• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Man reportedly tries to set himself on fire outside White House

HumblePi

HumblePi

DP Veteran
Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
26,305
Reaction score
18,830
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Liberal
[h=1]Man reportedly tries to set himself on fire outside White House[/h]Man reportedly tries to set himself on fire outside White House | TheHillThe Secret Service said Friday it was responding to a “police/medical incident” after a man reportedly attempted to light himself on fire outside the White House.
ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
​
Four uniformed Secret Service officers were seen apprehending the suspect and carrying him face-down out of Lafayette Square, which is across the street from the executive mansion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(mine)

This story is just breaking but apparently a man in a scooter intentionally set his coat on fire. Security took him away from the White House North lawn grounds and moved him to Lafayette St. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
 
HumblePi said:
[h=1]Man reportedly tries to set himself on fire outside White House[/h]Man reportedly tries to set himself on fire outside White House | TheHillThe Secret Service said Friday it was responding to a “police/medical incident” after a man reportedly attempted to light himself on fire outside the White House.
ALERT: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the @WhiteHouse North Fence Line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) April 12, 2019
​
Four uniformed Secret Service officers were seen apprehending the suspect and carrying him face-down out of Lafayette Square, which is across the street from the executive mansion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(mine)

This story is just breaking but apparently a man in a scooter intentionally set his coat on fire. Security took him away from the White House North lawn grounds and moved him to Lafayette St. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Click to expand...

All those warning labels about matches, wasted. Is this a mental health issue or just nutty about his political beliefs?
 
If he's got mental issues that's unfortunate.

If he was conciously trying to make a political statement, it's unfortunate that he didn't succeed.
 
apdst said:
If he's got mental issues that's unfortunate.

If he was conciously trying to make a political statement, it's unfortunate that he didn't succeed.
Click to expand...

The skim milk of human kindness.......
 
bongsaway said:
All those warning labels about matches, wasted. Is this a mental health issue or just nutty about his political beliefs?
Click to expand...

Self-immolation has historically been an act of protest. I can only guess that since this man was in a motorized scooter that he's handicapped in some way. There's many reasons why he chose to set himself on fire. Could have been a protest - maybe he lost his health insurance, it could have been suicide because he might be a veteran with PTSD. It could have been for many reasons.

But this man is not the first person to try to set themselves on fire in protest. Last January 2018, John Watts, an Air Force veteran set himself on fire in front of the Georgia Capitol to protest his treatment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

One of the most widely publicized act of self-immolation in recent years was in 2013 by a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka who poured gasoline on himself and lit it up to protest against the slaughter of cattle.

***WARNING**** THIS IS GRAPHIC****
 
Last edited by a moderator:
He may have caught part of a Trump speech and did what came naturally.
 
Hell of a way to get your 15 min. of flame.
 
HumblePi said:
Self-immolation has historically been an act of protest. I can only guess that since this man was in a motorized scooter that he's handicapped in some way. There's many reasons why he chose to set himself on fire. Could have been a protest - maybe he lost his health insurance, it could have been suicide because he might be a veteran with PTSD. It could have been for many reasons.

But this man is not the first person to try to set themselves on fire in protest. Last January 2018, John Watts, an Air Force veteran set himself on fire in front of the Georgia Capitol to protest his treatment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

One of the most widely publicized act of self-immolation in recent years was in 2013 by a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka who poured gasoline on himself and lit it up to protest against the slaughter of cattle.

***WARNING**** THIS IS GRAPHIC****



I understand just seems rather...extreme? If you succeed, you don't even get to see the results of your protest.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I’ve no desire to watch that video. At all
 
bongsaway said:
I understand just seems rather...extreme? If you succeed, you don't even get to see the results of your protest.
Click to expand...

I don't really think that's the objective. They all know they risk death but they are in apparently very desperate situations and know that others are in the same situation as they are. Usually they make it clear what their message is and why they're willing to die in order to effect change for others.
 
He might not have psychological issues. Self-immolation is a radical form of protest that we've seen elsewhere among conscientious objectors. I'm not claiming to know one way or another, but you can't assume it's a mental health problem.
 
HumblePi said:
I don't really think that's the objective. They all know they risk death but they are in apparently very desperate situations and know that others are in the same situation as they are. Usually they make it clear what their message is and why they're willing to die in order to effect change for others.
Click to expand...

I will never understand how a sane person would think that killing themselves is going to effect change for others, perhaps for family, but the other 7.5 billion people in the world do not even know of your existence.
 
Sabre said:
I will never understand how a sane person would think that killing themselves is going to effect change for others, perhaps for family, but the other 7.5 billion people in the world do not even know of your existence.
Click to expand...

