Allan

Spreading the Word

Saturday, 2. December 2006, 22:53:36

When an American musician, photographer and painter by the name of Malachi Ritscher four weeks ago set himself on fire and burned to death in Chicago, he did it hoping that his action would create a debate worldwide about the miserable war we (USA and a number of countries, my own included) are leading in Iraq.

But the established media seemed to ignore what had happened. Today I saw the incident mentioned for the first time in a Danish newspaper - and as far as I can understand, there´s been remarkably silent in most news media world wide.

Malachi Ritscher wanted to draw attention to something he was so concerned about that he was willing to pay the ultimate price for that attention. It seems like what he´s done was in vain. He payed with his life, and got nothing in return.

But one thing is the establishment, and another thing is the "alternative" media. The story is rapidly spreading now on weblogs everywhere, and I thought I would participate with this entry.

I have researched a bit, and have found the following about the man and his goal.

Ritscher saw himself as a renaissance person with multiple talents - even though he wasn´t really successful with any of those. Some say he was a warm and generous person, while others have described him as mentally disturbed. I think it´s a fact that he felt lonely. He was divorced 25 years ago and never saw his only son again after that.
He participated in many marches and was a peace-activist for many years. In fact he was arrested twice during non-violent protests against the war in Iraq.

In his "Mission Statement" that he placed on the Internet himself, he states the following:

I have had one previous opportunity to serve my country in a meaningful way - at 8:05 one morning in 2002 I passed Donald Rumsfeld on Delaware Avenue and I was acutely aware that slashing his throat would spare the lives of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of innocent people. I had a knife clenched in my hand, and there were no bodyguards visible; to my deep shame I hesitated, and the moment was past.

The violent turmoil initiated by the United States military invasion of Iraq will beget future centuries of slaughter, if the human race lasts that long. First we spit on the United Nations, then we expect them to clean up our mess. Our elected representatives are supposed to find diplomatic and benevolent solutions to these situations. Anyone can lash out and retaliate, that is not leadership or vision. Where is the wisdom and honour of the people we delegate our trust to?

Maybe Ritscher was a disturbed individual - that I know nothing about. But from reading various weblog entries about him, and from his own writing, I judge him to be also a man with a strong commitment and a good heart. A man whose last and ultimate demonstration ought to be noticed by the World.

By this I have done my bit.

If you want to know more - try Technorati

The good, old days of film and chemicalsThe Dark Hours

Comments

goodnaturedribbing # 3. December 2006, 00:37

Whatever his life was like, his pain is past.
I must thank him for his efforts.
I understand the hopelessness that drove him to his final act. The only way to get the attention of a culture of half-asleep sheep is to start a fire, literally or figuratively. The only way to battle an over-powerful and unresponsivle government is by radicalism. Hear, hear!

Thanks for bringing Mr. Ritscher's story here, Allan.

And thanks for speaking out yourself.

edwardpiercy # 3. December 2006, 02:13

It didn't work for the buddhist monks in Indochina, either.

I find the story sad.

venetianstudios # 3. December 2006, 05:51

wow. I hadn't heard of this man until you mentioned him here. I also find his the lack of acknowledgment very sad, but I admit, I find his choice of demonstration very disturbing indeed.

ricewood # 3. December 2006, 08:34

Even though I also find Ritscher´s final action radical, disturbing and very, very sad - I can´t help thinking that the very same could be said about the war, just multiplied a thousand times and then added with stupidity.

Thanks for commenting.

zerog # 3. December 2006, 22:39

It's a sad thing that men of Ritscher´s quality log-out of this world while men like Rumsfeld administer it.

As for the silence of the media, it came as no surprise, at least to me. Bravo to the Danish paper that brought it up and thank you for relaying it.

From my side I'll try to spread the word as much as possible.

Post spotlighted.

misund007 # 3. December 2006, 23:35

What do you have to do, to get noticed these days? There has been noting about this in the British media. Thanks for sharing

mcduret # 4. December 2006, 10:21

A very sad Hi everyone.

Not a word in French media either. Shame on them ! And they don't even have the excuse of being pro-USA.

What a radical way to express oneself !
But in the end, it's not vain.
Thanks to Internet and to Allan for spreading the news.

I don't knows if he "was mentally instable", but who isn't at one time or the other. What I've learned from university and life is that there is no such thing as a mentally stable person. Who is going to fixe the standard ? Is he/she sane enought ?

The radicality of his expression just shows that this man has found NO other way to make himself heard !

And for that, and for his ideas about war, he has my sad but total respect .

ricewood # 4. December 2006, 15:57

It may be the case that this radical war-protester was mentally unstable.

Now I just wonder what to call those who start wars?

Thanks for replying to this sad matter.

Duplo # 5. December 2006, 02:56

Hi Allan,

Finaly back in Nuuk again.

A truely sad story...

Take care.

zen4life # 5. December 2006, 04:48

same as in france… in serbia there is no visible reason for hiding this information too. we aren't in the coalition, though we can't say that we oppose us policy either...

thanks for bringing this up!

btw, this reminds me of jan palach, czech student who burned himself to death as a political protest against the soviet occupation of czech republic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Palach

ricewood # 5. December 2006, 21:11

Thank you for the comment and the link to the person I had never heard about before - as far as I remember.