Anti-war protester sets fire to self in Chicago; MSM ignores

[npincus]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112706T.shtml

Randi is talking about this- OMG, horrible. She read about it on TruthOut (BTW, she said she reads TruthOut everyday), but this suicide in protest of the Iraq war was virtually ignored by the MSM.


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 US 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.

[RethugAssKicker]

1. We MUST hold this fucking media responsible.... Somehow!!!

[bowens43]

2. It's sad that this person wasn't able to get the help he needed

before this tragedy occurred.

[uppityperson]

6. Sacrificing his life to protest war=tragedy?

To some people the most important thing is continuing to live. To others, sacrificing their life is a reasonable thing. Regardless, MSM has been ignoring this, hoping to spin it as mental illness and ignore the reasoning behind it. RIP Malachi/Mark, I heard you.

For those interested:
http://www.iheardyoumalachi.org/story.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation
http://www.savagesound.com/gallery100.htm
http://www.savagesound.com/gallery99.htm

[DrunkenMaster]

14. so he was "sick"?

Were the Buddhist monks who set themselves alight to protest Vietnam "sick" as well?

I think the true sickness lies with individuals who yawn in the face of atrocity, not those who are overwhelmed by its horror.

[deaniac21]

36. There was only one and the reasons were religious oppression

by the Diem regime. When the 5 requests below were not met....

1. Lift its ban on flying the traditional Buddhist flag;

2. Grant Buddhism the same rights as Catholicism;

3. Stop detaining Buddhists;

4. Give Buddhist monks and nuns the right to practice and spread their religion; and

5. Pay fair compensations to the victim’s families and punish those responsible for their deaths.

When these requests were not addressed by the Deim regime, Thich Quang Duc carried out his self-immolation.

[uppityperson]

38. see post #37 below for more about Thich Quang Duc. nt

[demnan]

3. What a waste!

He could have done so much more with his life than with his death. And there is nothing more painful for a family than a suicide.

[uppityperson]

16. He tried, did a lot of protesting and wanted to make a huge statement

sacrificing his life to bring more attention to the occupation of Iraq. Too bad it has been ignored and shoved aside as only a waste of life. By ignoring it and writing it off as mental illness suicide, MSM and people have made it so. I heard you Malachi.

[Gato Moteado]

4. what a waste of a good life

we all surely understand his anger. but, jeez, he coulda just left the country for a while. he didn't have to burn himself. especially when there are plenty of freepers around to douse with gasoline and torch. ;)

[npincus]

15. more than anger

it was anguish, deep psychic pain. While I would not ever do this, I respect his choice and how sad that so few will ever hear about this.

BTW, I think you're on to something there... hot, hot freepers. :)

[uppityperson]

17. Ignoring this ultimate sacrifice, writing it off, makes sure it is dismissed

[rinsd]

74. This isn't the ultimate sacrifice

The ultimate sacrifice is giving one's life so that another may live.

[Gato Moteado]

43. the world has always been full of evil....

....george bush and his puppetmasters didn't invent it. throughout our history people have suffered anguish and deep psychic pain because of bad stuff happening that was out of their control. if things were really that unbearable we'd have all burned ourselves by now. and if that happened, how could the good guys start winning elections again?

i really can't respect his choice. he can do no good if he's burned himself to a crisp. he should have sought help...he should have gone to a counselor. just because we have a shitty, corrupt government doesn't mean you should off yourself. jesus, if he had just waited 4 more days he would have seen that the good guys took back the senate and house and the wheels were in motion to roll over the nazis that had previously hijacked the government.

[LeftCoast]

5. I think it is a terrible idea to glorify suicide

This person clearly needed help.

[uppityperson]

8. Respecting sacrifice, not glorifying suicide. Here are some links about self-immolation

http://www.angelfire.com/nb/protest/viet.html
http://www.buddhistinformation.com/self_immolation.htm

[Kelly Rupert]

60. This wasn't sacrifice, it was suicide.

He was depressed. This is suicide, and it's horrible, tragic, and cowardly, not praiseworthy.

