West Orange High School - Sword and Scabbard Yearbook (Winter Garden, FL)

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KT IT CQEQLWESQ SPIRITUAL PIMPS LEADING BRAINWASHED TEENAGERS Babies screamed as confused mothers voluntarily gave them to nurses who unmercifully injected a deadly mixture of potassium cyanide and potassium chloride into their tongues. A chaotic scene erupted as members of the Peoples Temple scrambled frantically to swallow the poison concoct- ed with grape Kool-Aid and cyanide. All the while, sitting in a throne-like wicker chair, Jim Jones calmly observed his loyal followers' violent demise, commenting, We've to do what we've got to do. Such was the scene in Jonestown, Guyana, in the pre-dusk hours of Saturday, November l8. l978. lt resulted in one of the largest mass suicides in history. The death toll climbed to an astounding 900. The overwhelming part of the massacre is that it was initiated by one man. One crazed, evil-minded, religious fanatic caused some 900 mem- bers of the Peoples Temple to participate in a self-imposed ritual of mass suicide and murder. The hellish truth is that this demonstration of demonic psychological mind-bending is a horrifying and frightening reality. Unfortunately, Jim Jones is not the only irrational fanatic influencing the lives of young people. Since the early l970' s young people's interest in religious cults has been on the upswing. What originally began in the United States as few- membered groups practicing Hindu mysticism has gradually increased to millions of teenagers involved in extreme reli- gious groups that mentally and physically abuse them. There are well over l,000 of these cults, ranging from Hindu medita- tors to groups of youths waiting in the desert for their savior to arrive by spaceship. In l976, statistics showed that from one to three million Americans were members of a cult. By I979, the number has greatly increased. But the question that remains is how do these young peo- ple get involved in the first place? The answer lies in the promises of love and brotherhood preached by the cultists. Vulnerable teenagers are encouraged to try out the cults on weekend retreats. Yet, once involved, the kids find them- selves trapped in a process called psychological kidnap- ping. The cult members wear down their resistance by brainwashing, sexual persuasion, physical abuse, and even starvation. Gradually, the indoctrination takes effect as the young people begin believing the preachings of the cult lead- ers. Ties to families and friends are completely broken as the new cultists become devout and loyal followers. In the cult known as the Unification Church, leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon is called Our Spiritual Father. But the shocking truth is that while cult leaders preach offerings of love and impose strict bans on their followers, they are in reality spiritual pimps. Sending the cultists out on the street to beg for money which is used to buy the leader limousines and mansions, they discipline the members with brutal abuses. Defectors Cpeople who escapedj from the cult known as the Children of God testified that its female mem- bers were sexually abused by cult leaders. Members of the Peoples Temple were routinely beaten or whipped because they were caught smoking or not paying attention during one of Jones's lectures. One woman, accused of having a ro- mance with a male member of the cult, was forced to have sexual intercourse in front of the entire colony. One horrify- ing part of the Peoples Temple indoctrination was their treat- ment of the children. Electrodes were hooked to the little ones' arms and legs, and they were repeatedly shocked until they were successfully brainwashed into smiling each time the word Jim Jones was spoken. Cults have been around for a long time, and they are not likely to disappear in the near future. But as long as young people avoid the realization that cults are nothing more than false hope institutions that practice torture and abuse as a means of religion, they will continue to be a threat. Step aside, Jim Jones, someone else will be making the headlines soon - unfortunately. By Wendy Williams ITIEII1 BIIIUYS .. Have you noticed some familiar faces lately in the Gross Green Bird section of the Sentinel Star? Three West Orange students this year were selected as Kiwanis Club Students of the Week, and their photos appeared in the newspaper. First was Loy Thornton, who has a 4.0 grade point average, making her valedictorian of the senior class. She is a member of the Thespian Club, Honor Society, the band, and the Brain Bowl team. Loy plans to attend Davidson College in North Carolina where she will study pre-med. Second was Leslie Bennett, who has a 3.99 GPA. Leslie is a varsity football cheerleader. She is also a member of the senior committee, the Yearbook Staff, Honor Society, and Quill and Scroll. She will attend FSU next year. Third was Susan Singletary, with a 3.95 GPA. Susan is a member of Honor Society and plays the electronic piano at the First Baptist Church of Windermere. Susan has been accepted at Texas A S M University where she plans to major in chemical engineering.

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