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 revolted had all the media they where following told them there is nothing to get worked up over.
And yet you imply that Tunisians are mainly following Western media? Your argument might make sense if it specified Al Jazeera instead, which the Arab world indeed follows and which is indeed foreign media to Tunisia (it's Qatar-based) -- but if you consider Greece non-foreign to America, even though Greece and America have different religions, different languages, even different alphabets... you probably don't consider Qatar foreign to Tunisia (both Sunni Muslim-majority nations that speak Arabic).
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 .