[uppityperson]

64. By saying it is only suicide you demean his sacrifice.

shame on you.

[Kelly Rupert]

66. It isn't sacrifice. And it should be condemned.

All he did was murder someone's loved one.

[NNN0LHI]

7. I read this days ago in the Chicago Sun-Times and didn't post it here

By what I have read this man was mentally ill and if he didn't use the war as an excuse he would have used something else.

Hint to those inclined to do what this man did to make headlines. Don't do it.

Don

[uppityperson]

9. yeah, and there were wmds in Iraq. Spin of the media.

Knowing people who knew him, this was a well thought out sacrifice. Please read the links above, including http://www.savagesound.com/gallery100.htm and http://www.savagesound.com/gallery99.htm

For those who believe the media spin, there are those of us who don't.

EVEN IF he were mentally ill, how would this negate his sacrifice and why ignore it?

[rox63]

10. This is suicide, not a political statement

I'm not sure publicizing it would be a good idea. Perhaps they were afraid that it might inspire copycat suicides by other depressed people. Perhaps the man's grieving family requested that it not be publicized.

Flame me if you must. But depression and suicide are serious matters, not fodder to be sensationalized.

[uppityperson]

11. Did you read what he wrote, why he did this?

http://www.savagesound.com/gallery100.htm
http://www.savagesound.com/gallery99.htm

And you can still say this was NOT a political statement?

Edited to add picture of Malachi/Mark

[LoZoccolo]

35. Because it served no political purpose.

It was just pure abdication of responsibility. And was stupid.

[uppityperson]

37. By not getting media coverage the impact was lost,that's for sure.

"stupid"? Was Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation also "stupid" or just had better coverage?

http://www.angelfire.com/nb/protest/viet.html
The historical basis for self-immolation is unclear. The idea of sacrifice is a key in Buddhist thought and self-immolation could be thought of as the ultimate form of sacrifice. However, it is hard to totally embrace such a violent act, even if it is directed on the self. Scholars believe that the act can be traced back in history for thousands of years. Thich Nhat Hanh, a well-known authority on Buddhism, believes that the practice of self- immolation may be connected to the ritual of burning incense on one’s body as a form of vow taking. Several sources point to Buddhist scripture, especially the Lotus Sutra, as one possible origin of the practice.

No matter what the specific historical origins are for self-immolation, there is a definite connection between fire and the act of sacrifice. Many stories come to mind about pagan rituals in which plants or perhaps animals are sacrificed to the gods by fire. Self-immolation can be best thought of as a way of sacrificing one’s self in the name of ending suffering. In that sense, self-immolation transcends the idea of a religious practice or a political statement and becomes a spiritual plea for peace.

One of the earliest known uses of self-immolation as a protest against the Vietnam War is also one of the most famous. On June 16, 1963, Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc immolated himself in downtown Saigon. Quang Duc was actually protesting religious persecution under the Diem regime, not the war. However, the case could be made that Diem would not have been in power had it not been for U.S. intervention in Vietnam.

Quang Duc's self-immolation was a rallying point for political protest in South Vietnam. Directly following the self-immolation the political climate in Saigon changed as if hit by the drop in pressure preceding a hurricane. Vast demonstrations broke out. The city people, who had for years remained passive, terrified before the Diemist police, crowded into the pagodas to kneel and weep, then, following the bonzes , burst forth into the streets calling for the downfall of the Ngos (Fitzgerald, 74). Obviously, Quang Duc's self-immolation had a huge effect on the South Vietnamese population. It is not surprising that Quang Duc's act also affected the Americans who later immolated themselves in protest to the war.

http://www.buddhistinformation.com/self_immolation.htm

Self-immolation, whilst not tolerated in anything but extraordinary circumstances by Buddhism and Hinduism, was practiced by religious or philosophical monks, especially in India, throughout the ages, for various reasons, including political protest, devotion, renouncement, etc. Certain warrior cultures also practiced it, such as in the case of Rajputs.

