News > Politics > War Protester Does A Torch Impression and No Once Notices

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 2006 11:00 PM

War Protester Does A Torch Impression and No Once Notices

Submitted by _kungfoo_

Edited by FearTheReaper

Tags: iraq, terror, bush, protest, war, suicide, media, chicago, vietnam

A depressed war protester became so angry and discontent with America's invasion and post-invasion fucking up of Iraq, that he carefully planned to commit self-immolation as a form of public protest, Vietnam Buddhist monk style.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 -- four days before an election caused a seismic shift in Washington politics-- Malachi 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.

"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."

You'd think such a extreme form of protest might even make 5 minutes worth of news? Nah!! It's way more important we know who Britney is paling around with now.

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.

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.

This may have been a man who suffered with depression, as many who commit suicide also suffer from. But a suicide as a form of protest is still a protest. The media has always played a crucial role in a country where forward progress is usually the result of public dissent and protest. It's a true fucking shame when the media fails to do their part of the job.

At least I know Britney is doing well hanging out with Paris Hilton after her divorce.

Source: Editor and Publisher

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Comments

Gringo

Spokane, WA

May 2006

DEC 03, 2006 06:42 PM

KUNGFOO said:
Sure, why not? I'm pretty damn sure it would be a top story. Fox News might even reply it over and over again in the corner of the screen.

So if CNN is the nemesis of Fox, why isn't CNN playing this story over and over again in the corner of the screen?

mattbavougian

Lincoln, NE

June 2003

DEC 04, 2006 11:51 AM

emotedcreations said:

Colinism said:
By not covering this sort of thing they keep other people from copycatting this sort of stupidity. How many school shooting are done to resemble columbine? This even tho tragic should not even be a footnote in history. It also greatly takes away from theanti war side, people will talk about how delusional the anti war people are that they are ready to adopt suicide as a form of protest.

I don't like you... with all due respect.

[edited] A man sacrificed his life to make a point. Is there anything you can say you feel so strongly about? Please show some respect.

its true, but there is a huge difference in harming yourself as the world watches and harming others as the world watches. people who harm only themselves (all mental suffering of family and friends aside) gain far more respect from me than someone who harms others

Nixon

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

DEC 04, 2006 12:52 PM

This guy has my respect. People kill themselves all the time, and I always wonder why they don't at least use their death to make a statement. Death is powerful. and, the way the human mind processes tragedy, the death of a single individual often affects us as much or more than the death of thousands. I just wish he had planned his press better.

hadees

Austin, TX

December 2003

DEC 04, 2006 01:13 PM

Sexdwarf said:
I appreciate his sentiment, but this is definitely a suicide, ultimately, from depression and not a protest unfortunately.

Regardless of if his views are right or wrong this man had a serious psychological disorder and it is a shame no one noticed to try to prevent this tragedy.

Westley

Vatican City

April 2004

DEC 04, 2006 01:21 PM

Am I the only person that immediately thought of this scene from Waking Life when i read this?

_kungfoo_

Los Angeles, CA

April 2005

DEC 05, 2006 08:33 PM

TheGringo said:

KUNGFOO said:
Sure, why not? I'm pretty damn sure it would be a top story. Fox News might even reply it over and over again in the corner of the screen.

So if CNN is the nemesis of Fox, why isn't CNN playing this story over and over again in the corner of the screen?

Got me there.

HarManic

Urbana, IL

March 2005

DEC 05, 2006 10:10 PM

Westley said:
Am I the only person that immediately thought of this scene from Waking Life when i read this?

No.

I just have to add that I do have a hard time taking this seriously as a protest. It's a man's life, he had the right to choose how to end it. I don't dispute that. However, what did he accomplish? I don't see the consistency in the argument that "It was an important protest, it should have been covered." The percentage of people who have not been affected by this news offers some proof that it was not an important protest. You want to blame it on the media? Fine. However, I now know about it and am not affected in any way whatsoever. I am against the war. I have a sensitivity to self-sacrifice and political protest. However, this, as a statement, is ineffective and derivative. The notion that we somehow "must" stop and recognize this as a powerful statement would be self-serving in the extreme.

I could immolate myself to protest a parking ticket. That does not mean the world owes me anything whatsoever.

Madae

USA

April 2006

DEC 19, 2006 06:56 AM

HarManic said:

Westley said:
Am I the only person that immediately thought of this scene from Waking Life when i read this?

Nailed right on the head. Someone give this man a medal.

If it makes anyone feel better, I'll be there to tape your immolation if you feel the word needs to get out. Hell, I'll even present it to Fox/CNN and say "Do something!".

But, in case I get blamed for not stopping you - I'm gonna do that right here.

Stop.

Starfior

Madison, WI

February 2005

DEC 19, 2006 09:46 AM

KUNGFOO said:
It's way more important we know who Britney is paling around with now.

She's hooked up with Gaffigan?

Sorry. Had too.

I hope everyone really does grasp how insane it is that this didn't make news though. I mean. I don't care that Britany is a hick who rides with her baby in her lap while driving her convertable. Doesn't bother me. This I would have liked to hear about considering it happened within spitting distance of where I live. And I got not thing one until this article.