Comic Genesis Forums

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:11 pm**

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A man used flammable liquid to light himself on fire, apparently to protest a San Joaquin Valley school district's decision to change the names of winter and spring breaks to Christmas and Easter vacation.
ADVERTISEMENT

The man, who was not immediately identified, on Friday also set fire to a Christmas tree, an American flag and a revolutionary flag replica, said Fire Captain Garth Milam.

Seeing the flames, Sheriff's Deputy Lance Ferguson grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran to the man.

Flames were devouring a Christmas tree next to the Liberty Bell, where public events and demonstrations are common.

Beside the tree the man stood with an American flag draped around his shoulders and a red gas can over his head.

Seeing the deputy, the man poured the liquid over his head. He quickly burst into flames when the fumes from the gas met the flames from the tree.

The deputy ordered the man to drop to the ground as he and a parole agent sprayed him with fire extinguishers.

"The man stood there like this," the deputy said with his arms across his chest and his head bent down, "Saying no, no, no."

The man suffered first degree burns on his shoulders and arms, Milam said.

Kern County Sheriff's Deputy John Leyendecker said the man had a sign that read: "(expletive) the religious establishment and KHSD."

On Thursday, the Kern High School Board of Trustees voted to use the names Christmas and Easter instead of winter and spring breaks.

Given the debate here I thought this might be of interest.

As for myself I think this man was clearly mentally disturbed. After all we do have an ACLU in this nation and setting himself on fire did nothing to change the school's mind.

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:16 pm**

Tis nary a better way to die than gloriously in the name of political correctness.

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:06 am**

"Hey, I want you to change something, and if you don't do it, I'll burn myself" "Will you hurt anyone?" "No" "Oh, nevermind"

Burning oneself is vivid, but it really doesn't change as much as a formal, regular protest.

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 4:54 am**

whatever happened to the hunger strike?

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:46 am**

Wooo! Let's add more to his bonfire body! *wraps him in my extra C4* There dude! Now you can end your protest with a BANG!

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:29 am**

BoKiana
But then you might hurt someone else.

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:06 pm**

I'd also have to say that this man was mentally unstable.

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:20 pm**

BoKiana wrote:Wooo! Let's add more to his bonfire body! *wraps him in my extra C4* There dude! Now you can end your protest with a BANG!

Nah, it needs pressure to do that. It'll just make him burn hotter is all.

Like someone on here once said, you can do a tap dance on it, or use it to start your grill, but not both unless you wanna explain why to Saint Peter.

Still, there's always thermite...

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2006 12:21 am**

Wait, wouldn't that make him less a wacky protestor and more a suicide bomber?

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:45 am**

So wait, what's KHSD?

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:11 pm**

Too bad he's still alive, or I'd nominate him for a Darwin Award.

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:02 pm**

Deckard Canine wrote:So wait, what's KHSD?

Kern High School District.

Posted: **Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:51 am**

Liberals roasting over an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose..........

Posted: **Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:31 am**

Not necessarily a liberal. You don't have to be one to hate the religious establishment.

Comic Genesis Forums

Man sets self aflame in Calif. protest

Man sets self aflame in Calif. protest