How many of you remember the 1978 “Jonestown Massacre”?
I
remember it well, as it was a huge headline story way back then. The Communist
and phony preacher Jim Jones persuaded (and in some cases forced) his
congregation of over 900 men, women and children to drink cyanide-laced grape-flavored
Kool-Aid and commit mass suicide / murder.
.
.
The following
drawing can be found in one of my old sketch books from 1978 or early ‘79:
.
 |
| THAT DIRTY DOG JIM JONES WAS A SLY CAT. |
.
That was
how we got the phrase
“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid!”,
which is
frequently used in political debates.
Well,
early this morning I learned a surprising bit of trivia...
It seems that
the cyanide-laced drink wasn’t actually Kool-Aid, but the cheaper knock-off
product FLAVOR AID.
.
.
“Hey, moron! You drank the Flavor Aid!”
After
decades of warning Liberals about the “Kool-Aid”, somehow “Flavor Aid” just
doesn’t taste right.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
YE OLDE
COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem
attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read:
"posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com,
so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.
.
That cheap bastard. Couldn't even give those folks Kool-Aid for their Last Drink. Dirty rotten scoundrel.
ReplyDeleteI was only 10 (look at me just giving away my age on here... ugghhh) but I do remember the Jim Jones massacre. It didn't make a lot of sense to me at the time. Even at 10, I didn't see how people were bamboozled like that. As I have gotten older, I think I understand it better. People are actively looking for something to believe in. Someone who has charisma can get hundreds, even thousands, behind him. Look at Hitler. I look at pictures and think he just is not an attractive guy... but I bet he had an amazing speaking voice and lots of charisma. And he sent a message that a lot of people wanted to hear. He promised to make their lives better by getting rid of all the people who were holding them down. (In other words, not YOUR fault that you aren't succeeding. And lots of people want to hear that.)
In other news, I am almost done movie watching. I apologize for being so slow. This month turned out to be crazy. Unexpected, but it happens.
I liked Heaven Can Wait. I didn't like it as well as the other two. It had fantastic elements and was really a good movie, it just is running 4th in the rankings right now if I had to rate them. Really enjoyed Defending Your Life. When the two (can't remember either character name now - gah!) were sitting in the lobby of her hotel and both admitted that they loved the other one and then she invited him up, and he almost said he was afraid (but changed it to something else at the last moment), I was leaning forward in my chair. And so disappointed when he didn't just take the chance and go for what he wanted. Of course, when they used that bit of footage against him, I understood why that happened. But, that ending was fantastic. Jumping off his bus, nearly getting flattened by some many other buses (irony there since he died via bus) and going for it at the end. Yes. We can overcome our fear, which allows to live a full life. Very inspiring. Or in his case, move on. Anyway, really liked it. (Mom did, too. She fell asleep during Heaven Can Wait, so I think it wasn't one of her faves, either.) Born Yesterday is still my favorite of those you've sent, but I think Defending Your Life is next, followed closely by One From The Heart, and then Heaven Can Wait. Plan to watch at least one more today. Hope to get the box in the mail by the end of the week. I think I am exceeding the month by a few days.... sorry:(
ROBIN ~
DeleteHa! You're right about Jim Jones - what a cheap ass! (I'd have said, "Reverend Commie, I'll drink your poison, but you damn sure better mix it into one of my favorite beers first!")
Well, Robin, I have a few years on you, and I'll tell ya that one of the things I've learned is that, yes, you're right that people are looking for hope and change and smooth words. They're also looking for someone to blame (other than themselves). And I do believe that some people have more natural charisma than others (and it's not always related to looks or attractiveness).
But another thing I have learned is that sometimes what gets labeled as "charisma" is really just a great deal of "self-confidence". This occurred to me in my early twenties. The majority of people are really not very self-confident, so when they encounter someone who does exude a great deal of self-confidence, who seems firm in their beliefs and advanced in their knowledge (even if they're bluffing), the less confident will follow them... sometimes just about anywhere.
