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Chicago Man Immolates Himself in Protest of Iraq

truthout.org — Four days before the election, and in plain sight of the morning rush-hour traffic, a man burned himself beyond recognition in protest of America's presence in Iraq. His death was written up as a traffic nuisance and ignored by the media.

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  • datter, on 10/12/2007, -171/+38"His death was written up as a traffic nuisance and ignored by the media."

    Possibly because anyone capable of doing something like that isn't an able minded protester... they're just insane. No digg.
    • canadianguy33, on 10/12/2007, -26/+76So what if he was crazy. That is one damn interesting piece of reading.
    • coolmos, on 10/12/2007, -40/+129Before you condemn him as a nut, read up on him:

      His mission statement:
      http://www.savagesound.com/gallery99.htm

      His obituary (by himself):
      http://www.savagesound.com/gallery100.htm

      Lots of reactions:
      http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/post-no-bills/2006/11/07/malachi-ritschers-apparent-suicide/

      Are you not moved by his words? Can't you see his pain for the indifference this world has for pain of others? For the cruel acts performed in the name of justice and righteousness?
      If you only judge him by his insanity you are blind to what he was saying here.

      http://www.iheardyoumalachi.org
    • dankoleary, on 10/12/2007, -17/+54Well, once this goes viral in about 11 minutes, a TON of people will get exposed to this, so yeah, he is about to get some main stream press.
    • trghpy, on 10/12/2007, -16/+42Wow
      Wasn't it like 30 some odd years back when buddhist monks did the same thing getting full media attention with out the Internet?

    • vertinox, on 10/12/2007, -11/+50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation

      In Asia is it actually considered quite honorable. Hence the often touted image of the Buddhist monks setting themselves on fire. It is also a common suicide method in Japan.

      And look at those list of people... Many of those were not insane, but felt so strongly in their cause they protested things like Communism and various other repressions.
    • venicerocco, on 10/12/2007, -24/+51He obviously had a heart, unlike you.
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -57/+14No video, no DIGG!!
    • diggmaddy, on 10/12/2007, -29/+6R.I.P

      May science grant him his wish ASAP.
    • jaydj, on 10/12/2007, -26/+49Selfless or selfish?

      The guy is trying to turn the easy way out of his depression into martyrdom.

      I agree with his message. I disagree with his device.

      If you read the article, the reason no one was listening is that no one even knew who he was for five days. Even the paper had to piece together the story.
    • ersnyder, on 10/12/2007, -45/+65It's funny to see everyone who agrees this guy was a nut job get dugg down. I'd like to see all the people who want to pat this guy on that back to go out and do the same.

      But they won't, they'll join the rest of us in our pursuit of "corporate holiday's," "Starbucks" and living our lives. You are all bark and no bite. I'll pay attention to nut jobs like this when the rest of you are doing it together, cleansing the gene pool.

      In a way, I'm commiting digg comment suicide, I'm ready for the bury. Bring it on.
    • mistarojaz, on 10/12/2007, -37/+9in actuality the dude was really just inspired by rage against the machine's album cover and lit himself on fire to try and get them back together again.

      i wish
    • sinfree, on 10/12/2007, -26/+31I am shocked at the mass show of support for this idea. You do realize if everyone of us who are opposed to the war in Iraq set ourselves on fire, then we are essentially killing off the resistance to the war ourselves. I will say it is honorable to see a man willing to stand up for what he believes, but I just wanted to point out that all of us killing ourselves isn't going to solve the problem.
    • ZenMojo, on 10/12/2007, -21/+26So since we think he's courageous for committing suicide for a cause of peace, we must be hypocrites for not doing it ourselves? I'm sure that was supposed to be clever, but the point is that he is willing to do something we can't or won't do.

      A quaker committed a similar act outside the gates of the White House to protest the Vietnam War.
    • bkmaxey, on 10/12/2007, -45/+34What was the story I read this morning? Oh yeah, how conservatives are "mentally ill". This really makes liberals look perfectly sane...


      The guy was nuts, end of story.


      Dig me down in 3...2...1...
    • sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -19/+4Dude, I was only calling you a Dominant Introverted Abstract Feeler!
    • Chongo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18Regardless of being a nut or not, It's pretty interesting how the media wrote this one up. As someone who was actually stuck in the traffic this caused, I only read that it was some guy who lit himself on fire.
    • Jammer, on 10/12/2007, -24/+18Agree. Some freak sparking himself up hardly counts as a rational act and one worthy of mention. Digg me down all you Liberal pussies -- you know it's the truth about this fruitcake.
    • Muyoso, on 10/12/2007, -20/+11I love how this guys first form of protest against the war is to set himself on fire and try and melt himself down. Maybe nextime try and write a letter first.
    • oxyrubber, on 10/12/2007, -9/+21The Quaker who committed self-immolation (leading to his death) outside McNamara's office at the Pentagon:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Morrison
      (ZenMojo was very close)

      This is exactly what I thought about when I read the headline. I knew about the Buddhist Monks, but I didn't know why they had done this.