[LoZoccolo]

39. The monks acted out of stupidity too.

How many people care about the world we live in? How many people care about other people?

OK, take that number and decrease it by one.

That's all this guy did. I have no more sympathy for him than I would if one anti-war protester murdered another one.

If you want to sacrifice your life for something, take responsibility and do it through giving up your time in advancement of it.

[uppityperson]

49. no more sympathy for self sacrifice than for murder?

wow. That really tells me something about you. bye.

[LoZoccolo]

56. He took a politically conscious person who could have worked for change...

...and killed him. Now there is one less politically conscious person in this world.

[LoZoccolo]

40. Also, the fact that this got no media coverage /proves/ it was stupid.

He basically completely abdicated the responsibility for getting his message out to other people who may or may not do it for him, when he could have done it himself.

[Jim Sagle]

54. Congrats. You're the first person to go on my ignore list.

I know I'll never have the sligthtest interest in what you've got to say.

[LoZoccolo]

55. Responsibility seems to be one of my most controversial topics. n/t

[uppityperson]

57. Indeed.

[Kelly Rupert]

59. Why? It's an entirely true statement.

Sorry if you'd rather not confront unpleasant realities.

[uppityperson]

62. you say the reality is he was stupid, we say reality is he was brave

made the sacrifice in the hopes of inspiring people to risk themselves, to get out and actually work towards ending this war rather than just talking. Whose "reality" are you talking about?

[Kelly Rupert]

67. But the reality is he won't inspire anyone to do anything.

The reality is that he killed someone's best friend and silenced an anti-war voice.

[uppityperson]

81. wow, generalize much?

He won't inspire anyone to do anything? pshaw. May not inspire you, but I know of people he inspired.

[Kelly Rupert]

83. So tell me the story of your friend

who wasn't against the war, but is now. Or did you mean "inspire them to do things" in the "I was gonna protest, but now I'm gonna do it with fire in my heart" way?

[uppityperson]

85. inpired to be more active in the protesting, contacting people

congressional reps, etc.

[hcil]

48. There is NOTHING in the lotus sutra

to support this act whatsoever!

[pitohui]

20. this is what i'm thinking rox63

if i were family i would have a terrible fear that any publicity might encourage other copycats and cause more of these tragedies

suicides are not routinely publicized for this reason, as we should have all learned in high school, suicide is a contagious illness

the "let's kill myself for attention on the internet" crowd falls into the category of the suicide who is so confused and out of balance in his thinking that he does not understand that after he is dead, he won't be there to enjoy the attention that he is seeking through the suicide, clinical depression is not always taken seriously as a mental disorder but it actually changes the way the brain works and causes the depressed person to have these irrational ideas

the suicide's biggest fantasy is this -- the world will be a better place when i'm gone -- you hear them say this over and over again, everybody will be better off when i'm dead -- the last thing the media should be doing is providing cheap fodder for such imaginings

we should never, ever feed this fantasy

and before i get asked the question, yeah, as a matter of fact, i did read the man's site and his justifications for suicide, i don't care for what noble purpose he decided to burn himself to death on videocamera, what he did was wrong, cruel, and hurtful to his body and to his family and to himself, no one in their right mind would choose to burn themselves alive and when people do burn themselves alive for a cause it does not change any minds about the validity of their cause

i remember the buddhist monks (a tiny minority of buddhist monks in vietnam and the world) burning themselves alive as a protest, i don't remember that their protest shortened the war by a single day, it just made the hardliners figure these people are effin' crazy and go on about their business as usual


if you want to engage people about war, engage them from a position that doesn't insult their intelligence -- leaving me a video that you burned yourself alive to get on teevee about the war only convinces me of your illness

does anybody here remember the dude who burned his dog alive to protest the shitty HMOs in california? i think we all agree the HMOs were shitty but i don't think anyone here agreed that burning the dog alive on the interstate (which guaranteed the dude plenty of free publicity for his cause) did anything to further the health care debate -- and burning a dog alive, cruel and horrible as it is, doesn't begin to compare with burning a human body alive

[uppityperson]

23. Cannot compare burning an animal with self-immolation sacrifice

As post #14 says above: Were the Buddhist monks who set themselves alight to protest Vietnam "sick" as well? Malachi/Mark's fantasy was that people would notice and talk and think about the war and his sacrifice. Quite a fantasy when people just write it off, isn't it? And you do realize that there have not been self-immolation copycats for protesting wars?

