NationStates Jolt Archive

Why has this not received any coverage? Why have we not heard about this?

http://cleveland.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=10328&category_id=1

(Chicago) A long time Chicago activist, artist and contributer to the Chicago jazz scene has burned himself alive in an act of protest against the iraq war. He is only one of 10 Americans in history to have done this . Buddist monks did this during the VietNam war. On Friday, November 3, a man doused his body with gasoline and set himself afire to protest the war in Iraq . He died quietly in flames. His name was Malachi Ritscher.

Haven't seen it in the news? Me neither, which is kind of strange if you ask me, considering that it happened right here in downtown Chicago in front of hundreds of commuters during morning rush hour. The only conventional newspaper coverage to date was a tiny paragraph that appeared in the Saturday edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. Since then...nothing.

His death must not be in vain please spread the word...Chicago activists are planning a protest for Malachi and against the war saturday Nov. 18 in Chicago to get this out into the mainstream news.

You may think him a maniac, but it surely is a tragedy that politics are so desparate in America to make someone do this.

It also seems to contradict the "anti-war media" myth. But the fact is that people are sick of the corrupt warmongering governments, and sick of all the killing.

R.I.P. Malachi Ritscher

I'm sure his immolation will bring a speedy end to the war.:rolleyes:

Anyone else find it ironic that Bush went to Vietnam right after he self-immolated?

Nobody "made" him do that. He killed himself. I would not blame this on the desperation of politics so much as whatever mental impetus drove him to such an extreme. It is sad that somebody would kill themselves, it is also stupid and to be honest, I have never heard of this guy in my life and even wiki has almost nothing about him for his biography but his death.

Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi_Ritscher)

Sucks to be Malachai.

I think it's noble. it's a measure of how vapid most americans are that people are dismissing him.

No one wants to admit that there are people who despise the war so much that they are willing to go to such extreme measures. I think it really does say a lot that the media has decided that this is not worth mentioning to the public. One would think a man setting himself on fire for any reason would be newsworthy regardless of the reason behind it...

I'm sure his immolation will bring a speedy end to the war.:rolleyes:
Probably more than your internet posting.

No one wants to admit that there are people who despise the war so much that they are willing to go to such extreme measures. I think it really does say a lot that the media has decided that this is not worth mentioning to the public. One would think a man setting himself on fire for any reason would be newsworthy regardless of the reason behind it...

no, see, if he had set paris hilton's chihuahua on fire, it would make international news. or maybe if he had brutally murdered somebody. "news" is what people watch when they want to be horrified, disgusted, or angered. nobody covers anything of actual importance - it doesn't sell well.

I think it's noble. it's a measure of how vapid most americans are that people are dismissing him.

Well, self-immolation was a very profound statement when done in Vietnam by that Buddhist monk.

Now it's just getting kind of old. It's like pickets or marches. We've seen it before.

Plus, it's a one-shot protest. You really can't do it more than once. And even if you managed to be able to, you'd get dismissed by the second or third time. "Oh, that guy. Burning himself again. Turn the channel!"

In all seriousness, though - I don't think it's noble. I think it's disturbed. I think suicide, no matter the reason, is the product of mental imbalance more than anything else.

Probably more than your internet posting.

I'd say just about the same.

That's one helluva protest, yet the majority of the media did not consider broadcasting it.
Conspiracy.

In all seriousness, though - I don't think it's noble. I think it's disturbed. I think suicide, no matter the reason, is the product of mental imbalance more than anything else.
I'm not trying to say it's noble. It's really just depressing. And even more so that it was covered up by the media.

I'm not trying to say it's noble. It's really just depressing. And even more so that it was covered up by the media.

Not reported=/=covered up

I'm not trying to say it's noble. It's really just depressing. And even more so that it was covered up by the media.

It obviously wasn't covered up since you, I know about this and knew about it when it happened.

If getting less press coverage than you feel is warranted is what you mean, though.... well. Welcome to the world of politically motivated news press.

Not reported=/=covered up
They are the same when the end result is the same.

It obviously wasn't covered up since you, I know about this and knew about it when it happened.
When every real media outlet in a huge city like Chicago ignores this, it's pretty damn suspicious.

Indymedia is a citizen media organisation. All their stories are written by ordinary people, not editors. If it weren't for them we wouldn't know. If it weren't for Indymedia's Irish section (http://www.indymedia.ie/) linking to it, I wouldn't know, and thus you wouldn't know.

