2 years ago
Where does the term "Don't drink the Kool-aid!" come from?
I know a bunch of folks drank the Kool-aid and then died in a mass suicide, but my friend says the term comes from one that occurred in the 70's... Any idea what he's talking about?
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M$1 Answer
It comes from the Jonestown massacre which occurred 11/18/1978. Jim Jones led a Christian group called the People's Temple that largely focused on "integration" issues in America during the civil rights era. After adhering to an increasingly socialist platform, Jones moved 900 of his congregation to a Utopian camp in Guyana, which he called Jonestown.
When Congressman Leo Ryan visited the camp over allegations of human rights abuse, Jones' group was convinced they were under attack by the US military and were swayed to commit mass suicide by drinking cyanide-laced grape flavored Flavor Aid (often misidentified as Kool-Aid) along with a sedative. Over 900 people died, and this is the second largest loss of American life other than the 9/11 terrorist activity.
This is why people often say "drink the Kool-Aid" when following a leader blindly and even contrary to evidence.
When Congressman Leo Ryan visited the camp over allegations of human rights abuse, Jones' group was convinced they were under attack by the US military and were swayed to commit mass suicide by drinking cyanide-laced grape flavored Flavor Aid (often misidentified as Kool-Aid) along with a sedative. Over 900 people died, and this is the second largest loss of American life other than the 9/11 terrorist activity.
This is why people often say "drink the Kool-Aid" when following a leader blindly and even contrary to evidence.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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