[krispos42]

12. There was a terrorist attack on 9/11/06 as well, but that was also ignored

A Christian Fundamentalist drove a car into an Iowa woman's-health clinic that he mistakenly thought was an abortion clinic and tried to set it on fire.

Man rams car into women's clinic in Davenport
ASSOCIATED PRESS



September 12, 2006



Davenport, Ia. — A man accused of ramming his car into a women's clinic and then setting his car on fire thought it was an abortion clinic, police said Tuesday.

"He was using his car to torch the building," Davenport police Detective Mike Bowers said.

David Robert McMenemy, 45, of Sterling Heights, Mich., is charged with second-degree arson. He's accused of driving his car into the Edgerton Women's Health Center about 4:30 a.m. on Monday.

The center does not perform abortions and does not provide abortion referrals, said Tom Fedje, the president of the clinic. He said the clinic does advise pregnant women on the various options available to them.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa is monitoring the incident, spokeswoman Kathi Di Nicola said. Planned Parenthood is the only agency to provide abortions in the Quad Cities, performing the procedure at its center in Bettendorf.

Bowers said McMenemy apparently thought the Edgerton center performed abortions.

"He drove into the clinic and set his car on fire using an accelerant. He knew what he was doing. He planned it. It wasn't an accident," Bowers said.

<more>

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:Kfm_P8UjyLcJ:desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20060912/NEWS/60912022/1001/NEWS+David+McMenemy&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

The story is moved from the Des Moines Register, but Google has is cached. That is what the link is too.

It is mentioned here, as well:

On September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks that devastated our nation, a man crashed his car into a building in Davenport, Iowa, hoping to blow it up and kill himself in the fire.
No national newspaper, magazine, or network newscast reported this attempted suicide bombing, though an AP wire story was available. Cable news (save for MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann) was silent about this latest act of terrorism in America.

Had the criminal, David McMenemy, been Arab or Muslim, this would have been headline news for weeks. But since his target was the Edgerton Women’s Health Center, rather than, say, a bank or a police station, media have not called this terrorism — even after three decades of extreme violence by anti-abortion fanatics, mostly fundamentalist Christians who believe they’re fighting a holy war.

Since 1977, casualties from this war include seven murders, 17 attempted murders, three kidnappings, 152 assaults, 305 completed or attempted bombings and arsons, 375 invasions, 482 stalking incidents, 380 death threats, 618 bomb threats, 100 acid attacks, and 1,254 acts of vandalism, according to the National Abortion Federation.

<more>

http://www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid28087.aspx

It's mentioned here, as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_the_United_States#Failed_attacks

[uppityperson]

13. If you control the media, you can control the masses

even the thinking masses.

[wildbilln864]

18. I read about this in my local paper.

Haven't heard a word on TV about it yet they spent several minutes covering another car chase on CNN!
And over and over about the poisoned Russian spy.
Thank goodness for the internet!

[pnorman]

19. I'm listening to her right now by XM.

There was an appeal for that video footage. In all likelihood, it's being held by the police. That's what they're supposed to do, until all necessary investigations are concluded. But it must NOT be permitted to slide into the Memory hole.

pnorman

[pnorman]

31. Also on Randi's program,

the discussion went on to Katrina. A caller gave some ghastly eye-witness details, and gave his website. Here it is: http://refugeoflastresort.net/

I haven't studied it carefully yet, but it looks well worth looking at.

pnorman

[uppityperson]

32. thank you for this info on this dvd, will look into it.

[slackmaster]

21. A 5-day-old charred corpse doesn't make a good headline

He should have notified the media BEFORE immolating himself.