Not reported=/=covered up

In my opinion with a story like this not reporting is the same thing as covering it up. After all, if the media remains silent on a subject then it becomes very difficult for anyone to find out about it.

When every real media outlet in a huge city like Chicago ignores this, it's pretty damn suspicious.

Indymedia is a citizen media organisation. All their stories are written by ordinary people, not editors. If it weren't for them we wouldn't know. If it weren't for Indymedia's Irish section (http://www.indymedia.ie/) linking to it, I wouldn't know, and thus you wouldn't know.

I read it from a different source.

Anyway, how many suicides don't get reported? You don't even know. Each day hundreds of people, at the very least, kill themselves.

But hey, they weren't big shot famous people so maybe it doesn't matter?

Or maybe the news should report loudly every single death? Then the news would be just one big funeral notice/obituary.

Is it suspicious, a conspiracy to you that it is otherwise? Then maybe you are a bit paranoid.

Gutsy move that. The only thing is, reading about his life he didn't sound like the most stable of people. Not to say he wasn't necessarily fully compos mentis when he did it, but it's hard to really say what was going on in his head. I mean with the Buddhist monks, you can understand that, that their devoting their life to peace etc., but it's hard to say how much of this was like that, and how much of it was related to some sort of mental illness.

What an idiotic and inflammatory form of protest! :)

Unfortunately, this 'one man' protest will NOT make a difference! Four guys (i.e. Rage Against the Machine) tried; to no avail! Hundreds of liberals and democrats, thousands of college kids, hundreds of thousands of third party voters! All tried; none of them made a difference!
United We Stand...Divided We Fall and right now we, the citizens of the United States of America, are too divided to make a difference!! Sad but true!!! I honestly think it would take the nation, as a whole, to rise up against the government and overthrow it...REVOLUTION!!!
I've probably expressed too much emotion already and I'll probably endure one hell of a lashing so, I'll walk away with my head hung in shame but...I'm not going set myself ablaze!!! :cool:

no, see, if he had set paris hilton's chihuahua on fire, it would make international news. or maybe if he had brutally murdered somebody. "news" is what people watch when they want to be horrified, disgusted, or angered. nobody covers anything of actual importance - it doesn't sell well.

Well said!!!

I read it from a different source.
And you didn't report it here?

Anyway, how many suicides don't get reported? You don't even know. Each day hundreds of people, at the very least, kill themselves.
Certainly, but very few are politically motivated. Most of us can't really relate to personal reasons for suicide, so they become statistics. Most suicides are also not commited in front of many members of the public.

But hey, they weren't big shot famous people so maybe it doesn't matter?
This guy wasn't a big-shot famous person either.

Or maybe the news should report loudly every single death? Then the news would be just one big funeral notice/obituary.
This is just another, ordinary death in your eyes? That assessment just removes so many facets of the context, it's ridiculous.

Is it suspicious, a conspiracy to you that it is otherwise? Then maybe you are a bit paranoid.
I wouldn't go as far as "conspiracy!" but it does clearly show the bias, and the political correctness of the media.

And you didn't report it here?

I figured someone else would. I don't like being a news-repeater on this forum.

Certainly, but very few are politically motivated. Most of us can't really relate to personal reasons for suicide, so they become statistics. Most suicides are also not commited in front of many members of the public.


This guy wasn't a big-shot famous person either.

More so than some kid who just hung himself in some bedroom somewhere. Photographer. Musician. Made some decent money. Had a lot of friends. Well known in a community of artists. Etc.

This is just another, ordinary death in your eyes? That assessment just removes so many facets of the context, it's ridiculous.

As ordinary as any death can be. All too common, and every one unique.


I wouldn't go as far as "conspiracy!" but it does clearly show the bias, and the political correctness of the media.

Who but the media might you expect to be politically correct? The sky is indeed blue. ;)

Is it suspicious, a conspiracy to you that it is otherwise? Then maybe you are a bit paranoid.

In fact, now that you mention it, I do sense a conspiracy! I wonder if maybe the guy was chosen for...his name! No man seriously, follow me here!

Maybe Dubya emerged in the street dressed as Isaac from Children of the Corn! He then pointed at this gentleman and, with an ear splitting, demonic growl said, "He wants you too, Malachi!"

Dubya then vanishes as quickly as he appeared and this poor guy bursts into flames!

I think it's quite possible dude! Really!!! :p

I think it's noble. it's a measure of how vapid most Americans are that people are dismissing him.

