(An ongoing series of true life events)
It could have been a nun regretting her decision to become such and leaving the convent. It could be a fearless, young, teenage girl getting a ride from a stranger as she hitchhikes to NY or Hollywood, thinking of becoming a star or dancer perhaps. These are but scant morsels of the true life topics we can explore in WWYT but today, I want to take you into the cults and their culture.
Maybe it was one of hundreds, perhaps thousands who, for better or worse, wanted to start a new life. A life they thought was worth living. A life better than the one they already had. This is the kind of life where self worth and harmony could be immediately attained, where they could just live their life without being hurt by someone or something. Someone who one day just picked up a few personal belongings and headed out for this ranch where ALL were welcome and the living was free and easy. Some place told to them by an acquaintance and off they went.
Maybe people come back from these places, maybe they don’t. This is the story that will have you asking the question: “What Were You Thinking?
My story begins around the first of May 2007 where headlines and news channels began telling the tale of a self-proclaimed cult arriving in northeastern New Mexico. Less than a month later they were reporting that three teenagers were taken from the compound and the cult leader, self-styled Messiah, Michael Travesser, was arrested on grounds of child molestation. He is sixty-six years old. His real name is Wayne Bent.
His victims were found with him lying naked next to him on his bed. The entire congregation (if you will) believed that if Michael were to be prosecuted it would have dire consequences on the world, perhaps even ending it as we know it.
The girls, at the time fourteen and sixteen, were virgins and reported that they were willing to die for Michael whom they referred to as Messiah.
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What makes people follow a nut like this? His only incentive was to have sex with all the female members and encourage his self proclaimed God Complex in order to control others, their money and their lives. So, I ask you…What Were You Thinking, people?
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HEY THERE, CATE. WHEN I DO A REVIEW ON A BLOG, I WRITE IN ALL CAPS, SO PEOPLE CAN TELL MY COMMENTS APART FROM THE SECTION I'M COMMENTING ON.
ReplyDeleteI'M NOT YELLING AT YOU. HEE HEE ...
HERE'S THE REVIEW ...
What Were YOU Thinking? (An ongoing series of true life events)
It could have been a nun regretting her decision to become such and leaving the convent. It could be a fearless, young, teenage girl getting a ride from a stranger as she hitchhikes to NY or Hollywood, thinking of becoming a star or dancer perhaps. These are but scant morsels of the true life topics we can explore in WWYT but today, I want to take you into the cults and their culture.
I THINK THIS PARAGRAPH COULD HAVE BEEN WORKED DIFFERENTLY. I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH STRONGER EXAMPLES TO INTRODUCE THE READER TO THE IDEA OF THIS SERIES.
WHILE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT HITCH-HIKING IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO LEAVE THE NUNNERY BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELONG THERE.
I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH HARDER EXAMPLES. DRUG USE? CHEATING ON A GOOD WOMAN? SOMETHING LIKE THAT ....
My story begins around the first of May 2007 where headlines and news channels began telling the tale of a self-proclaimed cult arriving in northeastern New Mexico. Less than a month later they were reporting that three teenagers were taken from the compound and the cult leader, self-styled Messiah, Michael Travesser, was arrested on grounds of child molestation. He is sixty-six years old. His real name is Wayne Bent.
YEAH, MICHAEL TRAVESSER WAS BETTER. I COULD SEE WHY HE CHANGED IT.
His victims were found with him lying naked next to him on his bed. The entire congregation (if you will) believed that if Michael were to be prosecuted it would have dire consequences on the world, perhaps even ending it as we know it.
THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD. HOW ABOUT THIS:
HIS VICTIMS WERE FOUND IN BED WITH HIM. NAKED.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE FRAGMENTED SENTENCE OF "NAKED." IF SO:
HIS VICTIMS WERE FHOUND NAKED IN HIS BED.
The girls, at the time fourteen and sixteen, were virgins and reported that they were willing to die for Michael whom they referred to as Messiah.
*******
What makes people follow a nut like this? His only incentive was to have sex with all the female members and encourage his self proclaimed God Complex in order to control others, their money and their lives. So, I ask you…What Were You Thinking, people?
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST SUSEPTABLE TO THAT KIND OF THING. IT REALLY IS AS SIMPLE AS, HE TOLD THEM HE WAS THE MESSIAH, AND THEY BELIEVED HIM.
I'M SURE HE LOST SOME PEOPLE WHEN HE ASKED IF HE COULD SLEEP WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS BUT I'M ALSO SURE THAT SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T QUESTION IT, AND EVEN FELT LIKE IT WAS AN ACT OF LOVE.
NOT EVERYONE IS SMART ENOUGHT TO SEE THROUGH IT. AND I KNOW IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE A SECURE HOME WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE, THEY'LL BE LESS LIKELY TO WANT BELIEVE SOMETHING BAD ABOUT YOU.
Dear Rooster,
ReplyDeleteI think that I made an error when posting this. It is supposed to be a Q and A. It was when I first posted it in Writer's Beat. This is part of a once, weekly series, that brought up the subject for others to give answers to...which you have. Do you get what I am saying? These are articles of non-fiction problems that I am asking my audience for solutions, opinions and reports on the issue at hand.
Perhaps if you approach it from the perspective, your critique will be a little different as well...like, could I have asked the question or made it clearer to the audience what their responsibility is in answering. Just an thought. I do like the idea about making the first paragraph more readable by making the examples stronger. I will look to change that as it is the opening paragraph for all these articles. Thanks again!
Always,
Cate