      For those of you who think this is supposed to start some sort of epidemic, YOU ARE WRONG. This man wanted to rise above the political "discussions" and make a statement. It only takes one person to show the depth of feeling involved in this issue and I would say Malachi Ritscher is him.

      People don't usually take their own lives without being very depressed (in western societies). In societies that value honor very highly, a deep feeling of shame and a desire to shed oneself of the shame could be enough to commit suicide.

      In a world where politicians shift the blame and accountability among even elected officials is slipping away, this man decided to use his life to make a statement. Most of us will never actually see "15 minutes of fame" and fewer of us will actually make more than a marginal positive difference in the world. He might not have been the first person to self-immolate in protest of a war, but he seems to be one of the only people who have taken an active interest in seeing our part of the War in Iraq stopped.

      Too bad I haven't heard about him until now. I'm sure his timing (just before the election) had something to do with his motives. It's a shame the press didn't cover his death (for whatever reasons).
    • RevMark, on 10/12/2007, -25/+14No digg. So what. Another suicide. Who cares? Another Leftist liberal AntiAmerican gone. Good riddance. I feel sorry for his family.
    • appetite, on 10/12/2007, -11/+19Whether he was crazy or not, it wasn't a good idea. Set yourself on fire when it's an absolute last resort to show how crazy the situation has become and your powerlessness to make any impact.

      But until then, do some actual work to affect change in small steps. I don't agree with John Mayer's "Waiting for the world to change" strategy, but burning yourself alive is also a tragic display of missing the point.
    • JimV, on 10/12/2007, -15/+32@coolmos

      Two things:

      1. An idiot with noble intentions is still an idiot.
      2. In America, no one cares if you're a loon and set yourself on fire.
    • Splizxer, on 10/12/2007, -14/+5I'm going to give this man the dignity that he deserves.

      z0mfg r0fl self pwnt!!!!!111!!!11
    • cliffzdude, on 10/12/2007, -11/+10Support for setting one's self on fire? En masse?

      Sure, on Digg that is totally understandable. Digg's user base has gotten younger and younger, most on Digg are scared ***** of the draft (rightfully so). Its only natural the mob opinion be to support anything that helps keep them out of the army.

      Digg's common mob stance is often 180 degrees out of phase with the general population, that is ok. People behave in packs, and pack mentality is at its strongest during the teen years. It begins to wane in the 20's, and keeps mellowing like a good wine into the 30's and 40's. Note starting a family is worth moving up 25 (out of 100) points on the less worried about the mob-think scale. Why? When you are a bit older you begin to think a bit less about yourself, and more about others. Odd yet true... You may think you see a contradiction, if so you aren't thinking deeply enough.

    • DisposableRob, on 10/12/2007, -10/+20"Are you not moved by his words?"

      Not really. It reads like a self-important MySpace entry.
    • Phatt138, on 10/12/2007, -12/+6Cliffz - but I guess you never outgrow self-aggrandizement, huh?

      True, the internet generation is far more liberal than much of America; of course, they're also more highly educated than much of America. Maybe that's coincidence to you or maybe - just maybe - you're following a different crowd.

      Seems like your wine's gone bitter, not mellow.
    • aristotle1990, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12We're not committing mass murder; we've stopped a man who actually *did* commit mass murder and genocide. Our intentions were honorable. Granted, we've ***** up quite a bit, but to kill yourself in protest of what you see as U.S. led mass murder is delusional. The guy was apparently depressed anyhow; it's not as though Iraq was his sole reason for burning himself up. He probably saw his own (inevitable?) suicide as an opportunity to make a political statement.
    • etruscan, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7Nope - his mission statement and obit don't fix it. I agree with datter here. His actions will not change anything... it is not noble or brave. That's one less voice in the fight against the war in Iraq now. It's a cowards way out, and no amount of words are going to change that. Tomorrow, we'll still be in this mess of a war, and one mans burnt corpse won't change that... while his voice may have had a chance.

