I was just reading in the paper that this is the 30th anniversary of the mass suicide/murder at Jonestown. This was also the first time a Congressman was killed in the line of duty.
It never ceases to amaze/freak me out how folks can go to that extreme. If someone said to me well things are AFU time for everyone to take a dirt nap...
You can just imagine the horror of that day. Just really blows me away.

The whole Jonestown affair reminds me so much of this year's Presidential Election...a charasmatic personality, fawning followers, kool aid...

quote:

Originally posted by Kegler300:
The whole Jonestown affair reminds me so much of this year's Presidential Election...a charasmatic personality, fawning followers, kool aid...

Could not have said that better myself.

quote:

The whole Jonestown affair reminds me so much of this year's Presidential Election...a charasmatic personality, fawning followers, kool aid...

"Revolutionary Suicide"

On November 18, 1978, 909 Temple members died in Jonestown, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning in an event termed "revolutionary suicide" by Jones and some members on an audio tape of the event and in prior discussions. To the extent the actions in Jonestown were viewed as a mass suicide, it is the largest such event in modern history. The incident at Jonestown was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the events of September 11, 2001.

AWildEagle26
Semper Fidelis

quote:

Originally posted by AWildEagle26:
The incident at Jonestown was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the events of September 11, 2001.

False.

The 1904 General Slocum disaster in New York's East River claimed 1,021 lives.

"http://www.newyorkhistory.info/Hell-Gate/General-Slocum.html"

Still though, the Jonestown incident was certainly tragic... And is yet another example of just how far religious zealots are willing to go to prove their points. It's definitely sad.

If anyone hasn't seen any of the History Channel specials on Jonestown, I'd certainly recommend them... Especially if you're not sure how exactly the events transpired.

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:
I was just reading in the paper that this is the 30th anniversary of the mass suicide/murder at Jonestown. This was also the first time a Congressman was killed in the line of duty.
It never ceases to amaze/freak me out how folks can go to that extreme. If someone said to me well things are AFU time for everyone to take a dirt nap...
You can just imagine the horror of that day. Just really blows me away.

A cult where a whole bunch of people get so excited about a Messiah figure that they are willing to commit mass suicide for him!?!?

Seems like America is in the process of trying to repeat that one - -

quote:

Originally posted by joshuacarnes:

quote:

Originally posted by AWildEagle26:
The incident at Jonestown was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the events of September 11, 2001.

False.



The 1904 General Slocum disaster in New York's East River claimed 1,021 lives.

"http://www.newyorkhistory.info/Hell-Gate/General-Slocum.html"

Still though, the Jonestown incident was certainly tragic... And is yet another example of just how far religious zealots are willing to go to prove their points. It's definitely sad.

If anyone hasn't seen any of the History Channel specials on Jonestown, I'd certainly recommend them... Especially if you're not sure how exactly the events transpired.

Let's not forget the Sultana tragedy. 1500 Union soldiers (alot of whom survived Andersonville prison) perished on the Mississippi when the Sultana caught fire and sank in 1865.....More than perished on the R.M.S. Titanic.......

Duane A. Brinson Lahaina, Hi.
U.S.M.C. 1985-1989

Well gee, let's throw in the Indian Removal Act the caused the Trail of Tears when uncounted thousands or American Indians died of exposure and hunger while being driven west during the winter of 1838 by Andrew Jackson's army, so that Jacksonian Democrats could have their land - -

quote:

Originally posted by Proudformermarine:
Let's not forget the Sultana tragedy. 1500 Union soldiers (alot of whom survived Andersonville prison) perished on the Mississippi when the Sultana caught fire and sank in 1865.....More than perished on the R.M.S. Titanic.......

I knew about the Sultana disaster... But the stat specifically cited civilian casualties, so I moved on down the line.

Either way, they're all horrible tragedies.

And seriously... Anyone trying to liken Jim Jones to Pres-Elect Obama is mentally deranged. The only people who have labeled him as a "messiah figure" have been the conservatives... And it's not as though you people weren't looking at McCain in the same light anyway. Get real.

quote:

The only people who have labeled him as a "messiah figure" have been the conservatives... And it's not as though you people weren't looking at McCain in the same light anyway. Get real.

Oh republicans have their Messiah figures, I once was threatened for merely pointing out St. Regan's decidedly mixed record on confronting terrorism... Also, before the rose fell off the bloom "Once again, God's speaking through a Bush" was a sign you would see pop up at some of the 2000 campaign events...

They are just bitter because the demcrats managed to elect a person who is a) actually popular among the base of the party (unlike McCain) and b) appears personable and even inspiring across a wide rage of humanity (God forbid a leader have these qualities )...

That doesn't make him a "Mesiah" or people that, God forbid, actually like him members of a "cult".. The petty jealousy is getting crazy, your acting like a teenager that just got dumped before the junior prom...

So sorry, you ran a disfunctional campaign headed up by someone many of you can't stand, that's not Obama's fault...

I think the Messaih complex is just a little stronger with Obamar - -

what a hard hitting comment, and the picture of obama at church.. oooh thats just the coup' de grace isn't it...

build a bridge to somewhere, and get over it...

quote:

Originally posted by dan73:
what a hard hitting comment, and the picture of obama at church.. oooh thats just the coup' de grace isn't it...

build a bridge to somewhere, and get over it...

I see you are tuned in with the majority. Have a nice day - lemming - -

quote:

I see you are tuned in with the majority. Have a nice day - lemming - -

And I see you are tuned in with a bitter minorty who doesn't like anyone questioning your pre-determined vision of reality with anything so pesky as rational counter arguements, or counter examples;
But, why engage in a discussion when you can simply post snarky images made up by fellow travelers on the whaaaaa-mbulance???

Have a nice day, angry fruitcake...

This thread is about people blindly following a charismatic charlatan who promised them everything they wanted to hear. they followed him so blindly that they squandered all their belongings and savings for him and on him, while he used them to make himself more and more powerful over them. Finally, when he called on them to commit mass suicide for him and with him, they again did what he commanded, murdering their own children along with them - -

The Germans, the Italians, and the Japanese did exactly the same thing on a massive national level with Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo in the 20s and 30s, because their countries were under terrible economic stress, and they began looking/hoping for messiah-figures to come along and magically save them from having to deal with the realities of the world as it is! The result?? The Global Suicide of World War II, with a resulting 150 million dead - -

Now, if you can't see the potential ominous parallels to these terrible events and what is going on in America right now, then you ARE a blind moron, and deserve what may be coming!!

I NEVER run with the herd, pal - because the easiest way to hunt the herd is to run it towards a cliff - - -