<p>So interesting, and so very sad. I can’t believe that it’s been 30 years.</p>
<p>Interesting timing. Just a few days ago I was explaining to my son the origin of the phrase, “Drinking the Obama Kool-aid.”</p>
<p>I’m 19, and I’d never heard of it before. I googled it a few days ago. Pretty terrifying stuff.</p>
<p>I tried to watch. Just couldn’t.</p>
<p>My S had never heard of this until last year, when I suggested he write about it for a senior English paper. In researching it, he said, “Uh, mom. You know that guy that was in charge of that cult? Well, he graduated from Butler.” My son had just applied to Butler Univ. in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>Didn’t know that Jim Jones was a Butler grad. Not mentioned in their “famous alumni” page of the school’s glossy brochure, I’m sure.</p>
<p>JOnestown was unbelievable…and yet it happened. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years.</p>
<p>I meant to watch it and missed it! I wonder if I can see it online. Frightening stuff and well worth remembering.</p>
<p>NMR, CNN is showing it again on Saturday and Sunday at 8, if I’m not mistaken.</p>
<p>No, I’m not going to watch it.</p>
<p>My H was editing at a major newspaper that night and was one of the first people to hear about it. He even accidentally informed the D of the shot congressman about her father. H called her to get a quote, and learned that she hadn’t heard before about her father. I also know a photographer and reporter who went there to do the follow-up stories.</p>
<p>I’ve heard too much about those horrors to want to see a documentary on it.</p>
<p>I am bringing this back up because I just saw a very interesting piece on ESPN. Anyone else see it?
Apparently Jim Jones had an adopted son who was on the Jonestown basketball team (I am not making this up - I know it sounds ridiculous) and missed the tragedy because he was playing an away game that day. Well, Jim Jones Jr had a bad case of survivor’s guilt and shunned basketball for years, blaming the sport for keeping him away from the tragedy. He returned to bball when his own son got involved in the sport, and his son is currently playing for U of San Diego.</p>
<p>I saw one of the re-runs of this special. MSNBC had a special on it too - the numbers are mind boggling. One piece that everyone should see is the NGEO doc on the KKK. Very scary stuff there too.</p>
<p>I saw the documentary on it. Today is the thirtieth anniversary and it was very sad that so many well-meaning people were lured into this cult.<br>
Many feel that they would never be the type to get deep into such cults, but the cults masquerade as a religion of salvation or basically something that is too good to be true. </p>
<p>This infamous event occurred exactly ten years before my birth date. What a horrifying coincidence. O_O</p>
<p>I remember this vividly - I was in college at the time. it was horrifying. Cults were big at the time - even on the East Coast and even in New England. Many parents were very fearful of their child being caught up in a cult.
A kid I went to high school with joined a cult, my parents knew his well. His parents were just devastated. He had zero contact with his family for about 5 years.
My mother talked with me and my brothers often about this and cults and how they suck people in. I don’t ever remember her telling me not to smoke pot or drink beer but joining a cult was a big no no.
Anyway - after this happened it really hit home - this was what she was talking about. It was very creepy and had a lasting impression on me.
I have never felt the need to talk about cults with my own kids though I have warned them about smoking pot and drinking beer.</p>