Posted on 11/10/2004 7:57:43 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Iris Chang, whose haunting childhood memories of oral stories about the rape and slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians at the hands of Japanese soldiers compelled her to write an acclaimed book about the atrocity, was found dead Tuesday from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Chang apparently drove down a road south of Los Gatos and shot herself to death in her car.
Santa Clara County Deputy Terrance Helm said a motorist driving Tuesday morning on Highway 17 south of The Cats restaurant in unincorporated Los Gatos and noticed a car a short distance down a private water district road. He pulled over to check on the vehicle and called 911 when he realized what had happened.
Helm said investigators concluded Chang had shot herself with a single-shot to the head, and that there was ``other evidence'' to support that conclusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
This is horrible news.
I wonder if dealing with all of the trauma associated with her research did anything to push her over the edge? I imgagine it took years for her to write the book, and all that time spent on such horrific events had to have taken it's toll...
Sad. Condolences to family and friends.
I stand corrected. A little grisly searching yielded the following forensic investigation site:
http://www.dmmoyle.com/simeans.htm
I am praying for your soul, Ms. Chang, and thank you for what you were able to do in your too short lifetime.
I once worked with a woman who shot herself to death using a rifle or shotgun (I know almost nothing about guns, so I don't know for sure what kind it was). She used her big toe to pull the trigger. She was an embezzler and found out that the company knew what she was doing. Rather than face the consequences of her actions she committed suicide leaving behind two teenage children and two toddlers. Everyone was completely shocked both by the embezzlement and the suicide.
She was excorated and reviled by the Japanese community, and by many in academia for her exposure of these atrocities; they did not want to ever lose the image of the Japanese as "innocent" victims of atomic attack at the hands of Evil Americans. The constant harrassment from those who hated her "politically incorrect" account of history must have been draining - just read some of the reviews online, and you will understand what may have contributed to her untimely death.
The Left is an equal-opportunity hater.
She was excorated and reviled by the Japanese community, and by many in academia for her exposure of these atrocities; they did not want to ever lose the image of the Japanese as "innocent" victims of atomic attack at the hands of Evil Americans. The constant harrassment from those who hated her "politically incorrect" account of history must have been draining - just read some of the reviews online, and you will understand what may have contributed to her untimely death.
The Left is an equal-opportunity hater.
She was excorated and reviled by the Japanese community, and by many in academia for her exposure of these atrocities; they did not want to ever lose the image of the Japanese as "innocent" victims of atomic attack at the hands of Evil Americans. The constant harrassment from those who hated her "politically incorrect" account of history must have been draining - just read some of the reviews online, and you will understand what may have contributed to her untimely death.
The Left is an equal-opportunity hater.
Often mis-diagnosed by pill-pushing shrinks, as depression.
Ironically, some anti-depressants (in low dose) can help a patient with IBS (irritated bowel syndrome), but a failure to get a full physical exam, especially after exposure to the jungle or tropics, including some G.I. tests, can leave a person somewhat adrift for years, and messing up their minds with other than low dose anti-depressants, can cause havoc.
May God have Mercy on her soul and may she rest in peace.
RIP
What a sad thing... my prayers go out for her soul and the comfort of her friends and family..
I too am sorry. It was a compelling book. Such a waste of young life.
I agree. I've always heard that men prefer violent means and women use "softer" means of suicide.
The other thing I find strange is a passerby checking on why a car is parked on a private road. Why would a person just go walking up to it? I'd alert the police and let them check. Strange story.
Yow! I stand corrected and, well, morbidly fascinated.
Wow. Had to read that as a sophomore in HS, and was floored by it. RIP.
Haven't I read that women don't do suicide with guns, but with poison?
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