It’s genuinely impressive and disgusting how good US media is at downplaying self-immolation. They’re very consistent about it regardless of the cause, although they’re even stricter about it in this case.
I honestly think because of just how extreme of an act it is it’s like the one time we should absolutely give them the attention they asked for, regardless of the cause they believe in, as respect for such an act. Regardless of your feelings on it, setting yourself on fire for your beliefs is a brave as shit thing to do.
I’ve never heard of a case of self immolation that wasn’t an extreme protest, and yet media consistently manages to not ever cover that. They’ll maybe say in one throwaway line “There are unconfirmed reports this was done as a protest against X”
If you’re set on killing yourself, shoot up the United Healthcare board room, or if you’re an air force pilot try to 9/11 the White House. Don’t set yourself on fire, they won’t even put you on the news.
