Arguement on Jonestown Death as a Mass Suicide
Argument of Jonestown Death as a Mass Suicide
The Jonestown Massacre, which had a death toll of 918 people (Rosenberg, 2003), can in the main, be regarded as mass suicide or what in the words of the founder Jim Jones was termed “revolutionary suicide”. This is because all but one of temple members, Christine Miller, supported Jones’ suggestion of “revolutionary suicide” (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Jim McElvane, a former therapist, assisted Jones by arguing against Miller 's resistance to suicide, stating "Let 's make it a beautiful day". This statement was followed by applause from Temple members. In addition to Jim McElvane, several other temple members gave speeches praising Jones and his decision for the community to commit suicide (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Some instances that preceded the ugly event and suggest it as mass suicide include; i. White Nights: “revolutionary suicide” rehearsals
A Temple defector Deborah Layton recalled that after work, when purported emergencies arose, the Temple sometimes conducted what Rev. Jones referred to as "White Nights". During such events, Jones would sometimes give the Jonestown members four choices: (i) attempt to flee to the Soviet Union; (ii) commit "revolutionary suicide"; (iii) stay in Jonestown and fight the purported attackers or (iv) flee into the jungle.
On at least two occasions during White Nights, after a "revolutionary suicide" vote was reached, a simulated mass suicide was rehearsed (Layton, 1998). Deborah Layton described the event in an affidavit:
"Everyone, including the children, was told to line up. As we passed through the line, we were given a small glass of red liquid to drink. We were told that the liquid contained poison and that we would die within 45 minutes. We all did as we were told. When the time came when we should have dropped dead, Rev. Jones explained that the poison was not real and that we had just been through a loyalty test. He warned us that the time was not far off
The Jonestown Massacre, which had a death toll of 918 people (Rosenberg, 2003), can in the main, be regarded as mass suicide or what in the words of the founder Jim Jones was termed “revolutionary suicide”. This is because all but one of temple members, Christine Miller, supported Jones’ suggestion of “revolutionary suicide” (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Jim McElvane, a former therapist, assisted Jones by arguing against Miller 's resistance to suicide, stating "Let 's make it a beautiful day". This statement was followed by applause from Temple members. In addition to Jim McElvane, several other temple members gave speeches praising Jones and his decision for the community to commit suicide (Jonestown Audiotape, 1978). Some instances that preceded the ugly event and suggest it as mass suicide include; i. White Nights: “revolutionary suicide” rehearsals
A Temple defector Deborah Layton recalled that after work, when purported emergencies arose, the Temple sometimes conducted what Rev. Jones referred to as "White Nights". During such events, Jones would sometimes give the Jonestown members four choices: (i) attempt to flee to the Soviet Union; (ii) commit "revolutionary suicide"; (iii) stay in Jonestown and fight the purported attackers or (iv) flee into the jungle.
On at least two occasions during White Nights, after a "revolutionary suicide" vote was reached, a simulated mass suicide was rehearsed (Layton, 1998). Deborah Layton described the event in an affidavit:
"Everyone, including the children, was told to line up. As we passed through the line, we were given a small glass of red liquid to drink. We were told that the liquid contained poison and that we would die within 45 minutes. We all did as we were told. When the time came when we should have dropped dead, Rev. Jones explained that the poison was not real and that we had just been through a loyalty test. He warned us that the time was not far off
References: Catherine Wessinger (2000) "How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heaven 's Gate" ISBN 978-1-889119-24-3, p. 31-34. Dawson, Lorne L. (2003). Cults and new religious movements: a reader. Wiley Blackwell. pp. 194. ISBN 1-4051-0181-4. Annie Moore (1978) “Last Words from Annie Moore” Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple Layton, Deborah (1998) Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1998. ISBN 0-385-48984-6. p. 53. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Layton, Deborah (1999). Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-385-48984-6. p. xix (Krause forward) Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Marceline Jones (1978)."Letter from Marceline Jones” Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University. Pear, Richard. "State Explains Response to Cult Letters." Washington Star News. November 26, 1978. Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 485. Rosenberg Jennifer (2003) “The Jonestown Massacre” retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/1970s/p/jonestown.htm on 24th October, 2012. Tajfel, H Time Magazine, "Mass Suicide at Jonestown: 30 Years Later", 2008. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com on 24th October, 2012. Useem Bert (1998) “Breakdown Theories of Collective Action” Annual Review Sociology 1998. 24:215. Useem B. (1997). “The state and collective disorders: The Los Angeles riot/protest of April, 1992. Sociology Forces 76:357 -77