“Lights of love” by Rikke Wettendorff

We wanted to live, to shine, to bring light to a world that is dying for a little bit of love – Richard Tropp

Last November, on the thirtieth anniversary of the deaths in Jonestown, I participated in some of the Bay Area events which memorialized the people who died that day. I was deeply moved, not least by meeting some of the survivors who shared their memories with me.

I will not be able to attend this year, but I plan to have my own private memorial event. I invite all of you who cannot make it to Oakland, to join me. Wherever you are in the world, you can participate in this simple act which unites all of us, if only for a brief moment.

At nightfall on November 18, light a candle and put it in your window. And as you do so, send out good thoughts to the people who perished at Jonestown, and to the survivors and relatives who still carry the grief of losing their loved ones.

Let their light shine.

(Rikke Wettendorff is a regular contributor to the jonestown report. Her other articles in this edition include Carolyn Layton was a mother too, Viewing Jonestown’s History from the Winner’s Perspective, If you read only one book about Peoples Temple…, Fringe artists interpret Jonestown, and Developments in the Peoples Temple Discussion Forum. She may be reached at Rikke@Wettendorff.Net.)