Do you believe in anything so strongly that you'd be willing to lay down your life for that belief? Would you be willing to cause yourself pain and suffering to see that belief stay alive? Is your life worth the continuation of your belief?
Many of you may have seen this picture. This is
Thich Quang Duc. In protest to the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government, Thich Quang Duc lit himself on fire to create awareness. This photo and others like it circulated the globe and gathered the attentions of many onto the Diệm government.
Today there are over one hundred documented cases of self-immolation within Tibet to protest the Chinese government's heavy handed control over Tibet.
“They claim we are free to practice our religion but in fact they keep
pulling the reins tighter and tighter so we can hardly breathe,” said a
22-year-old monk from Qinghai Province
Like Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thich Quang Duc did not use violence against his suppressors. Instead he used violence against himself to increase the awareness of the situation globally. Like Ghandi being hit by soldiers or this police officer being arrested in full uniform, Thich Quang Duc and the Tibetan monks make people want to fight for the underdog.
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