Jim Jones

[Shakey]

I started this because I didn't want Bob's Marty Haggard concert thread to get even farther off track, no thanks to me.   

Anyways, there was a very interesting show on PBS a few weeks back about Jim Jones and his followers.  Believe it or not, Jim started out as a very good & kind man and unfortunately, got very mixed up along the way.  Did you know, that way back in the '50's or '60's he and his wife were the first white family in IN to adopt a black child into their home.  Of course this didn't sit well with the townsfolk and despite trying very hard to help the young man fit in, it just wasn't working.  At the same time, he was just starting to preach and it wasn't long after that that he and his followers ended up on a cross country tour gathering more followers as they went.  He was very political by the time they made it to San Francisco and they had shown photos of him with numerous politicians from that era.  His group was very diverse and were called upon by other groups when holding rallies or protests as they help make the general protest look much larger.

When they headed to Guyana, they really did have it made.  They had built this small town in the middle of the jungle and everything seemed to be fine.  However, not everyone was happy and that's when things started getting bad.

Very sad situation indeed.  I was about 9 when it took place and recall being kinda freaked out at the whole deal.

If you ever get the chance check out the show on PBS if it comes on television again.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones

[41husk]

Yes, I remember the incident it was very sad indeed!

[bull]

The History Channel had a blurb on him and some other suicidal cult groups recently.

[SirNik73]

My Uncle lived in Redwood Valley. It's a small town north of San Francisco by about 3 hours, near Ukiah. Redwood Valley is where Jim Jones had his cult before the big move to South America. My uncle has lots of stories about doing business with the "Jonesy's" as he called them. He said they were very odd, yet nice people. Redwood Valley is in the middle of the redwoods in northern California, and according to my uncle, Jim Jones picked the area to set up his operation because it was far enough away from any major city that it would survive any nuclear attack. Parts of his beliefs were that his people would help rebuild the world after the nuclear war... and I suppose when the war never came that's when he decided to leave the country.

I grew up 45 min from my uncles. It was very odd learning about Jim Jones, and then learning that i was living in the middle of the story.

[Bob]

That is so sad. I remember those awefull pictures.

[CharlieCharger]

I watched that on pbs the night it aired it was a good program..especially the taped rantings when it was all about to end..Makes you wonder how people are so sick.

[2Gunz]

Has the look of a wannabe rockstar.

[Charger_Fan]

I find it continually amazing how people will follow the ideas of someone like that.

[Orange_Crush]

I find it continually amazing how people will follow the ideas of someone like that.

Ever heard of the Westboro Baptist church and "Reverend" Fred Phelps?

David Koresh?

Marshall Applewhite?

The Church or Scientology?

[Charger_Fan]

I find it continually amazing how people will follow the ideas of someone like that.

Ever heard of the Westboro Baptist church and "Reverend" Fred Phelps?

David Koresh?

Marshall Applewhite?

The Church or Scientology?

Yep & that's why I'm continually amazed. You'd think that after enough of these freak shows are exposed, people would wise up, but nooo.

[red72chrgr]

I find it continually amazing how people will follow the ideas of someone like that.

Ever heard of the Westboro Baptist church and "Reverend" Fred Phelps?

David Koresh?

Marshall Applewhite?

The Church or Scientology?

Yep & that's why I'm continually amazed. You'd think that after enough of these freak shows are exposed, people would wise up, but nooo.

Actually it's not that hard to understand or wonder why. People have gone from being independent thinkers to sheeple. They will follow anyone who can show them the so-called easy way. Those that are true independent thinkers and speak their minds are branded "crazies". These "leaders" are just very good con men and women who want to get everything for free.

[73dodge]

I find it continually amazing how people will follow the ideas of someone like that.

Ever heard of the Westboro Baptist church and "Reverend" Fred Phelps?

[/quote

Fred Phelps "church" only has his family as members they have like 20 people as members.

He just gets press because he's a nut and attends the funerals of dead soldiers.