The News of The Day

I think the world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Susan Atkins passed away. For some of us, it was a bittersweet moment. Her recent struggle for release before her death reminded us of a time in US history that makes us uncomfortable.

On August 8, 1969, Charles Manson gave an order to four of his followers. He sent them to a house and commanded, “Totally destroy everyone in it, as gruesome as you can.” It was the first in a series of two murders that Manson believed would be the spark for “Helter Skelter.”

In all honesty, I’m too young to remember the Tate-LaBianca murders. What I remember more is the aftermath of Helter Skelter. The sixty’s was a decade out of control, full of free love, drugs and rock music. I was a child during those years but as a teen of the 70’s, I associated that time with chaos. The assassination of John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King and the grand finale was Charles Manson’s group. This historical period, in a way, gave birth to the children of disco music and polyester pantsuits. I suppose that was our moment of flux, an attempt at controlled chaos.

As a writer, I believe I am more in tune with the ironies of life. It’s a frequent topic of mine. I couldn’t help but be drawn to the irony of Susan Atkin’s latest appeal for mercy. I was torn by human nature, wishing for her to have a good death but at the same time, realizing she probably didn’t deserve one. One thing I do remember clearly about the Manson Murders is her testimony before the grand jury. She described Sharon Tate pleading for the life of her unborn child. Now here we were, forty years later, Susan Atkins lying on a hospital bed while the people representing her asked for her release, a request for mercy in light of her impending death.

I think the collective sigh of relief came in the idea that it was the beginning of an end. She was the first to die from the group that we would come to know as the Manson Family, a cult born out of the chaos of the sixty’s. Charles Manson was the devil of the time and Susan Atkins was part of his spawn. As they join the ranks of people in the sunset of theirs lives, we see them for what they really are and there is a sadness in that but at the same time, closure. Life follows a pattern; everything ages, and dies eventually.

Till next time,

Peace
Darla