      I suggest you Digg up the original poster.
    • xenofiend, on 10/12/2007, -12/+8
      This was posted before and only has 24 diggs at this moment:

      http://digg.com/politics/Man_Commits_Suicide_By_Setting_Himself_on_Fire_to_Protest_Iraq_War

      All the comments were negative at this point so I'm reposting my response:

      To those who "don't get it":
      You make me sick. Your selfish and barbaric arrogance is the reason our country is in the condition it is today. Explain to me how you can disagree with this man's statement:

      "Here is the statement I want to make: if I am required to pay for your barbaric war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our country," he wrote in his suicide note. "... If one death can atone for anything, in any small way, to say to the world: I apologize for what we have done to you, I am ashamed for the mayhem and turmoil caused by my country."

      If you don't accept what he was trying to tell you then what kind of hateful monster are you? How can you agree with killing innocent people? How do you sleep at night knowing you are paying for the destruction of countless souls? This man set himself on fire, which is in my opinion the most serious form of non-violent protest, in order to get people like you to understand that your hands are filthy with the blood of the innocent. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

    • aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10@xenofiend
      Sure, I'll explain why I disagree with his statement.

      "Here is the statement I want to make: if I am required to pay for your barbaric war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our country," he wrote in his suicide note."

      When I first read this I expected that bit to go "I choose not to live in your country." That would've made sense--if you don't like what your nation stands for, moving to another one is logical and rational. But "not to live in your world?" Come on. If this guy was just worried about his taxes he could've moved to any one of the over 100 nations that did not support major combat operations in Iraq.

      "... If one death can atone for anything, in any small way, to say to the world: I apologize for what we have done to you, I am ashamed for the mayhem and turmoil caused by my country."

      So all he can offer for this "mayhem and turmoil" are apologies? He's a perfectly healthy citizen, perfectly able to make a real difference in the world today--to give speeches, to debate his neighbors, to write letters to newspapers, even to run for office himself to put things right!--and all he can offer the people of Iraq who are dying because of our mistakes are goddamn *apologies*? Give me a freakin' break.
    • xenofiend, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7aviazn:

      Ok, here's your break:
      This man's final statement has inspired thousands of people to do all the things you mentioned. What are you doing about the situation? Still commuting to work? How many miles? How many gallons? How much do you pay in taxes each year? If you balance out what you contribute to the problem with what you are doing to remedy the situation do you come up with a positive result? Is it better to burn out or to fade away?
    • Foma, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5cliffzdude: "People behave in packs, and pack mentality is at its strongest during the teen years."

      Wow, brilliant insight. Yes, Digg's userbase is annoyingly homogenous. That is not a valid argument against the opinions of said userbase. Calling "groupthink!" whenever you disagree with the masses certainly is satisfying, but you should know by now that it can never be a persuasive argument (in and of itself) against the actual ideas.

      "Note starting a family is worth moving up 25 (out of 100) points on the less worried about the mob-think scale. Why? When you are a bit older you begin to think a bit less about yourself, and more about others. Odd yet true... You may think you see a contradiction, if so you aren't thinking deeply enough."

      Okay, I'll take the bait. The more deeply I think about it, the more I think that you're simply placing compassion for one's close gene pool above compassion for everyone else. Your "starting a family" meme that you've acquired is as selfish as any other.

      Maybe this man's life could have been better served in other ways besides ending it in fire. Perhaps, when all is said and done, his decision could be considered rather stupid. But he made a decision which was obviously fueled by deep empathy. The fact that I believe his empathy should be given the proper respect does not make me a blind follower of the mob.

      Calling suicide "cowardly" and "the easy way out" is a very safe way of looking at things. Suicide is a complex beast, and dismissing it in these ways is the real "easy way out" here.
    • aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8@xenofiend:
      "This man's final statement has inspired thousands of people to do all the things you mentioned."

      You asked me to explain how I could disagree with his statement, which as provided by you consisted of him whining about how he was being forced to pay taxes to fund the war. Sure, his actions may inspire people, and I'm not taking anything away from that. But read what you posted: his written statement is not an attempt to inspire anyone--it's an attempt to exonerate his own self-guilt through suicide.

      "What are you doing about the situation? Still commuting to work? How many miles? How many gallons? How much do you pay in taxes each year? If you balance out what you contribute to the problem with what you are doing to remedy the situation do you come up with a positive result? Is it better to burn out or to fade away?"

