Jonestown

The other night, I watched CNN Presents Escape from Jonestown. Even if the tragedy happened thirty years ago I shivered with all the details recounted and retold in the show. The images were disturbing, the story was haunting. I went to bed with Jonestown in my mind. Glad it was not in my dreams.

I was thinking of this man, Jim Jones, who was naturally gifted to have such charisma to attract followers of that magnitutde. I know most politicians possess such charisma. That inclination to influence others, to inspire, and to persuade. Some people with that gift use it for good, some use if for evil. Jim Jones used it to build a cult and what a tragic way it ended was more of like a success to him.

I looked at my own daughter and thought of the three hundred children who were killed at Jonestown. Their mothers were blinded by their faith that they killed their own children. And then I thought of the year 1978, I thought could be one of those children. If by some twist of fate, I could have been part of Jonestown.

I want to erase the image of Jonestown in my mind. And somehow, I even wish I did not see the show at all.