OPINION:
Nov. 18 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Jonestown, Guyana, tragedy in which 900 Americans lost their lives.
The Rev. Jim Jones had moved the people’s temple from San Francisco to the jungles of South America. Just after Rep. Leo Ryan visited, Jones had him murdered — and he then ordered his followers to commit suicide.
Three hundred children were involved in the atrocity and others were forced to ingest poison. I have been teaching about this event for 25 years; unfortunately, many of my students have never heard of it. The loss of 900 American lives needs to be remembered.
DANIEL W. PHILLIPS III
Instructor, sociology and criminal justice
Campbellsville University
Harrodsburg, Ky.
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