A neuroscientist warns: We're watching the largest and most dangerous 'cult' in American history
I was dying
It was just a matter of time. Lying behind the wheel of the airplane, bleeding out of the right side of my devastated body, I waited for the rapid shooting to stop.
Former Representative Jackie Speier in her memoir Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back recounting her experience after being shot five times during an ambush during her fact-finding visit to Jonestown, Guyana where Jim Jones and his cult, Peoples Temple, had built a compound.
It, combined with everything else that was going on, made it difficult to breathe
Being crushed by the shield and the people behind it
leaving me defenseless, injured.
Metropolitan police officer, Daniel Hodges, describing being crushed in a doorway during the January 6, 2021, attack by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol
In both of the examples above, the individual speaking was the victim of extreme violence perpetrated by followers of a single person whose influence had spread to hundreds of people (in the January 6th case, thousands of people). In fact, Speiers experience with the Jim Jones followers was part of the single greatest loss of American life (918 people) prior to 9/11/2001. These followings have been given an umbrella name, cult, and have involved what has been traditionally called brainwashing. The cult leader receives seemingly undying support as the Dear Leader or Savior. However, the term brainwashing suggests that indoctrinated members are robots without free will behavioral scientists argue that this is not the case. Its an oversimplification.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/a-neuroscientist-warns-we-re-watching-the-largest-and-most-dangerous-cult-in-american-history/ar-AA1eP9mH?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ENTPHB&cvid=adf70781206f4ce096054bc697ee2937&ei=18
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)William769
(55,273 posts)617Blue
(1,287 posts)the party exists primarily to torment and intimidate those who are perceived as enemies. They'd kill us all if they could.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)And yes they would kill us all in our beds in their quest for power and wealth.
And not think twice about it.
617Blue
(1,287 posts)are going about their business and trying to be free and happy absolutely enrages them.
There's no bottom here. No end other than violence or civil war IMO.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)It is just a ruthless and vicious way to get the base riled up.
To raise money and get votes.
Like the mask issue, making their base anti mask all the while
the GOP leaders were wearing masks in private and sending their
kids to private schools with masks, getting vaccinated, etc.
We are already in a civil war and have been for some time.
Yes it is going to get more violent before it is all over.
And I honestly do not know how it will end.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,659 posts)I wish I was being hyperbolic. But an atheist progressive female Democrat in full support of her trans child? No doubt I'd be a prime candidate for a death camp if he had his way.
Timeflyer
(2,126 posts)And they'd throw religion in there somewhere. Gotta justify the cruelty with religion.
William769
(55,273 posts)Living in Florida right now really sucks!
radical noodle
(8,042 posts)I will not allow him to chase me off in order to turn this state even more red. I will vote against these fascists until the day I die.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)He is a sadistic sociopath.
My family has a target on its back too.
617Blue
(1,287 posts)Trump and DeSantis are both horrid humans. One of the differences is that Trump will sign on to someone's else's cruel idea to further his own agenda while DeSantis takes joy in creating new ways to hurt people.
PatSeg
(48,159 posts)I wonder what he'd think of his party today. I am confident that he'd be horrified.
617Blue
(1,287 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 5, 2023, 08:32 AM - Edit history (1)
Party of Jefferson Davis is more apt.
PatSeg
(48,159 posts)after the Civil Rights Act, being the Democratic party no longer represented them. Now they proudly proclaim they are the "Party of Lincoln", but before the Civil Rights Act, Lincoln was their enemy.
Lonestarblue
(10,399 posts)Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)However he paid attention to what the GOP said and liked to hear all sides to an argument.
I never forget the time as a teenager, I asked him why he read both Newsweek and Time every week,
because Time was so conservative. He replied that he wanted to read about both sides.
I have a feeling today he would no longer read GOP trash.
Your dad and mine would be in agreement I think.
PatSeg
(48,159 posts)My dad was a very reasonable man with principles and integrity. I disagree with a lot of his then political beliefs, but he lived in a different time than I did, so some of his viewpoints were understandable. He did not have the advantage of hindsight when it came to World War II and the Depression.
