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I had to write this column because this lady is coming to seattle to speak.She may not remember me,but everyone will know her sons story.What do you say? Her name is Mrs.Rosenberg.Her son,daughter-in-law,niece and grandchildren died on 11/18/1978.It was the date of the Guyana Massacre and her only son died with Jim Jones.The feedback that I have been getting here is not at all pleasant.What does a person say? How do you start a conversation? I will never forget the cruel way that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell said about her son.Hasnt this woman suffered enough? All she told us is that..She and her husband are Jewish and for some reason..they dont practice the Jewish Faith.They are not devout.She was having problems before her son joined Jones.All people have told me that she was always a very quiet person.Look..what do you do if your son,daughter or grandchild joins a cult? What do you do? The ACLU will argue civil liberties.But noone has seen what the action of one man,this heartless person Jim Jones has done.The group she was in went bankrupt.She is looking for answers and not finding them.I will never forget her story.What can I say or do? And everyday I try to be nice and fair and when I get up..I wake up at 4 o clock in the morning and have my coffee.After that..I put the tv to see the main news of the day.I try to get a nice topic and I read some advice columns.After I read the paper,,I write down a few sentences and put it aside.I have been watching Young and The Restless since 1993 and after I watch it,I put everything down on paper and compose my thoughts.The reason why I am writing about her is because someone contacted me who still lives in New York and told me about the fact that they are coming her for a visit.That is all I know.I dont know when she is coming or when.All I know is this..Her face is etched with wrinkles.Her hair is gray.Her blue eyes that were sparkling..well..if you look at them..they are black and she has told others..that noone knows the pain that is going on inside.But here is a question..Why cant anyone in New York help this woman? I do know that she wants to see me and several others..But can I say? How do you start a conversation? How can I get her out of this self imposed exile and try to tell her of what is being offered her without offending her? Guess what? I called my old boss in New YOrk.His name is Jonah.Jonah is a Reformed Jewish Person and he told me this..that some sects of the Jewis religion are forbidden to go to therapists.WHy? I want to know.If she is being forbidden..how can this pain heal? s
I'm told that the pain of losing a child never goes away. I don't know because I don't have children, I have cats, but people who do know have told me this. And the Jonestown massacre was a horrific thing. I remember it on the news. I also saw a number of documentaries on it over the years. Jim Jones was completely a self centered megalomanic, as most cult leaders are. That her son fell in with him is very sad.
I would simply not bring up the subject unless she does first. Talk about anything else and if she wants to talk about it, let her make the first move.
How do you heal without therapy? It can be done.I don't think it's easy but we all have to develop our own means of coping. The path that's right for one person may not work for another, and for reasons that have nothing to do with religious edicts.
I hope this helps a little.
If she isn't a "practicing" Jew, then I see no reason why she couldn't see a therapist. If you get the chance, suggest it STRONGLY. If she hasn't seen one by now, she probably won't but it can't hurt to suggest it.
Most of all, give her plenty of affection. Love heals alot of things. Sounds like she doesn't get enough of that. Best of luck. Lee