No kidding!:headbang:
Jesus, I never even heard about this before!:eek:
The thought that someone killed himself in the middle of a crowd and no one ever heard about it . . . OMG:(

KILL BUSH!!!:sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5:

More so than some kid who just hung himself in some bedroom somewhere. Photographer. Musician. Made some decent money. Had a lot of friends. Well known in a community of artists. Etc.
Most photographers and musicians I know are not that famous or rich. Malachi's level of "fame" has been reached by millions of people. Being in the arts does not mean he's any more famous than some middle manager making decent money.

As ordinary as any death can be. All too common, and every one unique.
Only nine other Americans have killed themselves like this, according to the article.

Most photographers and musicians I know are not that famous or rich. Malachi's level of "fame" has been reached by millions of people. Being in the arts does not mean he's any more famous than some middle manager making decent money.


We're talking about this specific photographer and musician, not most of them.

Only nine other Americans have killed themselves like this, according to the article.

That's nice. A good reason to ignore anyone who chose a less exotic method of suicide?

Malachi burned himself? Shit that obviously means that...uh...well that means that we should...um...

People who willingly inflict pain upon themselves are often thought of by the medical community as insane. That and the fact that burning yourself proves and shows absolutely nothing...

Malachi's a dumbass...

Why has this not received any coverage? Why have we not heard about this?

http://cleveland.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=10328&category_id=1



You may think him a maniac, but it surely is a tragedy that politics are so desparate in America to make someone do this.

It also seems to contradict the "anti-war media" myth. But the fact is that people are sick of the corrupt warmongering governments, and sick of all the killing.

R.I.P. Malachi Ritscher



wow...what a complete idiot

You may think him a maniac, but it surely is a tragedy that politics are so desparate in America to make someone do this.


...and why exactly are American politics "desparate?"

We're talking about this specific photographer and musician, not most of them.
Indeed, and Malachi wasn't famous.

That's nice. A good reason to ignore anyone who chose a less exotic method of suicide?
No, just refuting your lie that his suicide method was as common as any other.

...and why exactly are American politics "desparate?"
People only commit suicide over political reasons where they are desparate, and there is no other way to stop it. See Bobby Sands.

I get exactly five hits on Google News search for malachi AND immolation, so it definitely isn't being covered by the media. This is the first I'd heard of it.

It's particularly significant as a historical reference to the Vietnam War.

It's particularly significant as a historical reference to the Vietnam War.

And didn't bush visit Vietnam recently?

And didn't bush visit Vietnam recently?
Bush recently admitted that the Iraq war was starting to look like the Vietnam war.

I'm just shocked that none of the networks have said a thing about this. This is news on a scale well above, say, an accidental fraternity house fire that killed someone, which I can see covered on CNN.com.

There's literally nothing I can find on any network site about this. It's disturbing.

It didn't recieve coverage because:

1. No one cares. (likely...but since most media is liberal...we move to #2)

2. Malachi is a dumbass, and both Liberals and Conservatives can agree on it. I doubt liberals want to associate themselves with this mildly psychotic nutcase. Who burns themselves? Honestly...

People only commit suicide over political reasons where they are desparate, and there is no other way to stop it. See Bobby Sands.

How exactly was this Malachi character desperate enough...over politics...to commit suicide? He was just trying to be the ultimate attention whore...and I'm glad he failed with no news stations picking up the story. Moron.

I read about this story on another forum I am a member of.
It is a very sad story but it must be pointed out the Malachi was an advocate of suicide.
He felt that he had the right to choose the moment and method of his own demise.
He was also known to have issues with depression and was estranged from his son.
In his final blog post he said he could no longer live in a country that killed innocent human beings in his name.

The point is that he may have decided that he was going to make a statement against the war with his self immolation but he had underlying issues that contributed to his decision to end his own life.

As I said a very sad story.

How exactly was this Malachi character desperate enough...over politics...to commit suicide? He was just trying to be the ultimate attention whore...and I'm glad he failed with no news stations picking up the story. Moron.

It's a waste of life, but it is effective because he's accomplished his task: to instill the seeds of rebellion in a small subset of people.

Wow, That was a stupid thing to do, now there's one less anti-war activist out there. It really shows why suicide bombers are idiots too.

Good riddance. I wouldn't even piss on him to quench the flames.


Hippie.

It's a waste of life, but it is effective because he's accomplished his task: to instill the seeds of rebellion in a small subset of people.

Yea, too bad that the plan to start a rebellion failed. I mean honestly, was he really hoping that people would organized over this? It would've done him better if he started the rebellion himself.

In the words of Carlos Mencia: That guy was a dee dee dee.

