Man attempts to set himself alight at Gaza protest

irishtimes.com ^ | 01/03/09 | AOIFE CARR

[TornadoAlley3]

Protestors burn the Israeli flag outside Leinster House during the Ireland Palestine demonstration in Dublin today. Photo: Matt Kavanagh

A man attempted to set himself alight at a protest today in Dublin over the continued bombing of Gaza.

The man, who appeared visibly distraught, set his arms and shoulders alight before onlookers managed to extinguish the flames. He was not seriously injured.

The incident happened at around 1.45pm this afternoon at the Central Bank in Dublin where around 600 people had gathered to protest at Israeli attacks in Gaza.

The protest continued without incident to Leinster House and finished this evening in O’Connell Street.

Other demonstrations took place in Galway, Cork, Limerick, Derry and Sligo.

Kevin Squires of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign branded Israeli actions war crimes.

“This latest series of war crimes in Gaza is completely beyond the pale,” Mr Squires said. “Action needs to be taken. Israel can no longer get away with this.”

The protests were one of many taking place across the world to demand a halt to Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip.

Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza.

Israeli Arabs held a protest march, Kuwaitis also took to the streets, a day after bigger Middle East rallies, and peaceful pro- and anti-Israel protests were held in New York.

In Paris, police said more than 21,000 demonstrators, many wearing Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves, marched through the city centre chanting slogans such as "Israel murderer!" and waving banners demanding an end to the air attacks.

Groups of protesters clashed with police. At least three cars were set alight and about 20 overturned by demonstrators as the march ended near some of the biggest department stores in the French capital.

In London, police said more than 10,000 people staged a march and rally to urge an end to the Israeli offensive against Hamas militants that has killed at least 446 Palestinians.

In many cities people waved shoes, recalling the action of an Iraqi journalist who hurled footwear at US President George W. Bush in Baghdad last month in a symbolic insult.

British demonstrators threw dozens of shoes into the street as they passed the gated entrance to Downing Street and shouted angrily at a line of 40 police officers on guard there.

"Come to get your shoes Gordon," one woman shouted as other marchers directed chants of "Shame on you" at Mr Brown.

A spokesman said Mr Brown had spoken again to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today and was pressing hard for an immediate ceasefire.

About 3,500 people marched in Berlin and 4,000 in the western city of Duesseldorf, police said.

Several thousand people demonstrated in Ankara in a second day of protests in Turkey. In smaller protests in Istanbul, demonstrators carried baby dolls smeared with fake blood.

In New York, several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied near Times Square in a peaceful protest, calling for an immediate end to the Israeli offensive.

A few dozen pro-Israel counter-protesters gathered just across the street, but there were no clashes between the opposing groups and police reported no arrests.

More than 1,000 demonstrators marched through Kuwait City, with banners reading "Gaza will not die" and "We want a free Gaza". Other protests of at least 1,000 people took place in Madrid, Amsterdam, Milan and Turin.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Wow! The muzzies are raising hell everywhere! Ireland too? We might want to think about taking back our countries.

[SolidWood]

Yes please. Israel WILL definately stop bombing once all terrorists and their enablers are torching themselves.

[JoanVarga]

A man attempted to set himself alight at a protest today in Dublin over the continued bombing of Gaza.

More, please. Faster, please.

-Joan

[JRandomFreeper]

Dude.... you've got to be pretty devoid of cluefullness to NOT be able to set yourself on fire.

Dumb.... just too dumb to live.... too stupid to die.

/johnny

[stentorian conservative]

Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza.

And just where the hell were all these protesters when that sub-human suicide bomber blew himself up on a school bus in Israel?

I wish all these morons would set themselves "alight."

[MindBender26]

Stupid woggie can’t even start a decent fire.

[TornadoAlley3]

Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza.

Israeli Arabs held a protest march, Kuwaitis also took to the streets, a day after bigger Middle East rallies, and peaceful pro- and anti-Israel protests were held in New York.

[Mr. Mojo]

Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey

And Fort Lauderdale as well.

[Red_Devil 232]

Someone stopped him? Why?

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.google.com/search?&rls=en&q=ireland+%2B+jihad&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[umgud]

Build a man a fire, and he will be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

[csvset]

Let me guess. Now he’s probably on government aide, will kill a Jew and get away with it because he was “ mentally unstable” and can’t be held accountable for his actions.

[keepitreal]

OH THE HUMANITY!!!!!

[brytlea]

“This latest series of war crimes in Gaza is completely beyond the pale,”

Indeed. Finally, Israel is doing something about it.

[al baby]

emulate himself

[stentorian conservative]

You must read Mark Steyn’s America Alone.

Having said that, I don't think ALL these protesters are muzzies.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It sounds to me as though the muzzies are well on their way towards taking over the entire world. Well. They said they were going to do that. No one seems interested in stopping them. Uncle Adolf would be proud.

[LeoWindhorse]

this just goes to show what a blight and an infestation moslem immigration has become in all countries around the world .
If they wish to act like this they should all be deported back to whatever sandbox rathole they hailed from . The wider world needs to wake up to the danger of allowing this cult sub-culture to spread and infect their societies . They offer nothing but problems and headaches for their host countries .
It’s got to end .

[HighlyOpinionated]

The man, who appeared visibly distraught

Pretty much describes the leftist liberal progressive. Liberalism IS a Mental Disease.

[Evil Slayer]

I just love it when the stupids do this. Keep doing it. PLEASE KEEP DOING IT!!!!!

[ScreamingFist]

I've seen videos of monks protesting, they didn't have the slightest problem dying in a blaze.