      I'm a university student and I ride the bus or walk to school (I work in the student union). I vote, go to political debates on campus, read blogs, and write letters to my university paper. I drive my car a couple miles down the highway to get groceries, and it gets about 25 mpg. I don't know about taxes--I file with my parents. I have no idea whether or not I come out positive or negative--all I know is that I try my best to balance my personal goals of becoming an astrophysicist with my obligations to society. It's best to be a fire--your flames burn brightly, but your embers stay warm long after and fade away slowly.
    • xenofiend, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7@aviazn

      I find no fault with your assertions. I suspected you were something you are not. You deserve to be heard, Thank you for a proper debate.
      I digg you sir.
    • aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@xenofiend
      And the same to you, sir--thank you.
    • elCapitanNemo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5This storys been duped so many times, and I've said the same thing, WHAT A LOSER.
    • skyshock21, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Digg the parent down all you want... he's 100% correct. This guy is an absolute nutcase of the highest order. Anyone who'd offer to kill themself rather than live to protest another day has some serious mental disorders.
    • elCapitanNemo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4God, the more and more I read these articles and the people commenting on them, I've become convinced that digg.com is being used by ORGANIZED groups of people to exploit it for their own far left political agenda. Look at these two posts they look like scripts to me.
      Coolmos--------"Are you not moved by his words? Can't you see his pain for the indifference this world has for pain of others? For the cruel acts performed in the name of justice and righteousness?
      If you only judge him by his insanity you are blind to what he was saying here."
      Xenofiend--------"If you don't accept what he was trying to tell you then what kind of hateful monster are you? How can you agree with killing innocent people? How do you sleep at night knowing you are paying for the destruction of countless souls? This man set himself on fire, which is in my opinion the most serious form of non-violent protest, in order to get people like you to understand that your hands are filthy with the blood of the innocent. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

    • coolmos, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3It seems we all forget one thing.

      A person is more then just one aspect. Sure, in a way he was a loser. He lost his family. He lost his life. But he also had another side. A side that felt compassion.

      How would you like to be judged on one quality alone? Suppose your memory was bad, and people judged you on that, and only on that.

      I don't think its appropriate to compare him to Jesus. There's more to Jesus then his death, if he existed. And i don't think its wise to make this man a martyr. He has caused a lot of pain to some people.

      But this last act was not in vain. He has touched others lives by this. If anything, he accomplished that.

      Millions die, without you caring. Now this imperfect human being takes a stand, and says "No More!", and you condemn him. Sad.......
  • beatstreeter, on 10/12/2007, -21/+57Just insane. Sure. Just a nut. No need to pay attention. Catch 22 for anybody who feels strongly enough to protest our involvement in Iraq: don't commit suicide and you don't do something that might grab national awareness and shock people out of their apathy; do commit suicide and you're labeled a crazy nut bag.
    • cameron074, on 10/12/2007, -36/+7"He was different people at different instances and so, so erratic."

      - The son of the fireball


      Yeah, he wasn't crazy. :rolls:
    • beatstreeter, on 10/12/2007, -12/+61Yeah it's not crazy that we go about our lives everyday as if nothing's the matter while our weapons of war unleash terror on the citizens of Iraq. It's not crazy that we drive past a burning man on the side of the road because Starbucks is calling our name. It's not crazy that we feel no empathy for a people who never messed with the US, yet who had the unfortunate curse to be born over vast reserves of oil.

      That's not crazy. Some dude burning himself....off the f-in wall nuts. Couldn't be that he had human emotions. Couldn't be that he empathized with the innocent Iraqis. Couldn't be that he felt more things than the average American allows his or herself to feel.
    • beatstreeter, on 10/12/2007, -16/+41The easy way out is suicide? Not for me buddy.

      The easiest thing to do is be apathetic and as greedy as you possibly can be. Wreck as many lives as you can in pursuit of your own selfish aims.

      If the people of Iraq get the message that some of us Americans do not agree with the actions of our president and those who facilitated this war, they may find a little forgiveness for us. This guy has done a great service for our country.

      Jesus died for the sins of the world. This man died for the sins of our country. You want a religious insight? You just got one.

      And frankly I don't care what the right wing political religious zealots think. They also root for a minister who had a male prostitute and a meth addiction. This world is pretty messed up. It's amazing that he's the first out of 300 million to make such an incredible statement for a cause he believes in.

      And (as far as suicide goes) a bullet through the head is the easiest way out. You can rest assured that this man suffered terribly for the last two or three minutes of his life.
    • SineNomen, on 10/12/2007, -16/+4Except people actually knew Jesus, and His death had meaning, this guy would have had to make a name for himself through all the charitable work he did before dying before being in the same category.

      Now, if President Clinton or the singer from Green Day(oh I wish) immolated himself, that'd be a real statement, someone peopel know/respect perhaps, but some depressed blogger? Just a waste. There are so many better ways he could have protested, and made a difference, even if only because he'd have more time to protest.
    • nepawoods, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10"don't commit suicide and you don't do something that might grab national awareness and shock people out of their apathy"

      let me see if I have this - the desire to withdraw from Iraq with no plan whatsoever to stop the entire countries self-immolation ... this is the alternative to apathy?