Yea, too bad that the plan to start a rebellion failed. I mean honestly, was he really hoping that people would organized over this? It would've done him better if he started the rebellion himself.

In the words of Carlos Mencia: That guy was a dee dee dee.

Rebellion? Rebellion? You don't exactly inspire people by torching yourself. Maybe if you think as a homicide bomber and follow radical islam....

Rebellion? Rebellion? You don't exactly inspire people by torching yourself. Maybe if you think as a homicide bomber and follow radical islam....

Well it's susspose to be inspiring because you decided that the situation was soo bad that you needed to kill yourself. Instead of I dunno, maybe doing a protest, or doing something that actually requires work to change the situation.

Yea, too bad that the plan to start a rebellion failed. I mean honestly, was he really hoping that people would organized over this? It would've done him better if he started the rebellion himself.

In the words of Carlos Mencia: That guy was a dee dee dee.

Of course an outright rebellion would have not been started. The aim was nonviolent resistance (which is an improvement; he didn't murder other people, like a suicide bomber, to get his message across). However, Americans in general are too undisciplined to start a nonviolent resistance campaign like Gandhi and the Indians did.

Of course an outright rebellion would have not been started. The aim was nonviolent resistance (which is an improvement; he didn't murder other people, like a suicide bomber, to get his message across). However, Americans in general are too undisciplined to start a nonviolent resistance campaign like Gandhi and the Indians did.

Yea, but back in the 60's black started a non-violent resistance against segregation, and that was accomplished by organization, by people like MLK, etc. It wasn't done because someone killed themselves.

Yea, but back in the 60's black started a non-violent resistance against segregation, and that was accomplished by organization, by people like MLK, etc. It wasn't done because someone killed themselves.

Oh, there was violence aplenty during the 60s. Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam, Black Panthers, etc... they fought violence with violence, and ultimately did most of the work that MLK gets the credit for in school textbooks today.

Oh, there was violence aplenty during the 60s. Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam, Black Panthers, etc... they fought violence with violence, and ultimately did most of the work that MLK gets the credit for in school textbooks today.

Did I say there wasn't violence, no, all I was trying to say was that you don't motivate people by killing yourselves. You just end up making yourself look like a dumbass.

Politics do not "make" anyone do anything like this.

He was a disturbed individual and did nothing noble or inspiring.
Most news agencies have traditionally NOT reported suicides that aren't newsworthy for some reason beyond the suicide because the more it is reported, the more depressed copy cats show up in the news the next day.

Well it's susspose to be inspiring because you decided that the situation was soo bad that you needed to kill yourself. Instead of I dunno, maybe doing a protest, or doing something that actually requires work to change the situation.

I feel inspired.....




Well, to go donate some money to Protest warrior.

pretty extreme i'd say, and quite shocking that this didn't receive proper news coverage. equally as newsworthy as any of the previous protests against the war anyway. having said that, the guy was probably wrecked on something. you don't think setting yourself on fire is a good idea or die from burning quietly unless you are seriously doped up on something.

Politics do not "make" anyone do anything like this.

He was a disturbed individual and did nothing noble or inspiring.
Most news agencies have traditionally NOT reported suicides that aren't newsworthy for some reason beyond the suicide because the more it is reported, the more depressed copy cats show up in the news the next day.
A regular run-of-the-mill suicide does not warrant news. This was not a run of the mill suicide, nor was it some simple depressive act.

Simply depressed people do not immolate themselves in public.

A political self-immolation does. It's big news. Usually front page news. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Morrison_on_the_Sun.jpg) News agencies have not "traditionally not reported" self immolation as political protest, and their silence seems an affront, a defensive measure to avoid being pictured as "against the war" simply for covering the very real protests occurring.

Neoconservatives have been chanting "Oh, we lost the Vietnam War because those damn protestors made us pull out" for too long, and the news media must be buying it. Wake up.

The image of Thích Quảng Đức, Buddhist monk, burning himself alive in protest, is one that goes into history books. Most of you reading this have probably seen it at least once.

Thousands of people hang, shoot, or poison themselves all the time because they're depressed. Nobody immolates theirself in public just because they feel like killing themselves; it's exceedingly rare, and a very powerful statement.

The image of Thích Quảng Đức, Buddhist monk, burning himself alive in protest, is one that goes into history books. Most of you reading this have probably seen it at least once.

