Today is the 40th anniversary of the Jonestown murder-suicides.<\/p>\n
This horror will always be relevant because it’s such an extreme version of such a normal, acceptable thing — following a charismatic leader straight into hell.<\/p>\n
It’s also relevant because of the role Jim Jones, a socialist and a power broker, played in changing San Francisco politics in the years just before the move to Guyana. Records have conveniently been “lost” that would fully reveal the corrupting role of Jones and The People’s Temple in making SF the left-wing factionalist place it became. But nobody can “lose” the words and pictures of the rising politicians who were proud to be seen in Jones’ company … until they weren’t.<\/p>\n
There are good books out there about the tragedy. There are websites dedicated to the stories of Jonestown victims and survivors. You can even listen to a tape of the massacre on YouTube — which I won’t link to.<\/p>\n
We can believe we’re too savvy to fall for what those deluded souls fell for. But even if our high opinions of our own smarts are true, we still have to watch our family members, friends, and neighbors being swept up in cults, religious, secular, and governmental. <\/p>\n
To heaven knows what end.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
Anyhow, here are some good links for today.<\/p>\n
Jackie Speier, now a congresswoman, came to Jonestown as an aide to her crusading boss, crusading California congressman Leo Ryan. She was shot five times<\/a> by Jones loyalists.<\/p>\n And here’s the story of a handful who fled into the jungle<\/a> to avoid drinking the Flavor-Aid.<\/p>\n Jim Jones’ surviving sons have struggled as much as anybody<\/a> due to their strange status of blame and privilege.<\/p>\n