THE MORPHING OF PEOPLES TEMPLE SURVIVORS
THE MORPHING OF PEOPLES TEMPLE SURVIVORS As always when I write, I represent only my own opinion about things I see and reflect on. Some of what I say may not match your perspective – as fellow survivors or close friends. We survivors and family members just held the 35th anniversary gatherings of the calamity of Jonestown. Each year, the actual dynamics of the events on the anniversary vary widely, depending on who shows up to our community dinner and to the cemetery. The tone of the gathering really depends on those who are in the room ...
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This article was posted in the YPC Spartan school newspaper about my visit to York College of PA on October 21, 2013. Jonestown Survivor Laura Johnston Kohl Visits York College of Pennsylvania By Melanie King November 18th, 1978 is a day that drastically changed Laura Johnston Kohl’s life; on that day, she and several others became survivors. Kohl was a guest speaker on the York College of Pennsylvania campus on October 24th, 2013. She talked about her life and her time with the Peoples Temple. Kohl’s life started in Washington, DC with a mother who was involved in politics and believed that we ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR SEES A BLURRED LINE
I am a teacher, so much of the year, I am preparing future lessons, correcting work from past lessons, or just consumed by the experience. I've had about ten days off from that, while waiting to teach summer school in a few days. I have been immersed in Peoples Temple. We have a private "survivors only" Peoples Temple facebook page, and the memories of the details of the last days of Peoples Temple are harrowing. Along with following these conversations, and adding a person's name here and there, I'm also setting up my own book talks ...
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Transition of Leadership in Peoples Temple, the Branch Davidians, and Synanon by Laura Johnston Kohl I presented this paper to the Communal Studies Association Conference in Old Economy, Butler County, PA, on October 4, 2013. There are regulations and procedures for transitions of leadership in businesses, the military, politics, and mainstream churches. They existed as well – if in separate and distinctive ways – in three groups which are the subject of this paper. The “Transition of Leadership” in Peoples Temple, the Branch Davidians, and Synanon each developed uniquely. Jim Jones was the first leader of his own church, and – from ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR Going on the Road
Dear Colleagues: I am one of the 87 Jonestown survivors. I have written my memoir and, along with teaching bilingual education, I travel around the country speaking at many universities and in other venues. In the past six months, I have addressed classes at Western Washington University, University of Puget Sound, Fresno Pacific University and in many libraries and other settings. I have presented in English, and, in Mexico City, in Spanish. I speak in New Religion, history, sociology, writing, and psychology classes. I am a survivor, a writer, a public speaker, a Board member of the Communal ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR goes to Jury Duty
This week, this last week of September, I finished up jury duty for the San Diego Superior Court. It was really fascinating. It made me feel proud being part of this legal process. Last week, on Thursday, I was invited to appear at Jury Duty in downtown San Diego. I live about an hour away, during rush hour. I had the choice of appearing at a closer venue, in Vista, but opted for the express bus and downtown. After all, I am NEVER selected. For the past twenty years, I have been repeatedly asked to show up for Jury Duty, but ...
» continue readingOCTOBER 2013 EVENTS FOR JONESTOWN SURVIVOR
In September, I finished a column on “High Risk, High Reward” for FLAUNT MAGAZINE, published in Los Angeles. It will be published and available in October. I explain the relevance of “High Risk and High Reward” in both Peoples Temple and Synanon. October 3-5 – I will present a Scholarly Paper at the Communal Studies Association Conference in Historic ...Harmony, Butler County, PA and in Old Harmony Village, Beaver County, PA. The paper is “Transitions in Leadership” and will present a study of Leadership in Peoples Temple, Synanon, and several other communities. I am a member of the Board of Directors ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR on the Move!
This year is the 35th anniversary of the events in Jonestown. I would like to schedule JONESTOWN SURVIVOR: An Insider’s Look book events for the upcoming year. I have had a busy twelve months! Besides teaching full time, I have traveled around the country to many universities, libraries, and other venues doing presentations. I spoke about history, religion, psychology of groups, sociology, human and civil rights, overcoming trauma, Peoples Temple, and Synanon. In June, I traveled to Mexico City and did several book presentations in both English and Spanish. I also joined the Board of Directors ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR NOTES PEOPLES TEMPLE LEGACY
A FURTHER LEGACY OF PEOPLES TEMPLE The 35th anniversary of the deaths in Guyana is this November 18, 2013. Many of us continue to be haunted by that day. We survivors have each found our own way to memorialize the event, and certainly those lives lost. My own way, for these last fifteen years, is to discuss it and reflect on it. Sometimes, I speak publicly about my involvement in Peoples Temple. Sometimes, I do it with fellow survivors, sometimes I do it with chosen friends. Since I first was able to raise my head ...
» continue readingJONESTOWN SURVIVOR KINDLE News
I just checked my Kindle news for JONESTOWN SURVIVOR: An Insider's Look. Take a look! Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,264 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Social Scientists & Psychologists #23 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Social Scientists & Psychologists
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