[uppityperson]

22. He did it during rush hour in a public place.

Indeed too bad that he did not get more publicity then and I am really ashamed of those who pass off his sacrifice as only suicide as this ensures that why he did what he did gets ignored. (not meaning you but those who say it was an insane act and therefor has no meaning beyond that)

[slackmaster]

24. Yes, guaranteeing the press would NOT be able to get there quickly

Unless they had a helicopter available.

[uppityperson]

27. Yes, there are news helicopters.

Perhaps during lunch hour at some outdoor mall place would've been better. I am saddened by the dismissing of his sacrifice in the MSM and even here. Is life the most important thing there is? Are all martyrs dismissable as mentally ill suicides?

[LSK]

25. this made the DU greatest last week

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2766634&mesg_id=2766634

[uppityperson]

29. PETA and Mrbush drinking, twins nudity get new coverage.

MSM and DU. Time for a break for me, carry on! and peace.

[warrens]

26. Did you notice the part

about depression? This is a tragedy alright, but not in the way some people are making it appear. My heart goes out to his family and friends. And I am happy this isn't being turned into a media circus.

[uppityperson]

28. I am sad that his sacrifice is dismissed, his message lost.

My heart goes out to his family and friends, some of which are friends of mine and have talked with me about Malachi/Mark and his sacrifice.

[otohara]

30. Fuck Up Media

this broke my heart hearing Randi today. This will get media attention with help from DU, I sure of it! Time to pass this on to Keith Olberman and others. Shame them into it, or will they say it's too old.

[rinsd]

33. What a tragic story. All this man did was rob his loved ones.

[uppityperson]

34. Indeed. He sacrificed his life and got little coverage.

It is up to those of us who know about this to make sure he is heard. Grassroots activism if MSM choses to ignore it.

[Telly Savalas]

42. Yes get the word out

I'm sure it will turn the tide.

"Ah, hell, Verna, I thought the war was a good idea, but some fella set himself on fire. I guess the war really is bad."

[uppityperson]

51. and camping in a ditch outside Crawford, how would that help?

Ah hell Howard, I thought the war was a bad idea but some people are camping in a ditch. I guess the war is really bad." Why downplay his sacrifice?

[uppityperson]

53. Too late to edit last post, it is called inspiration.

Inspiring people to DO something, not just talk, not just type, but actually get out and risk themselves. Same as Cindy Sheehan did. By minimizing his sacrifice, you are going counter to what the outcome could be. By saying "wow! Malachi/Mark sacrificed himself for something he so strongly believed in! I can certainly mark/ contact my congress person/ etc".

I could not think of this word before, and now have it. Inspiration.

[ecstatic]

41. I'm torn on this. What if coverage encouraged suicides by teens

and other people who are not necessarily anguished by the war, but depressed?

Overall I definitely feel that this story should have been covered, but I would hate for coverage of such a thing to encourage more suicides.

[uppityperson]

50. anything is possible, historically no copycat self-immolations.

People will commit suicide in many other ways. How about that woman who nuked her baby? Should that even have gotten any coverage since it may encourage other anguished people to do the same? Why cover 1 and not the other.

[proud patriot]

44. Randi Rhodes gave truthout props on this story

Devastating

[Imagevision]

45. NY. Times - Washington Post - LA. Times all said, we may offend Washington

[Kelly Rupert]

61. Or rather, "A suicide is not newsworthy."

[uppityperson]

65. but the latest in Britany Spears or a depressed parent hurting bay is?

Sacrifice meant to inspire is newsworthy. Too bad MSM isn't worthy.

[Kelly Rupert]

68. Pretty much. Suicides aren't newsworthy.

[uppityperson]

71. did you hear about Britney's underwear?

[Kelly Rupert]

76. So because something trivial but entertaining is carried

in the entertainment section, which is specifically set aside for trivial entertainment, then a suicide deserves to be carried in the A section.

Do you realize that does not even carry a semblance of logic?

[uppityperson]

78. OK, what about the woman microwaving her baby?

Why should something like that deserve to be carried in the A section.

[Kelly Rupert]

80. It doesn't.

And neither does this.

