During the presidential campaign many conservative pundits spoke about people “drinking the Democrat Kool-Aid.” (And perhaps there were pundits talking about Republican Kool-Aid, I just didn’t witness it.) So, it’s eerily apropos that the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre is only eleven days away. As I watched the pundits talking about the Kool-Aid, I wondered if young voters even understood the reference, that drinking everyone’s favorite childhood drink somehow meant blindly following the party line even unto death. And now, thanks to MSNBC’s documentary “Witness to Jonestown,” they will.
Viewers will be introduced to Jim Jones, the charismatic and psychotic leader of The People’s Temple, the cult he founded and the shorthand name given to the town the group built in western Guyana. They will learn about the 900 people forced to drink cyanide-laced fruit punch and the only U.S. congressman to lose his life in the line of duty. They will learn the horrific implications of “drinking Kool-Aid.”
Having lost two reporters of their own to tragedy, NBC has a unique relationship with the story and will present exclusive, rarely-seen footage that was shot inside The Peoples Temple on the eve and day of the disaster. Not only will viewers be introduced to many survivors and relatives affected by the massacre, but NBC’s own Fred Francis and The Washington Post’s Charles Krause will share their remembrances as the first television and print journalists to arrive on scene amid the aftermath.
“Witness to Jonestown” airs Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.
posted November 7, 2008 at 4:42 pm
The kool-aid of Jonestown brought death.
Obama kool-aid brings life.(well maybe death to Bush Republican politics)
posted November 7, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I remember Jonestown very well. I had friends involved in the documentation of the tragedy and they were greatly affected by it. In holding them up, I was touched by the horror of it all. Cults are a very hard thing to understand, so powerful from within and yet from the outside can be seen for their lies. And then comes the “line” that is crossed when a religion or “way of life” turns into a a CULT. Where exactly is that?
I too noticed the report that were hinting that Obama has some of the Charismatic leadership qualities of cult leaders and wondering how much faith I should put into them. Obama is our next President and I pray for him and our nation as we move forward, may we remember our past and build our future for the good of us all.
posted November 9, 2008 at 11:03 am
What is an organized Religion but a cult that has grown large enough to command respect and legitimization among even the non-believers?
On a side note; the drink served at Jonestown was Flavour Aid, not Kool-Aid. That is a common misconception, and one I’m sure the Kool-Aid people wish more people knew. ;P
But to be on topic;
Yes, I understood the reference. I found it as juvenile today as when I was in Jr. High and kids would parrot it glibly while considering themselves quite clever. Kind of like Republicans last month.
Just more tired old phrases from a tired old government. Should I even pretend to be surprised, gosh darn it?
posted November 10, 2008 at 2:39 pm
As a college student in 1978, I too remember with great sadness, this horrific event. Because of those memories, I find those who use any form of the expression, “drinking the kool-aid” REPULSIVE. It both dehumanizes those whose lives were lost that day and insults anyone who supported one candidate over the other in this election.
While watching Witness to Jonestown, I was able to revisit the professional, unbiased journalism of the past. Many of the media trying to fairly and accurately report this story, lost their lives that day. With few exceptions, it shines a dirty spotlight on today’s shoddy news venues. In the months leading up to November 4th, I found myself exhausted from the array of partisan pundits who found it necessary to spew terms like “drinking the kool-aid” – and, yes it was from both sides of the aisle. I think I speak for many when I say, I don’t care about being a democrat or a republican. I care about being an American – and I’m lucky I suppose, to have the same rights that also allow these disingenuous, fifteen-minuters a platform that encourages divisiveness.
posted November 11, 2008 at 2:35 am
I don’t know exactly where Rebecca gets this notion about “professional, unbiased journalism of the past.” Because that was the furthest thing from the behavior of our journalistic community in California in the five years preceding 1977, the year when they finally did their too-little-too-late “charge to the rescue” coverage of the corrupt, brutal, and very dangerous Rev. Jim Jones.
Opportunistic glory hounds like Tim Reiterman and Marshall Kilduff like to lay claim to be the first to go after the People’s Temple. They are out-and-out liars.
Last Sunday’s “Witness To Jonestown” has proven, with all its deliberate ommissions of fact, that the producers at MSNBC are right up Reiterman and Kilduff’s gutter alley.
Deplorable.
posted November 15, 2008 at 12:12 am
Religious Cults exist today as they did 30 years ago! They still thrive and are protected by the Bill of Rights!
Why is it that the Evangelical Christian Fundamentalist does NOT boldly target religious CULTS as much as they target Gay and Lesbians?
The Christian Church would pour millions of dollars and vociferously fight out against gay and lesbians but shy away from Religious Cults that would use the BIBLE to preach their Lies. This is real sacriledge but the Christian Church ignores it!
Sometimes I wonder if the Church is drinking the Koolaid!