      No, I don't have a plan, but your readiness to say "let's leave, and to hell with the consequences" certainly seems to reek of apathy to me
    • Jammer, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3@beatstreeter

      If you feel so strongly about this guy's actions, then please ... emulate your hero.
    • cezar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9"The easiest thing to do is be apathetic and as greedy as you possibly can be. Wreck as many lives as you can in pursuit of your own selfish aims."

      I agree with his message. But this method is not the way to go. He basically did what you said. He's greedy in the sense that he just wanted it to end. He didn't want to put long term work into it. He wanted the easy way out. I'm an almost absolutely sure he did it because of depression, but he wanted to give it meaning. He wrecked the lives of those who loved him as suicide will mostly do.

      It was selfish for him to make himself a martyr. Others make you a martyr, not you yourself. I do hope though that his message is heard so that some good my come of it.
    • JoeCool1986, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6I'm sorry, but killing yourself isn't the ONLY way to protest a war. When you do something that extreme you get labeled a nut bag because that's what you are. There's plenty of people that feel just as strongly as this guy about the war but their (hopefully) doing other things to try to stop it, like voting and trying to get representation. You know, stuff that actually might help get our troops out of there, unlike lighting yourself on fire.
    • popfrogs, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Yeah, it's kinda crazy to think that burning yourself to death can change the plans of an entire administration.

      At the end of the day, you're just another dead nutjob that was selfish enough to throw your own life away and leave a black mark in the minds of your loved ones. Plus you leave a nasty charred mess for the poor paramedics and cops to clean up.

      "Jesus died for the sins of the world. This man died for the sins of our country. You want a religious insight? You just got one."

      Actually Jesus was the fleshy incarnation of God (according to the Bible) so he never really 'lived' and never really 'died'. If Jesus in the flesh *was* God, then when Jesus died, God would have died as well. Makes perfect sense if you look at it like that, but using religious arguments against logic never works anyway.

      Not only that but if you insist on a religious context, name a religion that considers it acceptable to kill yourself. It won't be any religion based on a Westernized god like Catholicism or Christianity, because they believe your body is the temple of god, and you shouldn't do anything to harm yourself, let alone kill yourself. In England back in the 1600's, anyone committing suicide would be drawn and quartered and their body parts drug about in the streets to showcase their shame. That punishment sprung from the Church, no doubt, but it underlines Christian beliefs.
  • beatstreeter, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15well datter, you bought the media talking points hook line and sinker
  • Salladin, on 10/12/2007, -9/+14good man.
  • grammarpolice, on 10/12/2007, -17/+5Video?
  • stan205, on 10/12/2007, -11/+31Finally this story is getting some digg news. It's sad knowing in my lifetime the media has become just another corporation to feed the puppets on wall street. I long for the day, if it ever returns to the roots of actually reporting news.
  • bigvics, on 10/12/2007, -19/+6This article, this story and ultimately this man's actions are completely meaningless without pictures and/or videos of the actual event for me to see. no digg
    • ardenr, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Your comment is meaningless without a picture of your lonely stupid face.
  • madcow333, on 10/12/2007, -15/+3Everybody is mistaken!! He did not burn himself on fire to protest Iraq. He did this because he is protesting the piss poor performance of the Chicago Fire last season.
  • Azur2, on 10/12/2007, -23/+12Cleaning the gene-pool with petrol.
    Sorry, but that's all it is.
    • talmai, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2His genes will actually stay in the pool (if his son decides to have children).
  • l33tspam, on 10/12/2007, -14/+19What you see on TV and in newspapers arent news, places like digg (for the most part) are where you can find actual news...its sad that its come to this...

    he was a real patriot, god speed.
    • mavere, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I follow digg as religiously as most of you, but it's a news aggregator. It doesn't create its own material, and even if it does, its slanted nature means it'd be better as a complement to other news outlets rather than an actual replacement...

      As for the man, I agree with the guy above who said people are made to be martyrs... they don't do it themselves. I applaud him for doing something most of us would never do, but it's a waste of a life since as an American citizen, he has the ability to actually change things. In contrast, the millions of people in Iraq who are directly suffering from the war doesn't.
      I guess what I'm trying to get across is that the immolation would be much more emotional and effective if it's from someone who actually have a personal stake in the war and has no other way of effecting change. An Iraqi citizen immolating himself in front of the American embassy would hit me a lot harder than what this guy did. Sorry if you disagree, but it's my gut reaction from this, and probably a lot of other Americans' as well.

      And of course, the various implications of the guy's insanity in the article doesn't exactly improve my opinion either.
    • appetite, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Digg is not a place for real news. It's a place for sensationalism and entertainment.

