Post #7

Charles Manson

Charles Manson was the leader of a commune known as the Manson Family. In the 1970's, he was found guilty of conspiracy to murder seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. He believed in what he called "Helter Skelter" (a song from The Beatles' White album), which he believed was an apocalyptic race war. He thought his murders would help make it happen by showing the African American people how to go about destroying the whites. He prophesied that in the end, his Family would take over and rule the cities.  Manson thought himself to be the fifth angel, the other four being The Beatles.  He was described during his trial as a "megalomaniac  who coupled his thirst for power with an intense obsession for violent death."  Manson carved a swastika into his forehead, and in 1971, he explained why: He said that it "simulated the dead head black stamp of rejection, anti-church, falling cross, devil sign, death, terror and fear."

Many of Manson's followers were very young women with troubled emotional lives, rebelling against their parents and society. For the most part, they were people who were weak-willed, gullible and easily led. LSD and amphetamines were also used to make them do his bidding. He and his cult survived by scavenging and stealing, most of their food being what the supermarkets discarded.