This idiot, on the other hand, lit a flag on fire and was too stupid to not burn himself. Propaganda works.

[dfwgator]

Build a man a fire and he stays warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he stays warm for the rest of his life.

[FrankR]

"Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza. "

Reminds be of the old joke about the guy who was obviously looking for something on the street corner;
A passerby sees him looking around and says, "Did you lose something, maybe I can help you find it."
The man replied, "Yeah I lost my wallet back there in the alley."
The stranger then asked, "Well why are you looking for it out here?".
The man said, "Well, the light is much better out here.".

I guess it never occurred to these protestors to go to the war zone - where it's actually happening - and protest. Or to maybe spend the last few months in Gaza telling them to stop pissing off the Israelies by lobbing rockets in their cities.

Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, nor Fort Lauderdale had a damn thing to do with the crap that is happening over there...and why they put up with these attention seeking protesters, I don't know. Load them on a C-130 and air drop them over the Gaza strip...maybe they can actually help out...at least they can help that fellow set himself on fire...you'd think with all the oil in that region, flammability would not be a problem.

I think the next time New York does something I don't like, I'll go to Alabama and protest...makes about as much sense. Maybe the Alabamians will feel sorry for me and rush up to the big apple and straighten things out up there.

[goldstategop]

The moonbat wanted to kill himself? That would have been no great loss. A pity he's still around. Some people are just stupid - and liberalism is a form of mental illness.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

My thoughts exactly.

These protestors and the whole Palestinian crew are
PPP.....Piss Poor Protoplasm!

[TornadoAlley3]

“Go back to the oven” is that what she said? OMG.

[Farmer Dean]

Actually I think that hell is raising muzzies everywhere.

[LukeL]

There is a prophecy in the Bible about in the last days Damascus being a heap of ruin, we know many terror groups are based in Damascus. Israel has said any attack involving WMDs on their land would result in total annihilation of the country involved. Hate to see if this comes to pass

[arealconservativeforachange]

Who stopped him?
I would have handed him gas & matches.

[Vaquero]

BURN BABY BURN!!!

[LukeL]

From Jack Handy:

If you ever catch on fire, try to avoid looking in a mirror, because I bet that will really throw you into a panic

[NYC GOP Chick]

Yes. That and “You need big ovens.”

[NYC GOP Chick]

Having said that, I don't think ALL these protesters are muzzies.

In the disturbing video linked in #9, there are many International ANSWER signs in the pro-terrorism crowd. That, and many of those tablecloth scarves that way too many hipsters from Brooklyn also wear.

[Figment]

“Someone stopped him? Why?”

Not saying I would have tried to stop him, but I would have stomped the fire out after a while

[tioga]

I wouldn’t have gone near him, if he’s willing to kill himself he would be just as willing to take me with him.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Dude.... you've got to be pretty devoid of cluefullness to NOT be able to set yourself on fire.Dude.... you've got to be pretty devoid of cluefullness to NOT be able to set yourself on fire.

Dumb.... just too dumb to live.... too stupid to die.

Got that right.

Back in 66, when I was in Saigon, I happened upon a Buddhist Monk who had just lit himself on fire.

Not a word, not a twitch; just sat there until he keeled over which took about 5 minutes but seemed much longer.

Not a pretty sight and something I'll never forget.

[jws3sticks]

Yes. That and “You need big ovens.”

Ovens are bad karma but a quart of "Citco Regular" would work just fine by me.

[samtheman]

At least three cars were set alight and about 20 overturned by demonstrators as the march ended near some of the biggest department stores in the French capital.

Whopee! That'll show those war-mongering Israelis! Burn a bunch of cars in Paris! We're on target now! Go! Go! Go!

[Lancey Howard]

Man attempts to set himself alight at Gaza protest

Now this is a man who is serious. The rest of the Muslim protestors are mere clowns and cowards compared to this man. Any genuine Muslim who does not set himself on fire is no better than a woman covered in pig vomit.

[Random Access]

Someone stopped him? Why?

Obviously they don't believe in political free speech or freedom of expression. No one should interfere with someone making a statement like this.

[humblegunner]

Build a man a fire, and he will be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

That right there is wisdom, that is.

[Cheetahcat]

Kuwaitis Ha Ha Ha They have no respect for this Scum they were the squatter's Saddam brought into Kuwait during the occupation..

[okie01]

...there are many International ANSWER signs in the pro-terrorism crowd.

Why am I not surprised?

How can this palpably anti-American splinter group lead the left around by its nose?

There's only one explanation: the Left is anti-American, too.

[jiggyboy]

Well he's not quite as dumb as this old favorite:

American flag: $25
Gasoline: $2
Cigarette lighter: $2.50
Catching yourself on fire because you are a terrorist a**hole: PRICELESS!

[NYC GOP Chick]

There's only one explanation: the Left is anti-American, too.

Yes, they are. In fact, they're full of self-loathing -- as Americans, and probably as individuals, too.

I think it's no coincidence that just about every time I've been locked into flame wars with leftists in other forums (fora?), sooner or later it comes out that they have serious mental/emotional issues.

[stentorian conservative]

I couldn’t stomach it all. My computer almost melted from the hatred. We live in an upside down, inside out world.

[Libloather]

Man attempts to set himself alight at Gaza protest

And he FAILED?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Me, too. So I cheered myself up by watching a few videos of the IDF taking out some more bad guys. Here’s their official YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk

[BlazingArizona]

Begorrah! ‘Tis a rainy country indeed when your jihadist protesters can't even keep themselves lit.