      I feel sorry for this man but he was not a hero for this act. This is a tragedy of self-delusionment and probably depression-induced impulsiveness. I hope nobody else takes this route to protest the war because it is a waste of life, especially in America where there are many ways to affect change without hurting yourself or others.

      I think this man could have done a lot more good by working hard for change and setting an example that way. He might not have drawn as much immediate attention, but he would have created more benefit over the long term.
  • 1911wolf, on 10/12/2007, -16/+8Good for him. Anyone else care to immolate themselves? I'll buy the gas.
  • mattc908, on 10/12/2007, -13/+4There is no one reason anyone should pay this moron any attension. First off to make a point you dont need to kill your self. Second off if people like him get recongized that gives more reason for other people to do it. We dont go around reporting peoples suicides wether they for a reason or just mental instability.
    • WallyAnti, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I don't admire his method, but unlike many who take on political issues you cannot doubt his sincerity. As far as suicides go we definitely DO go around reporting them so long as there is enough people who want to know about it. Just look at Kurt Cobain.

      I also don't agree with your point that it gives more reason for others to go around doing it. Even if so its their body to do with as they please even if it is illegal.
  • m8ymerc1, on 10/12/2007, -11/+6good
  • noseeme, on 10/12/2007, -14/+6And nobody heard him.
    *makes muted trumpet "wah wah wahhhh" sound*
  • SineNomen, on 10/12/2007, -21/+12"if I am required to pay for your barbaric war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our country"

    So stop paying taxes and go to jail. Then, you don't finance the war, and you presence in jail will eat up funds that could go to the war effort. What an idiot.

    mass murder of innocent civilians? There's plenty of reasons to oppose the war in Iraq, but mass murder? At worst you could say a lot of civilians were innocent victoms of collateral damage, and maybe some crazy/trigger-happy soldiers, but not it's like the whole thing was just an attempt tp kill as many Iraqi citizens as possible, otherwise, they'd all be dead.



    @beatstreeter

    Except people actually knew Jesus, and His death had meaning, this guy would have had to make a name for himself through all the charitable work he did before dying before being in the same category.
    • marklj, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7Someone give me some VALID reasons why he's getting dugg down?

      BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH HIM?

      Pathetic.
    • stan205, on 10/12/2007, -6/+8Stating Jesus as being a real figure carries as much weight as saying I can turn invisible.

      See (or you can't see) as I'm invisible right now. wooooohoooo
    • SineNomen, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2that's not even the issue, I was just following his analagy.

      If this guy wanted to make a difference, there's a hundred other things he could have done to make a difference, the fact that most everyone here are just barely learning of this shows hoe incredibly inneffective this method was.
    • talmai, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0RTFA
      He had some anti-war websites and I believe he attended quite some anti-war demonstrations. Otherwise, this wouldn't have happened.

      He couldn't stand being American. It's hard, I can guess...
    • nmoog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@stan205:

      Jesus is as well documented as any other historical figure (Heck, Plato was around a few hundred years before Jesus). Many don't think he was the son of god, but no one thinks he was made up.
    • Foma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1nmoog: "Many don't think he was the son of god, but no one thinks he was made up."

      Actually, it turns out that some people do think that:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Who_Wasn%27t_There
  • LoudOrangeCat, on 10/12/2007, -12/+8Of course this story was ignored by the media, guess who owns the media outlets?
    • Jammer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4the media outlets are owned by people who choose to report actual news. It's really irrelevant why he did it and not really news-worthy, because anyone who commits suicide is irrational and disturbed to begin with.
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16He got it all wrong. You have to burn people who disagree with you, not yourself.
  • Serrac, on 10/12/2007, -6/+8As it was pointed out earlier, self-immolation, as awful as it sounds, has been a valid method of protest for a long time. If he felt strongly enough about the issue that he felt that that was good way for him to express his views, more power to him. It's admirable that he could stand up for his views that strongly.
  • Mike912, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5He has no soul.
    • rbtopp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Whether you agree with his method of protest or not theres no need to say something like that you scumbag.
  • dancrew32, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Signs also do pretty well.. Lighting yourself on fire isn't too safe.. nor is jumping off of a building..
  • marklj, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10The media ignored it because suicides aren't news. If this guy really wanted to make a difference then he would have used his LIVING resources to do something.

    Now he's dead, and its my guess that he regrets what he did.
    • elShaggy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7i dont think he has the ability to feel regret.
  • Davinci, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6If he were alive, I would say:

    "You can have a much more profound effect on many more people if you articulate your thoughts into something more meaningful then some stunt. Use your energy, time, and talents toward making a difference, and not towards making the news."

