Thich Quang Duc

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/maryscottoconnor/MORE%20mlw%20PIcs%20II/thich-quang-duc.gif


I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning human flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering.

I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think.... As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him. - David Halberstam

I know there is a article about this on Che Lives already - (http://www.che-lives.com/home/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=202)

But I would just like to see what others think, I personally found this story moving.

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

[Comrade C.A.]

I always admired Thich Quang Duc for what he did, even more so because of his deep Buddhist conviction and the fact that during the entire time he was burning he didn't move, i used to have a video of it and he actually did move when he finally died of course.

[Mesijs]

You have to have incredibly strong beliefs for that. With this act he showed that the South-Vietnamese government couldn't go on like this. I think this is deeply moving, one of the most impressive moments of world history.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

Yes I agree :(

EDIT: By the way would you have a link to that video?

[Comrade C.A.]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 08:41 PM
Yes I agree :(

EDIT: By the way would you have a link to that video?
nah, the site i found it on (snuffx.com) used to have it in the archives, but now you have to pay to visit the archives.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

ah ok

[violencia.Proletariat]

I would agree that you have to be mentally tough to do that without a peep. However, I think that action was completely daft and had no direction in really stopping the war.

[Mesijs]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2006, 02:10 AM
I would agree that you have to be mentally tough to do that without a peep. However, I think that action was completely daft and had no direction in really stopping the war.
I think it did. When Americans that truly believe in the war see this person sitting and burning himself because he himself wants to do that, that impresses more than all the bodybags going home. It's really the sign for all common people that there must be something totally wrong, more than any bombing or atrocity.

[Marukusu]

Thich Quang Duc immolated himself in 1963 and the war continued to 1975.
Though I admire his toughness and guts, he didn't change much at all and threw away his life... as most suiciders do.

[Labor Shall Rule]

I don't think you understand what kind of important role he played within the Buddhist movement against Diem. His immolation created more riots in the streets, national dissent against dictatorship that wasn't just limited to the streets of Saigon. In the end, Diem was forced to grant concessions to the people of Vietnam, forcing landowners to pick up wages, building housing projects, and of course, negotiating with the Vietcong. With this new status quo currently in place, the US government removed Diem, and placed a general that continued such concessions, but refused to compromise with the Vietcong, thus continuing the war.

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2006, 02:18 PM
Thich Quang Duc immolated himself in 1963 and the war continued to 1975.
Though I admire his toughness and guts, he didn't change much at all and threw away his life... as most suiciders do.
Most people who commit/attempt suicide have severe mental problems, depression or something else which they cannot live with. Theyt aren't throwing their lifes away - they are trying to put an end to a massive pain they feel.

As for Thich Quang Duc, what he did must have required such a huge mental strength, along with solid convictions. The war may have gone on for years after his sacrifice, but he had a profound effect on both nations.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

Diem was shot the same year. :D (Even though it was by the US and S.V. Generals...)

[Marukusu]

I don't think you understand what kind of important role he played within the Buddhist movement against Diem. His immolation created more riots in the streets, national dissent against dictatorship that wasn't just limited to the streets of Saigon. In the end, Diem was forced to grant concessions to the people of Vietnam, forcing landowners to pick up wages, building housing projects, and of course, negotiating with the Vietcong. With this new status quo currently in place, the US government removed Diem, and placed a general that continued such concessions, but refused to compromise with the Vietcong, thus continuing the war.

But he didn't stop the war.


Most people who commit/attempt suicide have severe mental problems, depression or something else which they cannot live with. Theyt aren't throwing their lifes away - they are trying to put an end to a massive pain they feel.

I belive they actually are throwing their lives away. Why not seek for professional help instead of killing yourself? Sure, they might be unable to think rational because of their mental problems, but that's not an excuse for killing yourself on purpose.
We only have one life, and we should spend it with care.


As for Thich Quang Duc, what he did must have required such a huge mental strength, along with solid convictions. The war may have gone on for years after his sacrifice, but he had a profound effect on both nations.

I agree that he certainly played a role in the vietnam war (at least a symbolic role) but we must not forget that he was religious, and burned himself of mostly religious reasons... and religion is hoax.

[violencia.Proletariat]

When Americans that truly believe in the war see this person sitting and burning himself because he himself wants to do that, that impresses more than all the bodybags going home.

Bullshit. When American college students are getting shot to death on their own campuses and the public still doesnt push to end the war, I'm sure some buddhist that most americans never even heard about was last on their minds.


It's really the sign for all common people that there must be something totally wrong, more than any bombing or atrocity.

Or as most people in reality think, what an idiot.

[Vargha Poralli]

Madame Nhu, the first lady of Vietnam at the time, commented with regard to this that she would "clap hands at seeing another monk barbecue show". This supposedly resulted in her receiving the alias of "Dragon Lady".-WIKIPEDIA

Later U.S Killed deim for that but not for humanism or any other philosophy but to protect their own intrest in Vietnam to comtinue the war for another 10 years.

So deim is an odd man out in list of leaders killed by US for not serving uo to its intrests.

[Tekun]

Originally posted by violencia.Proletariat[email protected] 25 2006, 02:10 AM
I would agree that you have to be mentally tough to do that without a peep. However, I think that action was completely daft and had no direction in really stopping the war.
Mos definitely....
His action had no real effect on ending or perpetuating the war, it was merely an emotional and symbolic act
Courageous, yet unnecessary

[WUOrevolt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2006, 06:10 AM
I would agree that you have to be mentally tough to do that without a peep. However, I think that action was completely daft and had no direction in really stopping the war.
He did it in protest of Diem's government and thier discrimination against buddhists.

[shorelinetrance]

Yeah, i read about this a couple weeks ago, pretty interesting.