When I was young, he was very politically active and served as Republican precinct captain for many years. After Watergate, he hardly talked about politics anymore. I think he felt betrayed by the man he'd supported so diligently for so long.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)My dad would like your dad. He would not agree with his politics but he would respect him
and his beliefs and who he was as a person.
PatSeg
(48,159 posts)He was very easy going and friendly. My parents were basically pretty liberal in most respects, which wasn't uncommon for republicans back then. My father was leery of government overreach and felt that FDR went too far. Of course years later my parents benefited from FDR's programs, as well as LBJ's.
Often we can't see the big picture when we are in the middle of something. I think that is true for most of us. Not to mention, I tend to forget how young my parents were in the 1940s and 1950s. Most of us have changed a lot since we were young adults.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)I was visiting family and just saw an old picture of my mother and myself as an infant.
I was really struck by the fact my mother looked like a kid who had no idea what she was doing.
My parents were only 19 when they got married, so essentially they were just kids. A year later, they had their first child and though they looked like "adults", they really were so very young and I'm sure they thought they knew everything.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)And my mother didn't even look like she knew how to hold me.
I was only a month or so old.
But yes of course, my parents knew everything or thought they did.
PatSeg
(48,159 posts)just like we did! And of course my grandmother knew more than her mother.
Our kids and grandkids will know more than we did.
tanyev
(42,857 posts)Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)dlk
(11,675 posts)We cant count on the mainstream media to warn/protect us. Theyre too shortsighted and locked into their bothsiderism.
Irish_Dem
(49,901 posts)And yes the GOP would love to kill us all.
mzmolly
(51,025 posts)and other enablers. I hope the ratings are worth it?
MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)A holy devotion to "sins" of the ages...
ChazInAz
(2,600 posts)MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)ChazInAz
(2,600 posts)As an actor, I played of them. Actually got to know Bierce's grand daughter.
MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)ChazInAz
(2,600 posts)My college town. Name was Helen Cowden. Bore a strong family resemblance to Ambrose. Best of all, the basic Bierce attitude seemed to be hereditary! She was opinionated, sarcastic and scary smart. The elderly lady was a great research source for my one-man show "Almighty God, Bierce!"
markodochartaigh
(1,254 posts)Aussie105
(5,607 posts)are characteristics that define humans over the lower animals.
But some humans will willingly delegate the thinking and decision making to others, and follow blindly.
Even if it is to the detriment of the individual.
How this is put into play is anyone's guess, not even the professionals can see inside the mind of a Jonestown dweller at the time they willingly drank the Flavor Aid and died.
But I agree, there is a large and irrational cult out there.
Not the first, not the last.
America has a sordid history of cults growing, and then imploding.
mopinko
(70,619 posts)a lot of ppl DONT have an internal dialogue. i have no idea how that would work, but theyre out there. i think i saw 1 estimate of 20%. i have to assume a majority of them are rethuglicans.
WhiteTara
(29,771 posts)That is a scary statement.
mopinko
(70,619 posts)how that works, ill never know.
WhiteTara
(29,771 posts)meditaters work to reach that state
markbark
(1,566 posts)Is that Tr*mp would've charged 40 bucks for the Kool-Aid in a commemorative "MAGA" cup (made in "Chiner" of course)
gordianot
(15,287 posts)Jim Jones finally drank his own kool aid. Do not expect Donald Trump to do anyone any favors.
MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)gordianot
(15,287 posts)TFG still has something to lose as he realizes the final flush.
Martin68
(23,236 posts)I'd be curious to know what percentage of MAGAts grew up with authoritarian fathers. Or, on the other hand, fathers so weak and ineffectual that they are looking for something solid to believe in.
callous taoboy
(4,602 posts)Divorce and estrangement, and my brothers insatiable thirst to take every opportunity to try to make me feel small, the miserable POS.
WhiteTara
(29,771 posts)Welcome home and glad you're here.
callous taoboy
(4,602 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(146,746 posts)Phoenix1960
(15 posts)I have read and studied these principles . Dr. Steven Hassan and others agree with this neuroscience. My concern is the followers state of health when trump and others like him fail or self sabotage. The Healthcare system is very different now. Less money less providers less time especially in mental health. Who will help these people? To fall under the spell of a narcissist and realize you did is devastating. And very hard.