With a mediocre amount of knowledge, but a facade of great self-confidence, a person can acquire a big following and many adherents. Think Jim Jones, Hitler, Manson... the list goes on and on. (I know enough about The Bible that I could mix some Truth with some lies and preach it from a pulpit and I guarantee you I could get some people to join my twisted church and follow me. And that's without good looks and charisma!)
No problem about the movies. You're watching them, and that was my only concern. If they were just sitting on a shelf, ignored, that I wouldn't care for, but I know I'll get 'em back in a reasonable amount of time, so no worries.
It's really Rip Torn who makes that movie, 'Defending Your Life', for me; he just cracks me up: "You still don't get the big brain, little brain thing, do you?"
Ha!-Ha! Just thinking about him in that movie made me literally start laughing right here in front of this computer monitor. One of my Brother's, and one of my own, favorite moments is when, during the trial, Rip Torn tries to highlight the drama when he mentions Big Bear, California. He says: "BIG... BEAR!" Who does he think he's fooling?
Nappy and I use that one a lot. Anytime we say "big bear", but sometimes just to emphasize something else, like... "If you'll do that for me, I'll give you... FIVE... BUCKS!"
Well, you still haven't gotten to my own favorite of that bunch, 'THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR'. And I can't even remember which other one I sent.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Well, Stephen, it's like I always say...
ReplyDeleteIf you remember Jonestown, you weren't there!
Okay, bad taste, I know,
Hey, I gotta ask-did you get introduced to "Defending Your Life" from me or did you already know that one?
Love that film...when Albert Brooks goes into see his past lives and is eaten by the lion....priceless!
I hope "A Bronx Tale" was in the box you sent Robin!
LC
LC ~
ReplyDeleteActually, I think it may have been I who introduced YOU to 'Defending Your Life'.
I especially like when that portly truck driver-looking dude sees one of HIS past lives and says, "What the hell is THIS?!"
No 'Bronx Tale'. I don't own that one, plus these were all 'Romantic Comedies'. 'A Bronx Tale' is really good, but a 'Romantic Comedy' it is not.
I do remember now though, that the other movie I sent her was 'A Little Romance'.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I've never even heard of Flavor Aid, and I drank so much Kool Aid in the 80s (that wasn't a metaphor. I was a 5 year old kid and my favorite sugary drink was Kool Aid).
ReplyDeleteSo how many of these sketch books do you have? I had no idea you drew. You know, we're always looking for unpaid, overworked staff writers and artists to submit content that we'll pass off as our own...
(E-mail coming to you tonight. This weekend was busy busy)
~6B
6-B ~
Delete>>... I've never even heard of Flavor Aid
Well, it's only been around since 1929 so... who could blame you? (Shop fer yerself much?)
[:-)}
I have maybe 10 sketch books, but I NEVER said that I was responsible for any of the drawings in them. What I said was: "The following drawing can be found in one of my old sketch books", but that doesn't mean I necessarily drew it. (I used to go around axing artists to draw in my sketch books, which I would later pass off as my own art.)
Apparently you never saw the blog bit on my old "STUFFS" blog titled 'No Drugs Except For Pink Floyd'. (If I remember correctly, there might have even been a "Part Two" to that.)
Anyway, yeah, I dabbled in drawing and painting for many years (most of my drawings were done while waiting for scenes to be shot on Hollywood movie and TV sets), but I never was really good at it. I think God gave me the fundamental talent, but it needed to be trained. The one Art class I took, in high school, my friend Eric and I often ducked out on and went to the Santa Monica Beach instead. (Making us the only "Normal", American Boys in those Art classes.)
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Flavor--Aid? That was very unKool of Jones. He may have dispensed FlavorAid but it was done in poor taste.
ReplyDeleteYeah I remember Jonestown. Watched the reports on CNN. That was back when they used to report the news. And MTV used to have music videos.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Ha! Yeah, that was a long time ago, wasn't it, Lee? Actually, MusicTeleVision (MTV) came a few years after the Jonestown Massacre (circa very early '80s), but I get yer meaning.
DeleteTime changes everything... and usually not for the better, either.
Where's that Guy who promised to return and set things right? I walk around bumping into things because I'm always looking up at the sky, expecting to hear that Trumpet and see that glorious Man descending everywhere.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'