I remember when I was a child, I used to threaten my mom by not eating to get what I want. It sounds silly, rude, and selfish. I was disobeying her and pressuring her at the same time for my own selfish desires. But it was an unconscious act of selfishness since It was a time in my innocent years. I was growing up and I was at a stage when I thought it was a smart thing to do. But I believe I was not alone in this as a child and I bet most of us are guilty of this: using hunger strike as a weapon to get what we want. While our cause was for our own selfish purposes, there are people today who actually unite and use hunger strike as a weapon for the benefit of all.
I read an article entitled "Hunger Strikes Turn Fasting into a Political Tool" written by author Renee Saucedo in the website www.npr.org. The article states how activists use fasts as tools for social change. It states that a hunger strike is a non-violent strategy for change. Hunger strikes were done along with dozens of other activists to protest by sitting outside the establishment with no food for a significant period of time. The hunger strikes brings physical discomfort but the support they receive from people and co-activists inspires and moves them. It elevates their purpose from fasting for political reasons to a spiritual experience. The purpose goes deep, making it a good cause since it is used as a tactic for years in non-violent struggle that is organized and inspired role models such as Cesar Chavez and Mahatma Gandhi.
The author Renee Saucedo stated in the article "A hunger strike, in my view, is one tool for us to get our message out to the world, to show that something is happening that's so drastic that we, as people who care about any given issue, will put our bodies on the line to expose how urgent the situation is."
While many people fast for the health benefit it provides, some people use fasting for social change. As a child, depriving myself from food is a really big thing to implement for myself and when I do that it sends a signal to my mom how important and how I really want this thing. Seeing people on television perform hunger strike makes me think how badly they want this change and how important it is to their lives. The hunger strike I perform as a child was a shallow one that is only effective in one meal. But the activist today performs hunger strike that lasts up to days, spending their time outside their target influence. I find it extreme, making me wonder on how they think and how it affects their actions.
I read an article entiled "The Psychology of a Hunger Striker: Factors Influencing the Death of Bobby Sands MP" written by author Sean P. O'Connell in the website www.hungerstrikes.org. The article is about the death of Bobby Sands, a prisoner who drew worldwide attention to his name in early 1981 as he embarked on a hunger strike. It was Bobby Sand who first began hunger strike for political reason in October 28, 1981 for a demand that he and his fellow prisoners be given back the right to be classified as political prisoners. His fast lasted for 66 days having consumed only water and salt, Bobby Sands died at the door of the British government.Violence erupted as worldwide news of Sand's death spread and more prisoners followed Sands to their deaths. As the death of Bobby Sands motivated more prisoners to participate in hunger strike, more and more died, and yet the demands were unmet and the movement further deaths.
The author, Sean P. O'Connell, states in the article "Throughout Irish history, the hunger strike has been used as a weapon against injustice. It was believed that to starve oneself at the door of another who had done you wrong was to force a reply of pity. The one causing the grievance would realize their mistake, offer the protester food and beg to be forgiven."
After reading the article I saw a glimpse of the life of Bobby Sands, allowing me to understand what made him push through such an extreme act of depriving itself from food until death. Bobby Sands and his family experienced extreme cruelty from the British government. Sands was subjected to discrimination and violence throughout his life and that played an important part in the decisions he made in his life. His actions was influenced by his perception of his surroundings and environment. Sands grew up with love and peace as he was surrounded mainly by a Protestant community. He and his family practiced their faith quietly as anti-Catholic sentiments disrupted their life. It caused them too much emotional stress and Sands had to fight for it.
Throughout Sand's life we see that the little love and compassion he experienced as a child still gave him hope to believe that people could still find it in their heart some bits of kindness even in a form of force reply of pity. He begged and sacrificed himself hoping that showing grievance could bring justice to his fellow prisoners and loved ones.
Hunger strikes may seem extreme for most, but if we allow ourselves to look closely at the psychology and background of these people, we may be able to understand and see where their deep groaning come from. Only these people who went through so much difficulty in such issues that could bring them to the point of extreme willingness to put their lives to test, to offer themselves as sacrifice as to hope for a change. As we look to deep, hopefully we may be able to bring honor, respect, and support as they perform such unselfish act for justice and benefit of all.
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