[rinsd]

70. Killing one's self by self immotolation is designed to inspire?

I wish to tread carefully here because you are obviously emotionally invested in this but inspiration is not what is drawn from the knowledge that someone went to such shocking lengths to get attention for their cause.

I see no reason to be inspired by someone taking their own life in a misguided attempt for media attention.

[uppityperson]

77. please read post #37 above

Some are inspired, some appalled, some both. Some just saddened. Some mad that media coverage is greater for Britney's underwear or a mother nuking a baby than for a sacrifice of self. Some believe that Life is the most important thing, to continue life at all cost. Some consider death as a potential tool to bring notice to something and death is not the worst thing there can be.

[rinsd]

86. I will have to withdraw from this conversation

I just do not see anything noble or inspirational what this man has done to his family and friends and I do not wish to upset you.

[uppityperson]

87. peace to you and onward with what we can do.

[tuvor]

46. Aren't suicides by private individuals ignored by MSM as a matter of course?

I'm sure that's the case with the Canadian mainstream media.

[Obamarama]

47. What a stupid, selfish act....

If he indeed did it out of protest, it was a pretty stupid, selfish act.

I think the poor guy probably had much bigger issues in life other than the Iraq war. It's sad and tragic that the man did what he did, but it certainly doesn't warrant being heralded from the headlines.

[Chulanowa]

52. But we did hear about the German priest...

Who incinerated himself to protest the existance of an entire religion.

Yet they're still called hte "liberal media".

[Kelly Rupert]

58. He should have been ignored by the MSM.

Suicides are terrible, horrible things. The media as a rule do not cover suicides, no matter how spectacular or what the reason, unless the person was of particular note. Though they are often shocking, publicizing suicide only encourages other depressed people to take their own life.

Look at it this way:

If he would have killed himself regardless of the war, than this was just another suicide--tragic, but really not newsworthy. He just chose to dress it up for attention.

If he would not have killed himself otherwise, then this was a purely political statement. And that means that he killed himself only to send a message. In this case, covering it tells America, "flashy suicide spreads your message," encouraging all the depressed youth with axes to grind to do the same. The MSM would be completely irresponsible to encourage suicide for ratings.

[uppityperson]

63. self-immolation copycats haven't happened.

How about publicizing a mother microwaving her baby? Don't you think that might encourage other depressed parents with axes to grind to do the same? Why do 1 completely irresponsible reporting (that might get copycats) and not another reporting of a strong anti-war statement (type that hasn't gotten copycats)?

Edited to change to copycat as wrote too fast before.

[Kelly Rupert]

69. If you're claiming that he did it as a sacrifice,

then you're also claiming he did it only to draw attention to himself. You're also claiming that if he believed that nobody would pay attention to his death, then he wouldn't have died.

You can't say that self-immolation suicides haven't happened when we're talking about one, by the way.

[uppityperson]

72. copycats. You are the one that implied copycats

of course self-immolation suicides have occured, but saying irresponsible reporting might lead others to do so, hasn't happened.

[Kelly Rupert]

75. Are you suggesting this guy isn't a copycat suicide?

He's doing it:

A. The way it was done by a (more-famous) person or persons.
B. With the intent of sending a similar message.

That's pretty much the definition of a copycat suicide.

[uppityperson]

79. 30 yrs later is not much of a copycat.

"In this case, covering it tells America, "flashy suicide spreads your message," encouraging all the depressed youth with axes to grind to do the same. The MSM would be completely irresponsible to encourage suicide for ratings."

So by not reporting this, all those depressed youths won't self-immolate in 30 yrs. OK, whatever.

[Kelly Rupert]

82. There are more types of suicide than self-immolation.

[uppityperson]

84. and 30 yrs later is quite a time between "copycat" suicides

thanks for continuing to kick this, by the way.

[Freddie Stubbs]

73. Dumbass should have waited until after the election so that he

could have voted. ;)

[zulchzulu]

88. Wow! So Britney is shopping for a new dress for Christmas!

:sarcasm: