Fiery Anti-War Suicide Goes Unnoticed

Iraq War Foe Sets Himself Ablaze In Chicago, But It Takes 5 Days To Identify His Body

(AP)  Malachi Ritscher envisioned his death as one full of purpose.

He carefully planned the details, mailed a copy of his apartment key to a friend, created to-do lists for his family. On his Web site, the 52-year-old experimental musician who'd fought with depression even penned his obituary.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 — four days before an election caused a seismic shift in Washington politics — Ritscher, a frequent anti-war protester, stood by an off-ramp in downtown Chicago near a statue of a giant flame, set up a video camera, doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire.

Aglow for the crush of morning commuters, his flaming body was supposed to be a call to the nation, a symbol of his rage and discontent with the U.S. war in Iraq.

"Here is the statement I want to make: if I am required to pay for your barbaric war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our country," he wrote in his suicide note. "... If one death can atone for anything, in any small way, to say to the world: I apologize for what we have done to you, I am ashamed for the mayhem and turmoil caused by my country."

There was only one problem: No one was listening.

It took five days for the Cook County medical examiner to identify the charred-beyond-recognition corpse. Meanwhile, Ritscher's suicide went largely unnoticed. It wasn't until a reporter for an alternative weekly, the Chicago Reader, pieced the facts together that word began to spread.

Soon, tributes — and questions — poured in to the paper's blogs.

Was this a man consumed by mental illness? Or was Ritscher a martyr driven by rage over what he saw as an unjust war? Was he a convenient symbol for an anti-war movement or was there more to his message?

"This man killed himself in such a painful way, specifically to get our attention on these things," said Jennifer Diaz, a 28-year-old graduate student who never met him but has been researching his life. Now, she is organizing protests and vigils in his name. "I'm not going to sit by and I can't sit by and let this go unheard."

Mental health experts say virtually no suicides occur without some kind of a diagnosable mental illness. But Ritscher's family disagrees about whether he had severe mental problems.

In a statement, Ritscher's parents and siblings called him an intellectually gifted man who suffered from bouts of depression. They stopped short of saying he'd ever received a clinical diagnosis of mental illness.

"He believed in his actions, however extreme they were," his younger brother, Paul Ritscher, wrote online. "He believed they could help to open eyes, ears and hearts and to show everyone that a single man's actions, by taking such extreme personal responsibility, can perhaps affect change in the world."

His son, who shares the same name as his father, said his father was trying to cope with mental illness. Suicide seemed to be the next step, and the war was a way to give his death meaning.

"He was different people at different instances and so, so erratic. I loved him no doubt, but he was a very lonely and tragic man," said Ritscher, 35, who is estranged from the rest of the family. "The idea of being a martyr I'm sure was attractive. He could literally go out in a blaze of glory."

Born in Dickinson, N.D., with the name Mark David, Ritscher dropped out of high school, married at 17 and divorced 10 years later. Eventually, he would change his name to match his son's and, coincidentally, a world-famous prophet. At the end, he worked in building maintenance and was a fixture in Chicago's experimental music scene.

[photolex]

I may not agree with his take on the war, but I respect his commitment to opposing the war.

[nothappyatall]

Another nut case, in a few days no one will even remember his name let alone his cause.

[ljburnell]

The fact that his suicide went largely unnoticed speaks volumes.

[olebd]

Freakin' nut job. My concern would have been for children that may have witnessed his stupid stunt. They don't need to see this kind of trash.

Suicide is such a selfish act no matter what the circumstance may be.

Well at least he did what he said he was goig to do, mission accomplished

[ronniehm]

This is a good way for anti-war protesters to experience what it felt like in the World Trade Center on 9/11. I think they should all do it.

[rafterman1]

Well, in a few day, people may not remember his name but I'm pretty sure most people will still remember his cause (that we are in Iraq). I'm pretty sure no one will forget Iraq :)

has anyone read the story of the Peace Sign A Symbol Of Satan? Well I think that is all B.S and we should email the home owners association at this address http://www.plpoa.com/contact.htm

[abigail4476]

Yeah, let's laud this as a case of martyrdom for a cause...oh wait...isn't that how suicide bombers rationalize their idiocy?

There's nothing to respect about a suicidal maniac. I hope his suicide continues to go unnoticed. Killing yourself is not the way to change the world. I wouldn't want my children thinking that this is an acceptable way to prove a point--I hope his death continues to go unnoticed.

There are plenty of activists who display courage and integrity every day, who work hard and try to change things the RIGHT way who deserve the attention of the press. This guy deserves no attention, except to call attention to his stupidity. (Or mental illness--whatever the case may be.)

oops that may be the wrong Homeowners Association

[bobgee_1999]

He'd have to be insane---to think that the U.S. cares about human life. Just ask the hypocrite above, RonnieHM.

[ronniehm]

bobgee, what are you doing on the internet? Get out there and get "fired up." And don't confuse the definition of hypocrisy. I never said I cared about his life.

[dhasenfeld]

Who know a man better than his son?

"His son, who shares the same name as his father, said his father was trying to cope with mental illness. Suicide seemed to be the next step, and the war was a way to give his death meaning."[cbsnews.com]

[pudd54]

RonnieHM

What does the Iraq War have to do with 9/11?

No Iraqis were involved they were mostly Saudis with a couple of Syrians, a Jordanian, and an Egyptian, trained in radical Islam in Pakastan or Saudia Arabia, and trained in terrorism in Afghanistan by an American trained Saudi.

[bluestardad]

The Iraq Study Group is touted as a bipartisan 10-member commission led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, IS NOT CREDIBLE. This study group is buying time for a failed policy. These politicians who reference it's upcoming findings as reasons for not taking the voter mandated immediate changes in Iraq policy, are purchasing time on a failed "Stay the Course" policy at the cost three American soldiers Lives and millions of tax payer dollars a day for their inaction. Remember James Baker III is an old Bush family friend who defended the Saudi Government in court against the Survivors of 911. His motives are questionable at best as he is hardly an American Statesman with the lives of the American Soldiers at the forefront of his interest. This commission will not make any recommendations that will call for the immediate or phased withdrawal of our troops as there are currently permanent American Military bases being built in Iraq.

[pearlshole]

If this man did'nt want to fund the war,stop paying your taxes,walk into any mental hospital tell them about your morning plans,with the gas and a match, and as soon as you can say medicate,He would'nt even know a war was going on,by the way I have a family member in the war.we pray for his safe return home every day,and that he will never have to read about this fool.

[ronniehm]

"What does the Iraq War have to do with 9/11? "

Allah. Ask a hard question.

[random_radar]

pearlshole,

You can pray every day for your family member's safe return from Iraq, but I doubt that God will send angels down to carry him home. If you really want him (or her) home safely, you would work to end the war yourself.

My brother in law fought in the first Iraq war and my sister almost went to this one with the seabees. They were both willing to serve, but I am not willing to see their lives wasted in an ill-thought out imperialistic war, so I oppose the war and pray for success in doing so.

[random_radar]

RonnieHM,

If you want to fight a war against terrorism, you have thousands of enemies. If you want to fight a war against Allah and Islam, you have hundreds of millions of enemies.

Most adherents of Islam are innocent people minding their own business. Are you saying it is justified to inflict warfare on all these people merely because of their religion? Kind of like Hitler and the Jews?

Would you like to explain and expand your comments?

[ammermantm]

random_radar

well said

and if you want to fight a war against Bush, you have the nation at your side

[beejiggity-2009]

What a dope.

He is of no value now. At least before he had a chance to put himself in position to make a change. Today he has given that up.

Jennifer Diaz is the follower of a dope. I find it interesting that it is called "unnoticed" now that CBS news has picked up the story.

Looks to me like another case of Darwin in action.

[beejiggity-2009]

What a dope.

He is of no value now. At least before he had a chance to put himself in position to make a change. Today he has given that up.

Jennifer Diaz is the follower of a dope. I find it interesting that it is called "unnoticed" now that CBS news has picked up the story.

Looks to me like another case of Darwin in action.

[bhappy2-2]

Well Put, RonnieHM! If all the war protestors did that we would know who truly enjoys their freedom. These brave men and women put their lives on the line every day for us at home. They are fighting for the freedom of the nutcases to protest just as much for the freedom of the people who support the soldiers. I have a nephew who has done two tours already, and his unit is making preperations to go back again. Even those who do not believe in the reason for the war should still support the troops trying to end the reign of the terrorists!

[fritzalvarez]

It is curious to me that muslims can kill each other in the most cruel ways over disagreement about religious sects. If anyone else tries to intervene in that, it is a considered war on Islam. The war in Iraq is a religious war now.
America is caught in the middle, and no level of training of the Iraqi military is going to fix this. As far as the world knows Islam IS at war, with itself and with the Jews. What a mess! Innocent members of the religion have to be the ones to speak out forcefully for peace to help fix this.
Fritz
http://heathenmiddle.com

[angryliberal-2009]

Ahhhhh? ok, what a STUPID way to die.

[angryliberal-2009]

lighting yourself on fire

[cantshutup]

I'm so sick of people labeling war protestors as nutcases, or people who don't appreciate freedom! Above all else, war protestors do appreciate freedom, they just believe that violence does not solve problems. If you think that war protestors are nutcases or don't appreciate their freedom, then you are buying into the same old pathetic rhetoric that war hawks like to spout...War hawks need our money and our blood to launch their wars and like many with the same mentality like to make the non-violent among us feel guilty about the higher path we've chosen. War hawks will not be able to wage wars when people decide to stop sacrificing their loved ones for other peoples desires.

[angryliberal-2009]

It wasnt noticed because it was moronic. Mabe this guy should have been in a mental hospital not talking politics as should most far left terrorist sympathizers.

Didnt that idiot know that our soldiers are dying for him so that the Muslims wouldnt come over and behead him or light him on fire? I guess that is one way to show you oppose fighting terrorism, LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE SO THE TERRORIST DONT HAVE TO.

Is he that blind that he couldnt see that?

[pima6]

dude, i think it worked. i think we're about to pull right out.


jackass

[ammermantm]

ANGRYliberal,

MUSLIMS are not the terrorists, some terrorists are muslim.

[angryliberal-2009]

ncolsens,
"and if you want to fight a war against Bush, you have the nation at your side"

You have what nation on your side? Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan?

Just because you say something does not make it true.

[angryliberal-2009]

Ammermantm

True, Im sorry, I forgot the disclaimer. I know that some muslims are terrorists and many more muslims support terrorists, but there are some perfectly decent and life loving non-fundementalist Muslims.

[angryliberal-2009]

pima6,

lol.
Would you do the same then, if you really believe its right? I dont think some lunatic radical left winger lighting himself n fire will affect anyones decision about Iraq. Thats the kind of stuff the terrorists do, but ussually they try to take out others with them.

[cathaleen]

This guy was just a nut. I'm more concerned with the men and women who are fighting in the middle east. They're the important ones not the crazy ones over here.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[moshe10_613]

Shalom to all men;
War Perspectives:
to soldiers it is a "Duty" to serve.
to their parents it is an "Honor" to give.
to their government it is a "Budget" to fill.
to their enemy it is "Holiness" doing it.
to enemy's govt. it is an "Intrusion".
to RonnieHM it is a "Tax" deducted...worth dying.
to me, WAR is just an "UGLY BUSINESS"...coated by sugar of "PEACE"...there is NO PEACE at all, just "STABILITY".
"PEACE" hides in the place NO ONE likes to LOOK UPON...Shalom Aleichem

[MetalMeow]

bushrocks1 - Don't get me started. The man went through with a war and ignored half of the nation's pleas. He doesn't listen to his people. He started a war for oil, and that IS the bottom line. He started in office dishonest- his family counted the votes, and ripped the voice from enough civilians to actually win. Then they "lost count," and other than using a machine count which is perfectly fair, his family recounts the votes.
Do some research. Don't just sit there in front of the TV and believe all of the hogwash the media is told to tell you.
Congressmen have never been honest, that's got to tell you something. Think for yourselves people.
Not to mention the man is the most moronic person in the country. When asked what he was going to do about Global Warming, he said "Don't worry I'll make sure everyone in Texas has an air-conditioner."
Ignorant. It's going to take years before the Deficit is paid off again. We had 7 years of peace when Clinton was in office, and less than a year Bush is in office we have a war.
Oi.

[MetalMeow]

I'll remember, Newster1.

[MetalMeow]

By the way, feel free to email me at [e-mail] ...

[thgdriver]

During the Vietnam war Buddhist monks, as a protest to the war, were lighting themselves on fire on a regular basis, a few made the front page of my newspaper in the 60's I suppose that's where he got the idea.

[arthurcl1]

Bush probably read this and said, "He's not one of my fans".
But look at what Bush has done for us, like spending billions on a failed policy in Irag. Going over the UN to go it alone! Recently millions of dollars of our taxpayer money for weapons for their armed forces was ripped off from under our noses? They will probably be used against our troops with their Kamakaize tactics! No reconstruction going on for the people, civil war, and the Cleric is back to controlling Sadar City? They told us to get out and leave behind one of our solders they kidnapped! Last month alone another 100 brave men lost their lives! Our National Debt is at 4 TRILLION! Left for our grandchildren to try to pay? What a mess Bush has us in. It's another Vietnam. Bush has No Exit Strategy thanks for Cheyne and Rumsfield! We will never be able to get out of there thanks to these guys!

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[olgreyghost]

The Samurai of feudal Japan had a system for self-termination that was often used to get the attention of their leaders. It is called seppuku and it only worked part of the time, too.

As they say in business real estate, "Location, location, location!" He might have got more attention in the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. More attention, but not necessarily more action...

[tibu987]

Suicide is the result of a tortured mind, the only thing it does is make many family members sad.
Nothing changes, absolutely nothing. It would be wiser to stay alive and protest in ways that would be more effective.
Suicide is forgotten by all but the family the day after it happens.
The man was ill.

[shafteriffic]

This guy was a complete lunatic and a traitor! What an idiot! How could he think anybody would take him seriously, with a stunt like that? Think about all the innocent people (children too) who have been mentally scarred from seeing this nutcase burning to death on the side of the road. No one should report any further on this subject and just let it all be forgotten before more crazy people pull stunts like this. What a *******!

[chris12karen]

It's even sadder that this deep-blue district of bleeding heart liberals didn't even stop to notice the burning man while he was on fire.

[califalcon]

I can see his point tho, I know that he actions where too radical and extreme, however I do feel like I am supporting this war and mass murder by paying taxes. I would like to have the US have a law that allow for people against violence like myself that I could pay my taxes and be assured that my portion of the taxes would only be used for peaceful purposes only, like the government should setup a special account for people like myself that way my spiritual believes wouldn't have to contradict with my daily life.
Financing any violence whatsoever is very disturbing to me and my religious beliefs.
If anyone has any ideas on how to make this happen let me know please.
By the way this is not about not supporting our troops, which I do, however even our troops feels like we shouldn't be there than who are we there for? for us the people? or for your government
pleasure?

Peace

[observantx]

Bushrocks seems to be unable to pull their head out of their repeated posting. They just keep pasting it everywhere. After all, it%u2019s so much easier than thinking about anything or attempting an analysis of its relevance. Just paste it and paste it again.

Years ago, some white lab coat types wired up the pleasure centers of the brains of live mice to a lever. When the mice pushed the lever, they felt pleasure. They dropped dead of exhaustion from pressing the lever. They wouldn%u2019t even stop to eat or drink. I guess this is bushrock%u2019s lever. Just like whacking off, I guess. In the meantime, let%u2019s try to be polite and not encourage him by commenting on his pasting post.

[three-o-six]

I think it was a great act and ALL war protesters should follow his example.