Hunger Striker Visited by Kucinich Last Night; Day #26 Hunger Strike / Occupation

Ellen Thomas has been after Dennis Kucinich for weeks regarding the Hunger Strike and I know this afternoon Liz and Leslie went to his office to exhort him to come talk to me. About 7:30pm he came and spent a few minutes with me on his way to a session in the Capitol, holding my hand warmly most of the time.

I am sure he was with me tonight, sent on a mission to look out for my health. But it was much more than that too. He said, "I am the man inside Loving; you are the man outside. I need you, and whoever else you can get, to keep standing out here on these corners. Do not stop. And, stay healthy so you can do it."

Among the reasons I suspect that his interest is sincere is the visit I received on a prior Hill Occupation / Hunger strike. He and his wife Elizabeth regularly visited me, making special trips. But on one occasion Dennis sent out his chief of staff to come and thank me for my campaign. I immediately said to her, "Please tell Dennis how inspiring I find him." She instantly replied, "You need to know that Dennis finds YOU extremely inspiring."

"Be the change you want to see." Gandhi. If we want courageous actions from our elected representatives, WE have to demonstrate courageous action. "Example is not the major thing in influencing people. Example is the ONLY thing in influencing people." Albert Schweitzer.

I'll paraphrase the rest of our conversation, but I believe I do not take liberties beyond that:

• "Yes this is the time to go after $200b of the war budget."
• "I already know where to get $75 billion of it."
• "Yes Lester Brown, Plan B 3.0 is correct - WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF CUTTING THE $200B LATER. IT MUST BE NOW. MOTHER NATURE / GLOBAL WARMING IS SETTING THE TIMETABLE, AND THE TIMETABLE IS NOW."
• "But again, I need you, and whoever else you can get, to keep standing out here for this War Budget Cut. Do not stop."

Now, I know my abstention from water has been tough on not only me, but Diane Wilson. Ellen... my sisters at Code Pink, Ann Wright and others too. Leslie, Liz and I had very meaningful conversation about that this afternoon. I will not allow hurt to these folks. I will stress myself, and maybe them too, but I will not hurt them. At the point I judge I am moving from doing my obligation to them of encouraging them strongly to focus your attention on the Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Campaign Outline (here http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2009/01/campaign-on-one-page.html ), to risking hurting them by really allowing hurt to myself now, I'll stop, but not before. It is not a matter of quid quo pro but I DID come away this afternoon when Liz, Leslie and I parted, with the sense that Liz and Leslie were DEFINITELY going to read the Campaign Outline AND Chap 13 Plan B 3.0 tonight, and try REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD to get at least Gael and Ann to do so.

I cannot face any of you in Heaven, when we all know everything, without doing my part to the max - to encourage you to read these deeply, now.

But beyond that, I will absolutely never attempt to FORCE anyone, ever, to do anything, and I will not hurt my self irreparably at this juncture. I promise. But PLEASE read these deeply, NOW.

I have agreed to attend the Pot Luck at the Pink House tomorrow night, and I'm praying we may have some brief discussion about these then. I expect to resume liquids as early as at the Pot Luck, and no later than this weekend. I desperately do not want to hurt them.