Charles Haider (Dr. Haider): hunger strike, biography, photo

Among us there are a lot of eccentrics who make this world less boring. Dr. Haider, an astrophysicist scientist from America, belongs to the category of unique personalities. To be more precise, this person had no signs of eccentricity, which can not be said of those who tried to present it to the public.

What caused the astrophysicist Charles Haider to go on a hunger strike?

After the Second World War, the rivalry between the two superpowers - the US and the USSR - forced each of them to build up military resources and improve nuclear weapons. It was worth, for example, the US to hint at the availability of the next military know-how, as immediately after a short time from the opposite side, a statement about the invention of a similar "toy" sounded. As a result, by the mid-80s of the last century, relations had intensified, reaching, so to speak, the boiling point.

In this situation, a figure appeared of Dr. Haider, a solid, slightly flabby man. Attribute clothing was a knitted ski cap with a large pompon on the crown, which gave her master the appearance of an impromptu Santa Claus.

Fighter for justice did not understand at home

It would seem that the mass media of a democratic state should have paid attention to an outstanding individual who protested against the policy of military confrontation. The fighter for peace on American television was given very little airtime in such a way that only those citizens who suffered from insomnia could learn about the details of the action.

But in India and in countries that have chosen the socialist path of development, the theme of Haider was, as they say, untwisted. And he was represented as a hero, devoted a lot of publications on the pages of the newspaper "Izvestia" and television reports from the very heart of the United States. They clearly traced sympathy, and Charles Haider received his moral support.

Protest action at the fence of the White House

As a protest, a hunger strike with a duration of 218 days was chosen, which was christened marathon. It began on September 23, 1986, and the venue was chosen Lafayette Park, located next to the president's residence. Calling and confidently behaved, Dr. Haider. Photos of men were published in all newspaper publications around the world.

In a statement, the action participant voiced the accusation of the then US president in spurring the arms race. Reagan will inevitably appear before the court of history. The scientist-astrophysicist Charles Haider was inclined uncompromisingly - reception of any food will begin after the fulfillment by the American government of the following conditions:

1. Nuclear warheads have no place in the United States.
2. Military force should not be used as a lever in resolving issues relating to international relations.

Proposal of the President

From the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Dr. Haider received a letter with a request to stop further torture of the body. M. Gorbachev also promised that if the scientist decides to come to the Soviet Union, then scientific research work will be provided.

The last sentence of the president of the USSR, Haider did not take advantage. Shortly after the end of the hunger strike, without any chance of success, he fought for the post of president as an independent candidate, the campaign resulted in the election of President George Bush Sr.. But in any case, a person like Dr. Haider has gone down in history. The hunger strike of the man did not yield any results, but made noise in some states.

Early termination of shares

What did Haider actually achieve by sitting at the fence of the White House? He was sitting on the lawn in the literal sense of the word, because the presidential administration limited him in comfort, forbidding to put chairs and a table.

First of all, the protest action positively affected the condition of the organism of the 56-year-old scholar husband. For seven months of a rigid diet, Dr. Haider dropped 45 kilograms, which he simply needed. Initially, the body weight was 135 kilograms with an increase of 1 meter 88 centimeters, that is, there was a pronounced obesity!

Was there a hunger strike?

Nevertheless, one photographer claimed that after three months the doctor did not seem to him an emaciated person. Six months after the start of the action, further starvation was often carried out at home. Controlled the process of ex-wife.

Haider announced the early termination of the hunger strike on May 4, 1987, thus failing to reach the planned term of 2 weeks. The motivation for such an act was banal - he just changed his mind. But, despite this, the scientist Haider has caused a lot of conversations. The hunger strike only benefited him!

Tricks left behind the scenes

According to dietitians, an ordinary person can not stand such a strict fast for more than three months. In the case of Hayder, he was helped by the body's accumulated resource in the form of fat mass. Perhaps, one more method of maintaining the vital functions of the body was used: the intake of vitamins. Haider denied all the accusations of guile: he drinks only warm water, and periodically (two days a week) adds to the diet a small amount of sea salt.

There were also some detractors who slandered the "fighter for disarmament" as if he were secretly having supper at the nearby church with the onset of twilight. He also visits the McDonald's toilet in the evening in order to cope with one of his natural needs.

Whatever it was, Dr. Haider shot two birds with one stone: he became slimmer and famous. Soviet propaganda added to the list of the next fighter against evil (which meant world imperialism). At one time, such honor was awarded to the "untwisted" news program "Time" legendary figures Joseph Mauri, Leonard Peltier, Angela Davis. Biography of Haider is known to few. A man was born in 1930, graduated from high school and even served in the army. His first academic degree was in 1964, he studied the outbreaks on the Sun for many years and even produced about 50 works on this topic. Then there was a struggle against the nuclear weapon, which glorified it.

Acting talent

Based on such considerations, you can not refuse to Haydar in talent. Indeed, all this was more like a dramatization, the purpose of which was to create a beautiful impressive picture. Before the eyes of the Soviet citizen appeared the image of a scientist who, without any support, with a risk to his health, is trying to stop the aggressive policy of President Reagan. None of the spectators even guessed that the correspondent of Gosteleradio resorted to tricks. The whole day he shot the stories, dressing in different costumes, changing ties, creating the illusion that he comes every day to the fence of the White House for filming. Ordinary viewers sincerely believed in this and watched with interest the fighter against the nuclear weapon.

Whatever it was, despite the described tricks, this man was not a swindler. PR was not an end in itself, Dr. Haider sincerely wanted to ensure that nuclear weapons were eliminated. He did not have enough endurance, or maybe allies? This question will be difficult to find the answer, on June 21 in 2004 this person died. Last years he lived in a nursing home and always talked about how one fought against an unjust state.