I just read and saw interviews of one of the most horrific events of our history. The story of ordinary people with ideals and trust betrayed by the person that they saw as a father, friend, shepherd... Jim Jones. I was less than a year old when the catastrophic event took place in Guyana and, so, this is honestly the first I heard of it. However, it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking and devastating to learn and read about.I have taken time over the years to read and learn about cults and the behaviors of mass reaction. How people behave and respond once they have found someone that agrees and promotes their ideals. There is a trust that is made and then once you are in a large group of equally trusting and idyllic people ... they become family. Everyone searching for the right answer and feeling that they are doing the right thing.... until they stand on the outside and listen to the little voice inside that begins showing all the red flags that are hard to see in the midst of it all. The interesting part is that when you look at the individuals ... when you listen to their stories... you see the humanity not mindless robots that do what they are programed to do. No... you see their heartbreak, their fear, their loss of idealism and hope... all of the things that they thought they found. They truly believe in the big picture of what is happening and maybe overlook or justify the questionable things because the big picture is good and selfless and true to what they are seeking... HOPE.
As I watched some of the video coverage of the Legacy of Jonestown I was literally crying for the ones that survived. Over 900 people that they loved and grew up with died due to one man's fear, control, and most likely... illness. Power can do very strange things to people when it is not kept in check and questioned. The people believed very important things during a time where the Vietnam war had ended and the ideals of our country had began to be questioned. They cared about taking care of people and equality. They cared about hope and new beginnings. They gave people second chances when there seemed like there were no longer options available. It was a socialist mindset and quite honestly there is NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. It is not the ideals of socialism that is wrong it is how it is not kept with balance and in check. The problem also is that there will never be a utopia here on earth ... having said that we are all called "to treat and do to others what you would want as treatment and done to you." (The Golden Rule) It is in the core of who we are... how we are created. That is what you see in the eyes of the survivors. Their hearts are stunned and broken into pieces in disbelief. Their ideals dishonored and all of their good works tainted. They were ordinary people, intelligent, and simply wanted a better life than what they were seeing around them.
My heart ached as I kept reading and watching the coverage. I read about where they are today. Some have gone on to do wonderful things. They still suffer but they have found healing and forgiveness. Those are very important if you want to do more than just survive... if you want to live. Most people know where I stand in my own belief and life. I have no compromise in it. I ask a lot of questions and I trust my gut when something feels a little "to good", but I know that i am far from perfect. It is easy for us on the outside to come to conclusion about those caught in the grasp of unhealthy groups but if we can remember that they are ordinary people I think it will help us to hurt for them in such a time as this.
30 years ago over 900 babies, children, mothers, fathers, sisters,and brothers died in a "revolutionary"/murder suicide, NBC lost amazing reporter (Harris) and camera man (Brown), San Fransisco Examiner lost a photographer (Robinson), our country lost a Congressman assassinated in the line of duty Leo Ryan (first one).... We have been losing people for a long time in wars, disease, cancer, abortions, and cults.... let's remember that some do survive/escape and take care of those around us just as much as we like to take care of overseas.
My prayer is that we look inside ourselves and look at our "checks and balances" before we pass conclusions and judgements. That we will care about those around us and in our communities, that we question every once and a while when things are a little "to good", and that those of us who follow Jesus Christ and believe in God ... that we will take care of the least of these and be His hands and feet.
May you all be blessed in the life that you live and know that you are treasured.
(Photo: Jonestown by Liv Irene on flickr...if you have not heard of this Nov.18,1978 story please stop by: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27743208/ and read the whole story plus the video launches there.)