And for those of you that have not...
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f337/wkpjr1967/ThichQuangDuc.jpg

Nobody "made" him do that. He killed himself. I would not blame this on the desperation of politics so much as whatever mental impetus drove him to such an extreme. It is sad that somebody would kill themselves, it is also stupid and to be honest, I have never heard of this guy in my life and even wiki has almost nothing about him for his biography but his death.

Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi_Ritscher)


while sad,and it is...

to burn yourself alive over matters you have no control of speaks to a larger issue.
i feel sorry for this person,but truth be told,no one but his family will remember him in a week or 2.

i could die tomorrow,and who would mourn me...my family.

so what exactly did he accomplish..end the war?
i think not
help his family?
i think not

i think while his aims may have been noble...all he accomplished was hurting his family,and of coarse himself.

better ways to protest things,unless your unstable.

He's not the first, nor will he be the last. :(

There was an American Quaker, Norman Morrison, I think his name was, who did this during 'Nam.

Protest by suicide = the lazy man's way of protesting!

Protest by suicide = the lazy man's way of protesting!
Wow, that is horrible!! Although, being on fire does not require the same amount of work as carrying a sign all day.:D

I'm glad that the mainstream news didn't report this; it's not some sort of conspiracy. We don't want to encourage other people to take such drastic (and idiotic) action, like the wave of South Korean self-immolations in the 1990s.

Wow, that is horrible!! Although, being on fire does not require the same amount of work as carrying a sign all day.:D

lol, and it's the truth. There is almost no effort in killing yourself.

while sad,and it is...

to burn yourself alive over matters you have no control of speaks to a larger issue.
i feel sorry for this person,but truth be told,no one but his family will remember him in a week or 2.

i could die tomorrow,and who would mourn me...my family.

so what exactly did he accomplish..end the war?
i think not
help his family?
i think not

i think while his aims may have been noble...all he accomplished was hurting his family,and of coarse himself.

better ways to protest things,unless your unstable.
It's two weeks since he burned himself. The only reason that he isn't making much of an impact with his rather dramatic protest is that the mainstream media are sitting on it and refusing to report.

Even so, he is influencing people from beyond the grave. I found myself moved.

Like Norman Morrison, he may be remembered decades from now.

He's not the first, nor will he be the last. :(

There was an American Quaker, Norman Morrison, I think his name was, who did this during 'Nam.

And Alice Herz did it before him in Detroit.

It's two weeks since he burned himself. The only reason that he isn't making much of an impact with his rather dramatic protest is that the mainstream media are sitting on it and refusing to report.

Even so, he is influencing people from beyond the grave. I found myself moved.

Like Norman Morrison, he may be remembered decades from now.

I doubt it. Unless we're talking in the context of how stupid this "protest" was, then I doubt it.

I doubt it. Unless we're talking in the context of how stupid this "protest" was, then I doubt it.

Seeing someone burn themselves alive can make an impact on someone. If you were stuck in a traffic jam, and saw this guy sitting on the side of the road, enveloped in flames, would you take notice?

Both Normann Morrison and Thich Quang Duc were internationally known and remembered for almost half a century.

Seeing someone burn themselves alive can make an impact on someone. If you were stuck in a traffic jam, and saw this guy sitting on the side of the road, enveloped in flames, would you take notice?

Both Normann Morrison and Thich Quang Duc were internationally known and remembered for almost half a century.

I would probably bring the hot dogs. Mmmm the burning flesh just gives it that extra meaty taste!

Of course Normann Morrison and Thich Quang Duc are remembered, this is the first time America has ever seen it, but once you've seen it it becomes old news. Plus I remember people like MLK and Rosa Parks better than those two guys. Mainly because they actually did something to change the situation.

It's two weeks since he burned himself. The only reason that he isn't making much of an impact with his rather dramatic protest is that the mainstream media are sitting on it and refusing to report.

Even so, he is influencing people from beyond the grave. I found myself moved.

Like Norman Morrison, he may be remembered decades from now.

doubt you will feel the same 2 weeks from now.
not being rude,but life has away of dragging you along,everyday bills will do that.
the gov and anyone in position of power knows that....you remember the budhist that immolared himself(no google)name?

i will bet my first born(well i got 2 kids) that in 2 weeks you may be still slightly pissed,and a year from now...he will be forgotten...by you and everyone.
thats life

my best friend was murdered before my eyes.....i was upset for a bit..then life sweeps you away,and you forget,or have too.

the guy had issues far beyond the war.

he hurt his family and himself.

instead of enjoying the wonder of the world...he burned himself alive...dumb and will be forgotten.

that is truly sad.

so was jfk's murder....and we all are still demanding an investigation..or are we going about our little lifes?