Well, centuries ago, we made saints out of those who were martyred for their faith. They willingly sacrificed their own lives for their religious beliefs. Hundreds of thousands died in our wars, sacrificed their own lives for their belief in our country and to preserve freedom in others. Remember 'Tank Man'? To this day, his identity is still not known. But he single-handed defied a column of Chinese armored tanks in protest on June 5, 1989, The morning after the Chinese military had suppressed the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 by force gunning down hundreds of civilians in a brutal crackdown on protests against government corruption, lack of transparency and freedom of speech.

'Tank Man' became a powerful symbol of both the bloody events of those June protests in 1989 and of non-violent resistance. He risked his life and made a difference. Nearly everyone in the world knew about this man. Even the Chinese government couldn't bury that story. I think incidents such as this and others that self-immolated were more common occurrences during the 60's and 70's and we've forgotten them or never were aware of them.

41GDb8sV2mL._SX425_.jpg
 
Northern Light said:
He might not have psychological issues. Self-immolation is a radical form of protest that we've seen elsewhere among conscientious objectors. I'm not claiming to know one way or another, but you can't assume it's a mental health problem.
Click to expand...

"I hate you and your policies, so i'm gonna torch myself. FLAME ON!! *whooooosh*"

A sign is cheaper, won't give you permanent injuries and won't make you seem like a loonball.
 
HumblePi said:
Self-immolation has historically been an act of protest. I can only guess that since this man was in a motorized scooter that he's handicapped in some way. There's many reasons why he chose to set himself on fire. Could have been a protest - maybe he lost his health insurance, it could have been suicide because he might be a veteran with PTSD. It could have been for many reasons.

But this man is not the first person to try to set themselves on fire in protest. Last January 2018, John Watts, an Air Force veteran set himself on fire in front of the Georgia Capitol to protest his treatment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

One of the most widely publicized act of self-immolation in recent years was in 2013 by a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka who poured gasoline on himself and lit it up to protest against the slaughter of cattle.

***WARNING**** THIS IS GRAPHIC****



Correct.

Dismissing this as an incident of madness or partisanship is simple folly.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
HumblePi said:
Well, centuries ago, we made saints out of those who were martyred for their faith. They willingly sacrificed their own lives for their religious beliefs. Hundreds of thousands died in our wars, sacrificed their own lives for their belief in our country and to preserve freedom in others. Remember 'Tank Man'? To this day, his identity is still not known. But he single-handed defied a column of Chinese armored tanks in protest on June 5, 1989, The morning after the Chinese military had suppressed the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 by force gunning down hundreds of civilians in a brutal crackdown on protests against government corruption, lack of transparency and freedom of speech.

'Tank Man' became a powerful symbol of both the bloody events of those June protests in 1989 and of non-violent resistance. He risked his life and made a difference. Nearly everyone in the world knew about this man. Even the Chinese government couldn't bury that story. I think incidents such as this and others that self-immolated were more common occurrences during the 60's and 70's and we've forgotten them or never were aware of them.

41GDb8sV2mL._SX425_.jpg
Click to expand...

Tank Man's organs are keeping others alive now...
 
HumblePi said:
Well, centuries ago, we made saints out of those who were martyred for their faith. They willingly sacrificed their own lives for their religious beliefs. Hundreds of thousands died in our wars, sacrificed their own lives for their belief in our country and to preserve freedom in others. Remember 'Tank Man'? To this day, his identity is still not known. But he single-handed defied a column of Chinese armored tanks in protest on June 5, 1989, The morning after the Chinese military had suppressed the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 by force gunning down hundreds of civilians in a brutal crackdown on protests against government corruption, lack of transparency and freedom of speech.

'Tank Man' became a powerful symbol of both the bloody events of those June protests in 1989 and of non-violent resistance. He risked his life and made a difference. Nearly everyone in the world knew about this man. Even the Chinese government couldn't bury that story. I think incidents such as this and others that self-immolated were more common occurrences during the 60's and 70's and we've forgotten them or never were aware of them.

41GDb8sV2mL._SX425_.jpg
Click to expand...

Don't recall, when was it he set himself on fire? Oh.. never, for if he had he would not have had any effect on the column of tanks, it took him being alive to do so. His life effected a change, not his death.
 
Sabre said:
Don't recall, when was it he set himself on fire? Oh.. never, for if he had he would not have had any effect on the column of tanks, it took him being alive to do so. His life effected a change, not his death.
Click to expand...

Pretty ugly of you to act like making a show of missing his point makes its own counter-argument.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom