I'm An Activist, But Apparently Not That Dedicated
53Police Tape Surrounds Area Where Shaull Lit Himself On Fire
Daniel Shaull Dies After Setting Himself On Fire Outside Nicholas Ungar Furs
PORTLAND-A man set himself on fire Wednesday morning in front of Nicholas Ungar Furs in Portland, Oregon. KOMO 4 News, among others, reported on the incident and their story can be read on the KOMOnews.com site.
According to the Multnomah County medical examiner, the man was identified as 26-year-old Daniel Shaull from Kansas.
It is not clear if Daniel was protesting the use of animals in the making of fur coats, though according to KOMO 4 news, witnesses did hear the man screaming, “Animals are dying!” He screamed this as fire lapped around him and soared above his head.
He had doused himself with gasoline, and then set himself ablaze. Cops at the scene put out the flames with fire extinguishers. He later died from those injuries at the hospital.
I will protest with signs bouncing and scream right along with the others when it is a cause I believe in. Be it finding alternative measures than prison for helping drug addicts, saving animals, saving kids, saving undeveloped forest land, if I believe it worthy of my protests, I’m gung-ho and pack a lunch.
But setting myself on fire is something I would never even think of doing, much less follow through with.
I love small, furry, cute, ugly, and even smelly animals. To me, they are one of the blessings God has given us to enjoy on His planet. But lighting myself afire to save them is something I would never do.
Am I just not as committed as I should be? I’ll admit that being on fire scares me to no end. So am I a coward for not supporting Daniel’s efforts to save innocent animals?
I believe, sadly enough, Daniel may be a victim of some sort of mental disorder. He went to lengths most activists will not go, but certainly not for the saving of animals when there are issues on the table right now having to do with things so much more important.
And even those issues, I’ll admit, will not receive my charred support.
Am I wrong for believing I can do much more for a cause alive and healthy than burnt and dying?
I think not, but what are your thoughts?
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Let's be frank here, this sad young man was mentally ill, not an activist or a protester. On the other hand, who knows, maybe he was of the same mind as the terrorist who blows himself up. Both are incomprehensible.
Great points raised here... and I had not thought of the commonalities between this and the suicide bomber. He was trying to run into the store... I cannot imagine still continuing the same planned course of action once I am engulfed in flames, though. Could one actually continue the same course while in extreme, torturous pain? I don't know!
Jim Bryan 2 years ago
WOW. I am with you on the whole 'setting yourself on fire is a sign of mental illness' idea. It's sad, because no matter what you fight, when you off yourself, you can't fight any more. Keep fighting and don't give up or give in. Every time a protester is silenced, the status quo is perpetuated.