Human torch suicides expose disillusion of Czech teenagers

[UpInArms]

http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/international.cfm?id=1236292003

DISILLUSIONED teenagers in the Czech Republic have been setting themselves on fire in a spate of horrific incidents which mirror the actions of a youth who died in front of crowds of people as he protested against Communist oppression in 1968.

At least five teenagers have died, with 16 young Czechs trying to commit suicide this year alone by dousing themselves in petrol and setting light to themselves.

<snip>

Like Palach, Adamec’s motive for killing himself in such a dramatic fashion was to draw attention to the situation in the Czech Republic. In a letter he left behind, the 19-year-old criticised the country’s government. Describing himself as "another victim of the democratic system, where it is not people who decide, but power and money".

He wrote: "Drugs, violence, money and power - these are the watchwords of our civilisation. The so-called democracy we gained is not a democracy. It’s about the rule of officials, money and treading on people. The whole world is corrupted by money and is spoilt, depraved."

...more...

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. They're new enough to American-style capitalism

that they see it for what it is. They're not as inured to it as we are.

[Tinoire]

2. The so-called democracy we gained is not a democracy.

"another victim of the democratic system, where it is not people who decide, but power and money".

He wrote: "Drugs, violence, money and power - these are the watchwords of our civilisation. The so-called democracy we gained is not a democracy. It’s about the rule of officials, money and treading on people. The whole world is corrupted by money and is spoilt, depraved."

So much for the wonderful democracy we are intent on giving the rest of the world in exchange for their country's riches, their integrity or their safety from us.

I am so ashamed and it's not just of Bush. I am ashamed of our entire rotten system.

Embrace hope! America- embrace change! Without it we will sink to nothing as a nation! The mad course we're on, begun way before Bush took office, is endangering us and the entire world.

The Time is Now! (broadband)
This is the Moment! (dial-up)

[jonoboy]

3. it's the same in Russia

for all the nitwits who claim Russia is now Democratic it's just become a place for the mafia and corporate (US) to loot it of it's natural recourses..and we were told we wanted them to be fee..the west just wanted their assets for free.

[politicat]

4. yet another example of why I can't learn for you.... unfortunately.

They're going through, in many ways, the laissez faire growing pains that the US went through in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Wish we could have somehow donated that "by the way, these things will hurt you" experience.