The Sacrifice Of Thích Quảng Đức: Sit With Me

WARNING: Some viewers may find these images disturbing.

Malcolm W. Browne won World Press Photo of the Year in 1963 and a Pulitzer Prize in 1964 for this photograph of Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation in Saigon, South Vietnam, on the 11th June 1963.

"Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of the Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngo Dinh Diem to take a mind of compassion towards the people of the nation and implement religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland eternally. I call the venerables, reverends, members of the sangha and the lay Buddhists to organise in solidarity to make sacrifices to protect Buddhism."

From the letter left by Thích Quảng Đức.


"Thich Quang Duc's incomparable protest at religious suppression broke US support for Ngo Dinh Diem's ruthless authoritarianism. The Diem government's banning of non-state flags was directed against Buddhists, who were labelled as communists for criticising the oppressive regime.

President John F Kennedy is reported to have exclaimed "Jesus Christ!" on seeing the photo, and later remarked: "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one."

New Statesman


"I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning human flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think... As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him."

David Halberstam, New York Times


Sit With Me

This fire will transform everything.
It will turn my ordinary flesh
into brilliant light;
I will ignite a billion imaginations.

The world won't just watch,
it will see.

It will place itself
amongst the flames
and sit with me.

© PoetryAgainstWar 2010

Category:

News & Politics

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[gugarmy]

@Derekjcb u retarded, they were being kill by their religious point of view, if you were atheist back in 1300 u'd be fucking dead by saying that.. but youre smart arent ya?? it feels good to be lucky and have a non dangerous point of view.. you make no sense

[KRAZYTommySmiles]

watch?v=R54cO7zdwHw

[huetran1985]

Now its past, we forgive it but not forget history!

Monk Thich Quang Duc, he's the Saint even tho he die so long ago but nobody can take his pure, goodness soul!

[huetran1985]

@Derekjcb

Are u a human? do u ever read or learn about Vietnam's history war? Monk Thich Quang Duc set himself on fire cause he want US stop invasion Vietnam!

the shit like u will never know how US army war kill Vietnamese so horrible with scary torture: cutting hands legs, crucifixion into the skull, put human into box the snake!

[epicureus314159]

PIGDANCE! PIGDANCE! PIGDANCE!

[BailLia07F]

@GrockJake too far man.

[MsTinaLatina]

HE'S SUCH AN INSPIRATION. <3

[GrockJake]

Did they eat him afterwards?

[lolface111234]

@Taco550 have you ever heard of something called immigrants or refugees? parents born in vietnam. dad comes to america as refugee, dad marries my mom from vietnam, mom goes to america, i'm born in america. understand?