    I entirely disagree with many of his statements, but I respect them (his beliefs) much more than his "stunt". Even the many diggers that do agree with the liberal talking points in his writings should condemn his actions. Suicide is a terrible thing.
    • marklj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Good point. All this accomplished for him was a 60 second *blip* on a few thousand peoples computer monitors, and he will be forgotten soon enough.

      What if Gandhi burned himself alive?
    • ZenMojo, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5Suicide is a terrible thing, but it is after all his life to do with what he wishes.

      There is this unfortunate correllation between intelligence and empathy in some people. When the two of them are found in high degrees, the burdens of the world become unbearable. This is why geniuses are notoriously depressed and introverted people, not because they think life sucks but because they know life sucks and they feel it every single day.

      It's a very lonely experience that most people can't identify with, but it's real, and he felt it. It's harder for people like this to bear it than the average person. It's even harder than a person of average intelligence and high love for the human race because while he can feel for someone, being able to DIRECTLY FEEL the suffering of others is a whole different matter.
    • elShaggy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Who are you to say suicide is a terrible thing. Suicide is a daring and thought out act. Thrusting yourself into what is completely unknown. People don't just make a split decision to kill themselves, it is contemplated, and if they feel making that leap by their will is more appealing that living, its their perogative. Suicide is frowned upon because religion says its bad, you can't make your weekly offering if your dead.
    • mavere, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I've been a lifelong atheist who haven't had an ounce of Judeo-Christianity philosophy introduced into me until I was a teenager, and yes, I do frown upon suicide.

      The natural animal response is to avoid death at all cost. Any extreme deviation from that path would cause me to question the person's decision.
  • topace3000, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6If I thought our government was evil and genocidal and had as little to live for as this guy apparently did, I would probably take some sort of violent action. But I'd try to kill the people I percieved as bad, and not myself.

    Also the entire case he makes for it is insanely distorted and unreasonable...
    • xenofiend, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@topace3000
      "But I'd try to kill the people I percieved as bad, and not myself."

      So you'd be a suicide bomber then, shoot up the office, or fly a jumbo jet into a skyscraper perhaps? I'm sure you'd go down in history as honorably as this man.
    • idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Wow, you quoted it without reading it. He said he *wouldn't* kill himself. That kind of rules out all forms of suicide.
    • azurechaos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1he would only end up making his side look extremist if he attacked our government and fuel the government's "terror" campaign in turn.
  • rjpaez, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3And he filmed this?
  • ismokedope, on 10/12/2007, -13/+4too bad there isn't a video.
  • thearrow, on 10/12/2007, -15/+7LOL, What a moron!
  • turbochop, on 10/12/2007, -23/+18One less vote for democrats. :)
    • GeneralFailure0, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15That's really not funny. How can you suggest you'd rather someone be dead than vote for a party you don't support? Talk about a polarized nation...
    • turbochop, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3oh... cry me a freaking river
    • elShaggy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4some people just have that mind set. Rep. - Dem., Good - Evil, Win - Lose. when its really lose - lose, amirite?
    • Jammer, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0@GeneralFailure0

      Damn ... you're onto us. Are we really all that transparent?
    • shasty55, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2i need about 200 more democrats to burn themselves up before I will even consider caring
  • madcow333, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3He did this because he is protesting the poor performance of the Chicago Fire last season.
  • Koopy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11I think you are all missing the point. He killed himself to protest something. All that does is cause harm to his entire family and friends. Doing this will not cause any end or change to anything.
    • thearrow, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10It changed his life, that's what it caused.
    • xenofiend, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It inspired me and from looking at some of these comments hundreds more. Does that count as change?
    • allenu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Well, seeing as we're constantly bombarded with news and events, I think most people will probably forget this in a couple of days.
  • orbanj, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3sinenomen i dont know why you are being dugg down. you have an absolutely valid point. i believe that suicide was simply a hipocrasy.

    "oh i know, to protest all the death and destruction in Iraq, i will myself. THAT will show them that life is important"

    and LoudOrangeCat quit bitching. you are clearly complaining that conservatives (without actually using the term) own the media outlets. there is PLENTY of liberal media. just because you don't like republicans is no excuse to make up blatant overstatements.


    and YES it is cruel to make comments such as "he has no soul" about this man. i have nothing against his beliefs, but i do object about how he got about it. perhaps he was mentally unstable. i don't know, and although i object to what he did and believe that you can criticise his actions, there is no excuse to trash him like that.

