Shoe-bomber starts hunger-strike

[alienlovechild 75]

What do you think the accusations would be next if the US allowed prisoners to just die like this?

What does history tell us about hunger strikers?

"The British media viewed the hunger strike as a triumph for Thatcher, with The Guardian newspaper stating "The Government had overcome the hunger strikes by a show of resolute determination not to be bullied".[41] However, the hunger strike was a Pyrrhic victory for Thatcher and the British government.[42] Thatcher became a republican hate figure of Cromwellian proportions, with Danny Morrison describing her as "the biggest ####### we have ever known".[42] There was extensive international condemnation of the British government's handling of the hunger strike, and the relationship between the British and Irish governments was strained.[2] As with internment in 1971 and Bloody Sunday in 1972, IRA recruitment was boosted, resulting in a new surge of paramilitary activity.[42] There was an upsurge of violence after the comparatively quiet years of the late 1970s, with widespread civil disorder in Northern Ireland and rioting outside the British Embassy in Dublin.[1] Security forces fired 29,695 plastic bullets in 1981, causing seven deaths, compared to a total of around 16,000 bullets and four deaths in the eight years following the hunger strikes.[43] The IRA continued its armed campaign during the seven months of the strike, killing thirteen policemen, eight soldiers, five members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and five civilians. The seven months were one of the bloodiest periods of the Troubles with a total of 61 people killed, 34 of them civilians.[21] Three years later the IRA tried to take their revenge on Thatcher with the Brighton hotel bombing, an attack on the Conservative party conference that killed five people and in which Thatcher herself only narrowly escaped death.[2]

The hunger strike prompted Sinn Féin to move towards electoral politics—Sands' election victory combined with that of pro-hunger strike candidates in the Northern Ireland local elections and Dáil elections in the Republic of Ireland gave birth to the armalite and ballot box strategy, with Gerry Adams remarking "His [sands] victory exposed the lie that the hunger strikers—and by extension the IRA and the whole republican movement—had no popular support".[44] The election victories of Doherty and Agnew also had political impact in the Republic of Ireland, as they denied power to Charles Haughey's outgoing Fianna Fáil government.[28] In 1982 Sinn Féin won five seats in the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, and in 1983 Gerry Adams won a seat in the UK general election.[45] As a result of the political base built during the hunger strike, Sinn Féin continued to grow in the following two decades, and it is currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland holding 28 out of 108 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Irish_hunger_strike

[Peikko 1,575]

Alien, do not try to lecture me on Northern Irish politics using Wiki. Just don't, because it's obvious that you know ** all about it.

Edited June 11, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[alienlovechild 75]

Alien, do not try to lecture me on Northern Irish politics using Wiki. Just don't, because it's obvious that you know ** all about it.

It was about hunger strikers not Northern Ireland in general. I've probably been in Northern Ireland longer than you and no I'm not an IRA terrorist or sympathizer. Amazing how pissed most Brits still are on this one.

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh, I don't think so Alien, I don't think you know anything about this matter at all. You have no idea what my bias is on this either. I would be very careful if I were you.

[alienlovechild 75]

Oh, I don't think so Alien, I don't think you know anything about this matter at all. You have no idea what my bias is on this either. I would be very careful if I were you.

Gotten love the threats from a self-described human rights activitist. You have have enlighten us on your views but it's a lot easier to go for the the knee-jerk reaction. Typical.

[Peikko 1,575]

What kind of threat do you think that is Alien? I am telling you to be careful not to put your great size 10's in your mouth.

Activist?

Gotta love the assumptions people make.

[_Simpson_ 250]

You know they can't really though.

Let him starve himself? Just "force him" and oops it didn't work... Ugh, stupid rules

They aren't really stupid though. What do you think the accusations would be next if the US allowed prisoners to just die like this? Aside from that, it's also expecting prison staff to look on while inmates die and then asking them not to be de-humanised by the experience. Above all that though, the US is not a barbaric society. The US does not condone suicide or other degrading human behaviours. It's not rocket science this stuff.

Well, aside from capital punishment - that's pretty barbaric but we know the US is a bit schizophrenic with its grasp on humanism.

and torture, it seems torture is ok too so long as someone can argue that the US citizen benefited from the practice.

Ok, the US isn't very good at this humanism stuff, maybe they should just get off that moral pedestal now?

I think what it comes down to is a lot of people including me are tried of hearing your never ending criticism of the US which half the time I dont think is accurate or that your even trying to be fair, sure your entitled to your opinions and what not but come on why dont you b*tch about your own country a little more. Maybe its you that needs to get off your pedestal.

Edited June 12, 2009 by looking_up

[Peikko 1,575]

Stop looking up.

Never ending criticism of the US? Right...another joker

[_Simpson_ 250]

Stop looking up.

Never ending criticism of the US? Right...another joker

Not sure what you meant by stop looking up, maybe you were referring to god or maybe you meant I should look to see whats in front of me. I would say you need to stop looking into the crystal ball.

[Peikko 1,575]

You seem to think you know what is best for me. How fascinating. I have to tell you though, I don't even let my husband TELL me what to do.

[_Simpson_ 250]

You seem to think you know what is best for me. How fascinating. I have to tell you though, I don't even let my husband TELL me what to do.

How is you telling me to stop looking up any different than what I was doing. It was a joke and you know that , I dont really think you look into a crystal ball. Let be honest, jeez.

Your husband, oh dear god why would one man bring this upon himself.

[Peikko 1,575]

Certainly and of course, he says he enjoys it. Poor man.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Certainly and of course, he says he enjoys it. Poor man.