Mohandas Gandhi was imprisoned in 1922, 1930, 1933 and 1942. He went on a hunger strike. But because of Gandhi’s stature around the world, British authorities were loath to allow him to die in their custody.
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Potti Sriramulu was an Indian revolutionary. He became famous for undertaking a fast-unto-death for achieving the Andhra State and losing his life in the process. His sacrifice became instrumental in the linguistic re-organization of states. In the early 20th century suffragettes frequently endured hunger strikes in British prisons. In October 1920, Irish Republicans Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, died on a hunger strike in Brixton prison. In 2008 six Tibetan hunger strikers, mostly monks, were taken to hospital by police when they reached a critical situation from their hunger strike over Chinese occupation.
Now in 2011 the musician Moby, who makes sounds come out of a Mac, got together with MoveOn.org to help him with the release of his new album Destroyed by staging a fast and releasing the album’s first video.
Moby’s dishonest and capitalistic reason for this publicity stunt/fast, (juicing in his New York City loft) is that Republicans had to craft a spending budget because the Democrats refused to do their job last year during an election season. He doesn’t like the outcome, and has CD’s to sell.
Moby’s narcissistic exploitation is a perfect example of how the left owns the narrative in popular culture by not letting the facts get in the way of a fictionalized story. What’s worse about this Hollywood stunt is that Moby has asked everyone and anyone who breathes in unchecked popular culture via the Internet to participate in something that can be very dangerous.
Historically a hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance which participants fast as an act of protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others. The only feelings of guilt to be had should come from Moby for this shameless act of self-promotion in anticipation of his May 17th album release.
The Guinness Book of Records lists the world record in hunger strike (without forced feeding) as 94 days. Reinforcing the growth of the state, runs contrary to what artist should be about, which is challenging conformity. But if what Moby wants to see more money taken from Americans and given to government then so be it. I challenge him to stand by this hunger strike and beat the Guinness Book of Records.
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