Most would agree that it
was a devastating event in November of 1978, when 918 people died after committing
mass suicide by drinking poisoned grape flavored Flavor-Aid. Unfortunately most of you who feel that it
was a tragedy, yet remain oblivious to the fact that our entire modern
civilization is not that much different.
One difference is that Jim Jones came right out and told his group that
they were going to die, whereas our society deludes us into believing that we
will not only survive, we will be better off. Another difference is that Jim Jones convinced
several hundred people to kill themselves, while our modern civilization has
already claimed millions of innocent lives, and given enough time will claim
BILLIONS more. I am sure there are many
of you who are questioning my logic regarding this issue. I just ask that you bear with me and hear me
out.
Let's look at some of the similarities:
1)
Jim Jones convinced his followers that he
had an ideal solution for a utopian way of life that would benefit the common
good.
The ruling power in the U.S. has
convinced the American people that "Democracy" is the ideal way of life, and
even goes so far as to force it upon other nations.
2)
The utopian dream that was promised by
Jones, failed to deliver. Living
conditions were highly regulated and cramped.
People were forced to work long hard days in the heat under the pretext
that it was for the common good. Anyone
who had any idea of questioning this way of life and contemplated leaving were
met with armed guards around the compound.
The "American Dream" has also failed
to deliver (unless you happen to be part of the ruling class). Everything in life has become regulated by
some branch of government. Living
conditions for millions are sub-standard, and for millions this even means
living on the street. Practically the
entire population has been reduced to working long hours, in meaningless jobs,
for very little pay, in order to afford to live. Those who question the system, or try to
propose any other way of life, are chastised and ostracized, and in many cases
even intimidated, abused, beaten, oppressed, and/or detained by armed guards
(police, FBI, NSA, Homeland Security).
Furthermore, it has even reached the point that to simply leave on
holiday to a foreign land; one must endure the TSA's groping, degradation, nude
scanners, and more.
3)
Jim Jones would inundate his followers with
a steady stream of his rhetoric and propaganda all day, and even into the
night.
Our society uses the media to pummel
its citizens with a constant stream of rhetoric and propaganda 24/7.
4)
The community began to crumble, after several of Jones' followers
brutally murdered Congressman Leo Ryan (Representative from San Mateo, CA) and
fellow members who were trying to escape with Ryan's assistance. Then in order to coerce his followers into
participating, Jim Jones began to use fear mongering by telling his followers that
"W hen they start parachuting out of the air, they'll shoot
some of our innocent babies," and "If these people land out here,
they'll torture some of our children here. They'll torture our people, they'll
torture our seniors. We cannot have this."
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