• Jay@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I don’t want to sound cynical, but I really struggle with understanding what someone thinks they’ll actually accomplish setting themselves on fire. I it would be the most horrific way to die let alone doing it to yourself.

    • deft@lemmy.wtf
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      9 months ago

      You’re Joe Biden. You need to win an election.

      A US soldier just lit himself on fire about controversy that you know voters do not like about you. The situation clearly is developing for the worse for you.

      You don’t think they care? You should read up on Johnson’s feelings about protestors mocking his killing of America’s youth in Vietnam. He did not like it. I feel Biden is sensing much of the same.

    • aStonedSanta@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Yeah. Understand the power now rereading your sentence? It’s horrifying to think someone would do that by choice because society is so evil.

    • snownyte@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      I remember someone years ago killed themselves because they disagreed with how George W. Bush won re-election. Like, that totally did nothing and the machine kept rolling on.

      I mean, kudos to anyone who’s actually brave enough to have the strength to decide that this world is beyond repair that they check themselves out early. Tragic, but brave. Though, it doesn’t really say anything.

      If a group of people, set themselves up on fire infront of the target of the thing they have a problem with, now that is saying something and would be very powerful.

      • MsPenguinette@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Self Immolation in public is much different than the typical suicide. If this guy just shot himself, it sadly probably wouldn’t mean much. Not only did he self immolate, he managed to keep yelling his position while being on fire. Instead of yelling for help while feeling the worst pain a human can, he yelled “free Palestine”. Flame carries with it an intent that a gun, a noose, or pills never can.

        There is a reason the image of the burning monk has endured with so much impact

    • Heresy_generator@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      You’re trying to understand mental illness. Look at this story for what it is: Yet another tragedy caused by America’s lack of attention to mental health care, especially for our enlisted personnel.

      You’re trying to find the glory in this suicide because this story of suicide is being glorified; we’re supposed to know better than that but clearly we don’t.

      • Zaktor
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        9 months ago

        Self-immolation is not mental illness any more than any other intentional sacrifice intended to support a cause. That soldier was no doubt taught that wearing the uniform may require the ultimate sacrifice for his comrades and country and that those who did so would be heroes, this is no different.