hears us, the action is not wasted — it has given strength to each of us to know we are not alone.
Change has never occurred as a result of begging or asking — only by demanding. The oppressed must take action that results in a real consequence for the oppressor if change is expected. When leadership roles are exploited for self-serving goals, the movement is betrayed. Every issue is multi-issue. Every effort to resolve a single issue can be strengthened when the multi-issue approach is employed. Careful use of the word "we" is vital. "We" does not include both the ruling elite that speaks through the Bush administration and the working class — these two groups are in opposition to each other and represent the oppressors and the oppressed.
For now, I am proud that I supported the Troops Home Fast movement. Each individual needs to gather the facts and let your conscience guide you. I recommend that you read the essay written in 1849 by Henry David Thoreau, "Resistance to Civil Government." One of my favorite quotes from that essay is, "The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way."