A regular run-of-the-mill suicide does not warrant news. This was not a run of the mill suicide, nor was it some simple depressive act.

Simply depressed people do not immolate themselves in public.

A political self-immolation does. It's big news. Usually front page news. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Morrison_on_the_Sun.jpg) News agencies have not "traditionally not reported" self immolation as political protest, and their silence seems an affront, a defensive measure to avoid being pictured as "against the war" simply for covering the very real protests occurring.

Neoconservatives have been chanting "Oh, we lost the Vietnam War because those damn protestors made us pull out" for too long, and the news media must be buying it. Wake up.

The image of Thích Quảng Đức, Buddhist monk, burning himself alive in protest, is one that goes into history books. Most of you reading this have probably seen it at least once.

Thousands of people hang, shoot, or poison themselves all the time because they're depressed. Nobody immolates theirself in public just because they feel like killing themselves; it's exceedingly rare, and a very powerful statement.

Thích Quảng Đức was news in 1963 and was a powerful message speaking out against a people/faith oppressed with no real voice.

Malachi in 2006 is nothing of the sort.

Malachi is sold hanging in effigy.

And Alice Herz did it before him in Detroit.

Not familiar with her. But if I recall, there were a few immolations in protest of Gulf War I, as well...

Wow, that is horrible!! Although, being on fire does not require the same amount of work as carrying a sign all day.:D
You're talking to a guy who thinks shooting people is cool. What did you expect?

Well, self-immolation was a very profound statement when done in Vietnam by that Buddhist monk.

Now it's just getting kind of old. It's like pickets or marches. We've seen it before.

Plus, it's a one-shot protest. You really can't do it more than once. And even if you managed to be able to, you'd get dismissed by the second or third time. "Oh, that guy. Burning himself again. Turn the channel!"

In all seriousness, though - I don't think it's noble. I think it's disturbed. I think suicide, no matter the reason, is the product of mental imbalance more than anything else.

Self immolation is "getting old"?

You clown. Piss on your trite world-view, scum.

I think suicide as political protest, no matter how showy the means used, is totally idiotic. It's even more idiotic when done for something that you can, by looking at history, see won't change because of your action (those earlier wars didn't stop simply because some people self-immolated, nor from any resultant coverage).

I also think it's fine that the media, for once, isn't going along with being played.

What I thought was funny was that not only was it not covered in the MSM, the commuters who were driving by didn't even notice a man burning himself to death at rush hour.

CHICAGO - Malachi Ritscher envisioned his death as one full of purpose.

He carefully planned the details, mailed a copy of his apartment key to a friend, created to-do lists for his family. On his Web site, the 52-year-old experimental musician who'd fought with depression even penned his obituary.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 — four days before an election caused a seismic shift in Washington politics — Ritscher, a frequent anti-war protester, stood by an off-ramp in downtown Chicago near a statue of a giant flame, set up a video camera, doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire.

Aglow for the crush of morning commuters, his flaming body was supposed to be a call to the nation, a symbol of his rage and discontent with the U.S. war in Iraq.

"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."

There was only one problem: No one was listening.

It took five days for the Cook County medical examiner to identify the charred-beyond-recognition corpse. Meanwhile, Ritscher's suicide went largely unnoticed. It wasn't until a reporter for an alternative weekly, the Chicago Reader, pieced the facts together that word began to spread.

In his final blog post he said he could no longer live in a country that killed innocent human beings in his name.


So not only was he suicidal, but also a meglomaniac.

What I thought was funny was that not only was it not covered in the MSM, the commuters who were driving by didn't even notice a man burning himself to death at rush hour.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/NuGo1988/threadlich.jpg

Self immolation is "getting old"?


It has been around for thousands of years. Blowing yourself up, on the other hand, is a relatively new phenomenon.

Okay, this is going to seem like flamebait, but bear with me...

A guy I don't know, or even know about, killed himself to protest a war that he was not directly involved in, in a place I neither live in nor have ever visited, and which is nowhere near where said war is being fought.

In all honesty, why should I care?

Okay, this is going to seem like flamebait, but bear with me...

A guy I don't know, or even know about, killed himself to protest a war that he was not directly involved in, in a place I neither live in nor have ever visited, and which is nowhere near where said war is being fought.

In all honesty, why should I care?

Not to mention he did it in front of thousands of commuters (who were driving by) who didn't even notice the flames.

Maybe if he had used some fireworks, and did a lot of Roman candles -- now that would have been something.