Man burns self in middle of National Mall today

[merithyn]

A man who poured a can of gasoline on his head and set himself on fire on the National Mall in the nation's capital has been airlifted to the hospital, police and fire officials said Friday afternoon.

The man, whose name was not immediately known, suffered life-threatening injuries, said D.C. fire department spokesman Tim Wilson.

He was standing by himself at Seventh Street and Madison Drive, in the center portion of the Mall, when he emptied the contents of a red gas can on himself and set himself on fire moments later, said Katy Scheflen, who witnessed it as she walked through the Mall.

She said passing joggers took off their shirts in an effort to help douse the flames, and the man was clearly alive as the flames spread. A police department spokesman said he was conscious and breathing at the scene. MedStar Washington Hospital Center tweeted that the man was taken there but had no condition update.

"There was not a lot people could do because it was a gasoline fire," she said.

She said he may have said something before he acted "but it was nothing intelligible." She said she did not see him holding any signs.

"I'm not aware of any signage or any articulation of any causes," said Lt. Pamela Smith of the U.S. Park Police, which is investigating along with the D.C. police department.

The D.C. police department has dispatched its violent crimes branch, which responds to cases in which a person suffers serious injury.

[mongers]

I remember a good few year back wander around Westminster, as I got into St James Park a helicopter flew in low heading for parliament square, a man had just set fire to himself in front of parliament.

I may have passed him a few minutes earlier, if just a bit later I'd have seen his both courageous and sad protest. 

I was only when I got home and saw the news item, that I realised what had happened, always remember that day, my carefree wander in contrast to his careworn final day.

[Ideologue]

I'm surprised we haven't gotten more of these.

It's gotta suck that he survived, though.  That's why when were I to make a similar statement, I'm going for exsanguination.  Slightly less spectacular, but a lot more margin for error.  You don't wake up quadriplegic or missing your face.  It'd also permit the use of a written statement.

[The Brain]

Can you burn a Meskimo instead of yourself?

[lustindarkness]

I said this had started, I bet more things already have but not made public.

[PDH]

I said this had started, I bet more things already have but not made public.

It started long ago.  Society gets to a fucked up enough position that there is no out for too many people.

[Razgovory]

I'm surprised we haven't gotten more of these.

It's gotta suck that he survived, though.  That's why when were I to make a similar statement, I'm going for exsanguination.  Slightly less spectacular, but a lot more margin for error.  You don't wake up quadriplegic or missing your face.  It'd also permit the use of a written statement.

If you want, I can help.  I'll keep away the first responders till you are dead.  We'd have to practice first of course.  Light just parts of you on fire to see if you can stand it.  You want to do Buddhist thing where the fire doesn't seem to bother you, we don't want you running around screaming.  That would detract from the message and make it look like you didn't think it through.

[Eddie Teach]

You need a safe word. Something like "Raz, stop pouring gasoline on me, you freak!" or "What are you doing with that lighter?"

[Ideologue]

If I need help with a political suicide, I don't think getting a schizophrenic to be my second is the best choice, from a media standpoint.

[DGuller]

Making a statement that no one around you understood, and then setting yourself on fire only to painfully critically injure yourself?  Talk about an epic fail.

[Ideologue]

Making a statement that no one around you understood, and then setting yourself on fire only to painfully critically injure yourself?  Talk about an epic fail.

Yeah, that was the lede I buried.  My first impression was "hell yeah," but the execution was weak.

Well, the good part about surviving is that he can take a mulligan, right?

[Razgovory]

If I need help with a political suicide, I don't think getting a schizophrenic to be my second is the best choice, from a media standpoint.

Who else would do it?  You need someone who has already put a lot of thought into lighting you on fire.

[Ideologue]

I doubt you'd even show up.  OMG AN AGORA

[Ed Anger]

I'd bring marshmallows.

[Ideologue]

I'M NOT SETTING MYSELF ON FIRE