But he probably sparked even less of a change in how foreigners think of America. The fact that nobody over here (in Greece) heard of this American man -- what does it suggest to you about the veracity of your claim that foreigners' opinions are the only valid reason for a self-immolation?
I didn't say that such protest always sparks interest abroad, only that when it does its far more likley to receive sympathetic coverage than when it sparks interest at home.
But you do have a point. Perhaps Greece isn't really foreign? It probably has family court practices not that different in their basic premsies. A criticism of say American principles is a also a criticism of Greek family court practices. Also Greek media probably take their ques from major respectable Western sources on what to emphasise, at least the media in my country do. Western media share a pretty uniform outlook when it comes to institutional criticism compared to kinds of instiutional criticism that say Iranian or Chinese media would emphasise.
Or maybe Greeks have far more pressing issues dominating the media landscape at this point?
But that's not the position you took in your post. You stated instead "Only selfimmolate if you care about what foreigners think" -- clearly indicating that you believe self-immolation has more of an effect of foreign opinion than on local opinion.
That's a far different and far stronger claim than "most self-immolations don't lead to revolutions".
When it has effected change in the past this has been true.
Are you positing that the Tunisians had their revolution primarily because they cared what western media would think of Tunisia? Is this the claim you're making?
Tunisians would have not revolted had all the media they where following told them there is nothing to get worked up over.
Perhaps Greece isn't really foreign?
It's your theory, what does "foreign" mean in your theory? Right now you seem to me to be fudging the evidence so that they fit into your theory, instead of letting the evidence verify or reject the theory.
A criticism of say American principles is a also a criticism of Greek family court practices.
So is your theory now that it's not about whether something is near or far, local or foreign, but rather about the specific principles attacked or supported by said self-immolation?
...Tunisians would have not
Someone self immolates and explicitly states it is a form of political protest in Megdad. What a crazy regime!
Someone self immolates and explicitly states it is a form of political protest in Hometown. What a crazy person!
Edit: What -5 already? What is giving an example of how people never take the outside view of their own society that bad a topic for the discussion section? Also disclaimer both Hometown State and Megdadistan Republic are fictional countries and no actual examples where given, to avoid mind killers.
2nd Edit: Wow I really need to spell this out? The media of Hometown are more likley to treat an immolation in Megdad as due to a legitimate grievance worthy of attention and down play any mental health problems or details that might paint the person in an unflattering light compared to someone who self-immolates in Hometown. And I think this effect is mostly not due to government enforced censorship or pressure.
Noble act of defiant self-sacrifice is far. Suicidal crazies are near.
The only way to get good coverage to acheive social change is to count on foreign media to paint a kind picture of you. And supposing your people care about what the media of Megdad say about your country.
3rd Edit: -15 Pretty clear that I'm wrong .