    i guess that all i am trying to say is that if this guy really felt that strongly about this war, he should have done something about it. ROB A BANK and give all the money to people who will help your cause. i don't care what he does, surely there is a more effective means of getting your point across than wasting even more life.
  • wordsthatendini, on 10/12/2007, -14/+9I believe a great poet best would best describe this situation....
    "That's Hot"
    -Paris Hilton
  • nepawoods, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2What was this guys plan to stop the self-immolation of all of Iraq? I seemed to have missed that part. You'd think, being such a lucid individual, he'd have made that clearer.
  • digitalbryan, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3There is good and bad in everything around us. People happily enjoy life when they choose to see the good in it.
    • GeneralFailure0, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7There's a difference between choosing to see the good and ignoring or not caring about all the terrible things that happen every day, like the thousands of deaths in Iraq. Seeing the good without the bad is not the answer, either.
  • APod, on 10/12/2007, -10/+8His son -

    "The idea of being a martyr I'm sure was attractive. He could literally go out in a blaze of glory."

    hahaha
  • cassholio, on 10/12/2007, -10/+9Hey--maybe a little off topic, did anyone happen to catch that digg article where the libtards were saying that the vast majority of crazy people were more likely to vote for Bush?

    Was this guy a registered Republican? Cuz'--killing yourself is kind of crazy--jus' askin' that's all libtards...just askin...
    • GeneralFailure0, on 10/12/2007, -10/+7You're right, that is off-topic. And offensive. I consider myself independent, but right now I'm definitely more supportive of the democrats than the republicans in general, yet I don't consider myself a 'libtard'. I've also never stooped so low as to suggest that conservatives are retarded, except of course for the ones I see on TV.
  • dude187, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7I can see it now:

    "Oh no, he set himself on fire and burned to death. Now we HAVE to do what he says"

    Yeah right, what did he think he was going to accomplish (besides burning himself to death)?
  • jotux, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7"At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 - four days before an election caused a seismic shift in Washington politics"

    Maybe he should have waited a few days.
  • HyTrojan, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4Sounds like a waste of gasoline, and at these current prices... sheesh! Yes, I do have a heart, but what this guy did was stupid & initially he got what I think his actions deserved... No attention what-so-ever. I hope Allah rewards him, because Jesus Christ frowned upon suicide.
  • tuxidomasx, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7at least he didnt hurt anybody else

    i dont care if people are suicidal or not. just as long as they dont try to take other people out with them.

    if u wanna kill yourself, be my guest. just do it in a safe, responsible way.
  • lcynicl, on 10/12/2007, -13/+9Protest the fact all you want. The guy was a nut bag. Committing suicide is the realm of nutbags. All the other rhetoric aside, the guy was a nutbag. Does anyone want my real opinion?
  • digitalbryan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Ya that burning monk made a great cover for that Rage Against the Machine CD.
  • pogfreak, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3I heard he was actually protesting gay marriage. ADAM AND EVE NOT ADAM AND STEVE
  • waysa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Go go Happy Time Harry.
  • muvment256, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3This is exactly what the monks did in vietnam to protest the war (self immolation) save 1 important distinction. The monks were smart enought to alert the media of their cause and when the immolation would occur. They were very successful is drawing attention to the cause and helped inspire millions in america on the antiwar side. This guy is not doing anything new, he just didn't understand that the media has to be properly alerted and motivated (which means, don't call fox, call other media stations, perhaps the BBC, AP, and Reuters)
  • gmprunner, on 10/12/2007, -12/+5As if burning himself is gonna do anything.

    Whitehouse Staff: "Mr. President, almost every single person in the U.S. is against this war. People are protesting, sometimes violently. Congress is furious, this could end very badly sir."

    President: "I don't care, we're not going anywhere."

    WS: "And some freak just burned himself because he thought it would make us spend billions of dollars to completely turn the entire operation around and bring everyone back in the middle of our work."

    Pres.: "GET THOSE TROOPS BACK TO THE U.S. IMMEDIATELY!"
  • Davinci, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Zen

    Even if what you say is true (which I disagree with but that's OK) this man would have just taken his life without going through some kind of public stunt.

    One might say, he wanted to take his life to "bring attention to the reality of the situation" etc. However, if that was in fact his motivation then he MUST have some sort of hope in all of us to learn and change. This should have been his reason to live.
    • boelder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2and here we sit "discussing" it... seems some purpose was served, some awareness raised, albeit in a sad way.

      -b


  • giomiguelito, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7where's the video?
  • lynch03, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6How the ***** does the media, or anyone ignore someone being drenched in flames and eventually dieing like that, especially in a public area, what the hell.
    • thearrow, on 10/12/2007, -13/+9Because the guy was a moron
    • cbiz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3If he was Paris Hilton's brother that would have help the story get noticed.
  • pirotess, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Haha! Well that protest failed miserably. Get with the times. Suicide is sooo yesterday... usually related to emos.
  • tuxidomasx, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4whatever. he just wanted attention

    *stiffles a laugh*
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