California Man Sets Himself, American Flag, Christmas Tree on Fire to Protest Religio

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,238505,00.html

Christmas Derangement Syndrome

 

A bit extreme just for changing those two names.

 

We could each reason why this man did this to himself. It sounds as if he is mentally unbalanced and I hope that he can get some help.

 

Personally, I think it's whacked. That said, immolation is not reserved to the insane - witness the tradition of certain buddhists doing so as either a matter of protest, or as a final act of determined existence. I do not believe these folks were necessarily deranged - just determined.

 

American Flag represents religion? Since when?

The guy's an idiot.

 

Fanatism and extremism are no good, whatever it is...

 

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e5844644-9b23-45b2-9f13-e33669dd243a

Check the stills of this guy.

30 seconds and this all the damage he received? If it was 30 seconds, he'd look a lot worse than that.

Either the witnesses are wrong; or he covered himself with a fire retardent gel to make sure he didn't get hurt too bad before help arrived (yes that stuff exists).

 

Lorien, I think you hit it on the head. If that guy was burning like that for 30 seconds, there is no way in hell he'd walk out under his own steam. He looked like he burned nothing.

 

Vietnam...? That really effected our deal with that region. We were supporting Diem (and the buddhists were being persecuted by him),....so JFK decided he need to help a coup to throw him out. Unfortunately it led to further esclations, rather than a decesion to withdraw the rather small investment at the time.

This guy is just overeacting. That's zealot-like behaviour.

 

I agree. I just wanted to say that such a thing has happened on a broader scale than one whack-job. (And, it seems, he wasn't doing it entirely for real...I think Lorien is right - the guy knew what would take place and protected himself quite well)....

 

What a waste of a Christmas tree

 

I thought it was a good waste of a bonfire. Put out to soon. No marshmallows roasted

 

Let me guess...taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill for this nut to get mental help.

 

A bit exterme, but what else could he of done? Sent in a letter? Would they even read it?

The answer is no. Tibetan Monks have been doing this for so long, in America this will happen more and more. As oppressive states of government and the abandonment of civil liberties revolution will come.

 

Yep. That's the natural next step. Write a letter. Light one's self on fire. Seems like the logical order of things to me as well

 

No one likes a smart ass. I was simply explaining how hard it is to get heard in this 'democracy' and people take things to extreme levels to get heard since in this country voice's are not heard.

 

Or perhaps its that people who light themselves on fire shouldn't be listened to. One or the other. I'm going out right now and making a political protest (just to get myself heard, course. My letter writing campaign didn't work) by blowing up a bridge. Sweet.

 

So you saying the Chinese occupation of the Tibetan people is right? And your saying for all those who have stood up against a fascist and military rule is for nothing? Or perhaps your saying all the people who have died to make a point in let's say the American Revolution didn't make an impact? How about taring and feather of English tax officials? That didn't work right?

Would you like me to add more? I don't want to embrass you. Oh wait.

 

Extemists think that their single voice is so important that if no one listens to them we're all doomed so they do stupid things and throw temper tantrums.

Rational people realize that just because they don't get their way doesn't mean they weren't heard.

In a democracy the minority's job is to rationally convince the majority of their view. And if they can't then the minority just has to not be a baby and accept it. Maybe, just maybe the majority has it right and that's why you're the minority.

Doing stupid shit is only convinces people that you are irrelavent. I would not trust a person who is willing to light themselves on fire or blow themselves up to lead anyone. They are obviously a danger to themselves and possibly others.

 

You are comparing those to a guy who sets himself on fire protesting a week long vacation being renamed? Yep. Both just about the same