I left a comment about Phel's posting on the subject, but then after thinking about it I realized it deserved a full blown posting here.  I'm talking about the announcement from Cindy Sheehan that she is going to fast for two months in protest of the Iraq war.  While most people are making rather funny comments about it, and doubting whether this will be a real fast, or a faux fast... I have another question.  Why does she feel the need to fast at all?

Normally when a protester decide to do something like this, it is because they are trying to feel closer to those who are suffering.  Normally its because they live what they consider to be a fairly easy life, and so they need inflict artificial suffering on themselves in a show of solidarity with those who they think they are helping.  I think so much time has passed that many of us have almost forgotten that she lost her son to the Iraq war.  Doesn't she think she's already suffered enough?

Could it be that on some sort of deep level, she's actually started to believe the far left's propaganda, and thinks that the troops in Iraq deserve what they get... including her own son?  Could that be why she feels the need to go on a hunger strike... to create that internal suffering again, because she no longer feels it?

Every time I see the latest news on her... I can't get angry.  I simply feel pity.  And if my armchair psychology is right... she is even more pitiable now.