After reading An Analysis of Jonestown, I would have to say, I’m stunned. I never would have imagined that one person would be able to control the choices, social interaction, defiance, and basically run peoples’ lives as Hitler once did. I think, however, that to a certain extent, it is very possible to “brainwash” someone into following you and your commands. For those who are exceptionally adept at persuasion, it would seem as though the idea of thousands of followers is not too far fetched. I also feel, however, that this incident was very tragic. I can’t imagine a parent that would poison their own children, and then take their own life due to what someone said or believed. Although, from a different perspective, people all throughout history have died for what they believe in, so why should this be any different. The fact that it was much more recent and somewhat more dramatic (with the help of the media and not to mention the fact that it was closely related to the United States because of its origin there). The power of the mind to obey commands under certain types of pressure or influence is amazing to me. I’ve never been much of a follower, so considering that, I find it would be powerfully difficult for me to believe in someone’s words enough to poison myself or my children. I wonder if there was any external substance that was causing those people to follow him as they did. It is probably unlikely, but to understand that the decisions made were purely those of the people is still irrational to me.