Comments on: Man Sets Himself on Fire at Portland Fur Store

By: Derek Z

Derek Z — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:05:50 +0000

LMAO!!! I think everyone in the ALF should set themselves on fire it would be a great message! WE’RE ALL CRAZIER THAN SHITHOUSE RATS!!!

By: veganimal

veganimal — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:44:40 +0000

Matthew:
Daniel was a vegetarian, he expressed concern and despair for the violence and injustice in the world – according to his father’s statement – and he protested against fur. And light himself outside the shop. The connections are clear, even if he was mentally ill. I’m not sure who’s most insane, those that are comfortable in our violent society or those that despair.

It’s more comfortable to blame drugs or faults in the medical system that to blame the the normalized violence against animals that most people and you yourself participate in.

I’m sorry for the family, but the pain of Daniel and the cause of this pain – that he reacted against the oppression of animals – should also be respected. And the suffering of animals far exceeds all that. “Peace in the family” will not get us anywhere.

By: john

john — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:05:32 +0000

An hero.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:25:55 +0000

That man was a hero. Fur is an evil industry and must be stopped.

By: LiberationNOW

LiberationNOW — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:02:14 +0000

One thing that really bothers me about this whole situation is that people are too quick to call him a “crazy” because he had a mental illness. Some of the most famous people with mental illness were geniuses. Abraham Lincoln, Vincent Van Gogh, Mozart, Charles Dickens and Ernest Hemingway to name just a few.

It is obvious that this act had something to do with animals. He sought out other vegetarians. He was desperate and alone. He could not think of another way to stop the suffering, whether it was his own or the animals. He felt utter desolation and he was powerless. I just hope that now he is no longer suffering from the torment he must have felt. If we find out that he was protesting for animals, then at least he died for what he believed in. RIP Daniel, I hope your suffering has ceased.

By: Iris

Iris — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:07:50 +0000

I feel so very sorry for him, fur industry is blind, so this seemed to be the last alternative. If you see how man is to animals, you really only want to die.
My sorrow is so deep and my regrets go to his family and his friends. I really do feel for you. Sorry about my bad english.
lots of love, Iris

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:50:31 +0000

Daniel Shaull and I have been friends since we were in 3rd grade.

His death was not a sacrifice, it was a tragedy of the failings of the mental health system in this nation. Those who were animal fur and leather are not responsible for his death. Mental illness caused by years of crystal meth left him with no impulse control and an extreme sense of paranoia.

He is not a hero to your cause. He died in a manner that is beyond horrific for anything living.

I don’t wear real fur myself but I am not an activist and I am not a vegetarian. But I did grow up side by side with your most recent “disposable martyr.”

Those of you who keep quoting the article have got to wonder what is his mother saying. Unlike his father whom I personally try to limit my contact with, his mother is a quiet woman who cared dearly for Daniel and tried to let him live his life while still keeping a watchful eye…until he moved out of town. Daniel is also proceeded by his younger brother and sister.

Leave this one alone. I am begging you. The man has family and they are grieving. They need time to get through this.

By: Shaynie Aero

Shaynie Aero — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:53:32 +0000

What a great man for the animals to have as a saver… how terribly sad he suffered and died.His death is the fault of those who wear fur!

By: anon

anon — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:14:36 +0000

Here is an article and discussion about it going on in the city in which it happened: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2010/01/396940.shtml?discuss
It looks pretty obvious that this man did intend for this to be a sacrifice on behalf of the animals, and whether he was mentally ill or not, this should be respected.

By: Frank P

Frank P — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:02:11 +0000

I must say that I really don’t know how to feel about this. On one hand I feel as if there were many other ways he could have helped animals, and therefore his dedication and potential have gone to waste. On the other hand I completely understand his frustration and “madness”. How many of us at some point have felt completely hopeless and wanted to die? I’ve certainly “cracked” a few times, usually after seeing or reading about something absolutely horrendous. It’s hard to contain yourself and manage stress when you care about animals as much as we do. Moreover, I do think that there is a place for self immolation. I just don’t think this turned out to be one of them, judging from the media’s coverage. It’s fairly hit or miss. Usually cases of self immolation go unnoticed, and the few sources that do cover it tend to write the people of as “mentally ill” rather than passionate.

We also must consider that he may have never intended to die. The cop admitted to spraying him with pepper spray, which undoubtedly made the situation worse. I would like to know if he was wearing flame retardant clothes. Or perhaps he thought that once he got in the fur store, people would throw coats on him to extinguish the fire. I don’t know. Hopefully, more details come out.