The story of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple provides a telling example of the corrupting tendencies of charismatic power.
Today, when a driver as stupid as G.W. Bush says we must stay the course, it's time for even the most gullible to jump off his crazy bus before it goes careening over a cliff. Let the driver proceed on his own with a handful of fanatical followers.
In the case of Jones, the end came in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978, with revolutionary suicide -- of course, many of his 900+ followers on hand died against their will, having no idea things would end so badly.
Jonestown: The Life and Death of the Peoples Temple (2006) examines the arc of the religious organization, which initially embraced civil rights and equality. This documentary was made by Stanley Nelson (director) and Marcia Smith (writer), who also collaborated on The Murder of Emmett Till (2003) and Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind (2001). Initially screened at the Tribecca Film Festival on April 25, 2006, it will begin wider release on October 20, 2006. Apparently, there will also be a DVD release that will include a lot of extras, including more archival footage and interviews.
Hopefully, Jonestown will inspire HBO to show Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980), followed by its DVD release. The Deadwood connnection (Powers Boothe, Brad Dourif) makes the time ripe.
There is also a bizarre version of the story: Brian Silliman's and Larry Lees' Jonestown: The Musical (2004). Lees went to the same high school as Jeffrey Eugenides (The Virgin Suicides, Middlesex) in Metro Detroit. Must be something in the water. Or the Flavor Aid.
Today's Rune: Initiation.Tot ziens!
6 comments:
Whenever I hear "stay the course" it reminds me of Jennifer Granholm (did I spell her name right?) I don't like her... I never did like her... and I didn't vote for her. She is making it more difficult for me to go to college... among other things she's doing that I don't agree with. Nice post today Erik
Do you really love Jim? I mean reallY? I'm a little scared . . .
I'm glad that I have a difficult time following directions. I'll usually asks questions first. "Now explain it again. Why are we drinking this Flavor Aid?"
As to Sheila's Granholm comment: Sheila, I'm disappointed, deeply, deeply disappointed.
I disn't know anything about JJ, but on wikipedia:
"He claimed to be an incarnation of Jesus, Akhenaten, Buddha, Lenin, and Father Divine."
How could anyone believe him- charismatic or not? Will have to see the movie. Curiosity piqued.
You got Georgie pegged wrong, man. He's on the Electric Koolaid Acid Trip.
Thanks all, for the comments! Rrachid, you doubt his veracity? Father Divine was the Man in Philadelphia (they even lived at the same time, so that's a truly neat trick of co-incarnation).
Setting Jim aside, how could anyone have ever believed "Georgie"? He's not even charismatic. . . . . He thinks he's touched by God, too. He's "touched," all right.
God save the Queen and all that. Cheers, all!
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