While the abuse in Synanon was bad enough, it pails in comparison to a stream of sociopaths who hijacked the system to become Millionaires through the abuse of children; in some cases even as morally deprived as organizations that kidnap children and sell them for profit. Jollett, 45, tells PEOPLE about the abuse he and many other children experienced while growing up in the "school" of the infamous Synanon cult. I offered them to him but he declined. Another myth perpetrated by old time Synanon members, and apology writers, like Janzen, looking for fans among ex-Synanon members, is that Synanon played a role in civil rights. Dawnne Takeuchi, 18, was killed when she was thrown from a semi-truck near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in June 1994. We're going to pillage the town! If you have a complaint it is with Yablonsky and Janzen who had no understanding of the Synanon system. Zones are designed to separate business from residential, etc. . there were a lot of people in the early days who left because of the way Dederich was taking it, and its too bad the idea grew out of person with such a tortured past. It reasoned that success stories generally had little to do with the programs themselves. Psychiatrist Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber visited Dr. Ramirez in Puerto Rico and setup her own synanon-based TC in New York City called Odyssey House. one, it was a hard fought battle. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. I was also impressed by stories I was told about the early days and when the Synanon website first started it had lot of anger expressed towards Dederich. It was only after the invasion of Iraq and discovery that the administration dangerously burned a spy to get even with for Sen. husband who wrote the administration had no evidence of Iraq weapons of mass destruction when it created a greater attack than 911 itself, that journalist took back their mandate to look for the truth and present that truth the country. If it had ended there, Synanons legacy would be far different and it would probably still be there. He told me that he had interviewed Synanon people and examined the UCLA records. Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and, eventually, love. The main reason in stopping in 2000 was a telephone call from Rod Janzen asking to confirm the date I was bit by the Snake. And in the end, what I presented were facts, i.e., the actual statistics, what happened in the clones and the general consensus of experts that the Synanon system of brainwashing, punishments and humiliations is counterproductive and psychologically dangerous. They appreciated the honesty of the work. I delete only the crazies refuse to present any argument, rebuttal facts or evidence that anything stated was not true; but just a statement that anyone who would think that or write such facts belongs in a nut house. So lets say you wanted to give the Third Reich some credit, which could be done, what positives can you say about Synanon? Prove that all the Synanon documents directing kidnappings, beatings and murder did not exist. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The real origins of the Cedu schools remained hidden from the students, their parents and much of the staff until years after their graduation or departure. Its goal was to take it to the context of greater society.I would appreciate you know your feelings. On June 27, 1990, six weeks after the death of Michelle Sutton, 16-year-old Kristin Chase died at the Challenger wilderness camp in Utah of hyperthermia and dehydration after a 5-mile forced march in 105-degree heat. Joe was a thug and a gangster, but when a law abiding citizen said so, Joe sued his bank and won ten million dollars. Barker had been arrested at age 16 for burglary and when he was 18 he was charged with assault and robbery, for which he joined the Army a few days later and then went AWOL. Link To The Synanon Survivors Group And Future Photo Library Charles was arrested while drunk in 1978 and was barred from any further leadership within the Good luck. It is true, we are lied to, propagandized and subject to many attempts to have us all think the same way. Now, if it is not very God damn profitable, I would go into another business. Others reported in 1973 that the Synanon absorbing members was retention, not rehabilitation, a result found unfortunately in many of the Synanon clones, which Synanon bragged 2,400 existed. And yes, there is some bad grammar. But that questionwhile interestingis really moot; the fact is that while shelter and support is of assistance, the Synanon system based on hate (as stated by Dederich) and punishment was not only a failure but its achievement in publicity, like a Synanon movie starring Ed OBrien, has led to 50 years of horror to countless victims all over the world and continues to do so. Totalitarianism societies in the end always end in abuse and a we vs. they war concept. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people. Ramirez set up the synanon-based Phoenix House which hired former Synanite Ted Dibble to manage one of its centers. Synanon was not unique. I was being sincere. But he was tapped for his past violent tendencies and unleashed like Russell Crowe in L. You can also see a shorter version of my career on Wikipedia if you do not wish to buy the book. I also believed that Synanons many clones, adding doctors, and other proper variations, had established successful drug rehabilitation. Further, Yablonsky married a Synanon woman and admitted he felt any attack on Synanon was an attack on her. Paul Morantz But we are not Communist China, Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis. borderline schizophrenic patients, schizoid personalities, and acutely anxious, neurotic adolescents. As stated in the Skeptics Dictionary, law enforcement officials, politicians and religious leaders helped push those fearing addiction to what it determined was primarily rackets designed to make money with little regard for human well-being (like Elan and CeDu). Have a merry. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. Died of dehydration. The Sunshine Place investigates Synanon through survivors, former members, and more Society & Culture August 10, 2022 Listen to The Sunshine Place Further, it is foolish to treat all persons in the same manner. Janzen could have had this dissertation, but he was not looking for truth. Its wonderful. Campers say they had bruised ribs from an exercise in which they were ordered to lie on their backs while counselors ran across their chests in boots. That is why the health department took action in 1977. But he failed to see while controlled and anti-social pathology still existedit awaited release and that many were eager to respond to their old days ways if the message to do good turned to do bad. Once again, her counselors said that she was faking when she complained. We let, we let crazy people into the door and we dont discriminate. In the book The Tunnel Back Yablonsky, Dederich and another Dr. discuss that the Synanon system is similar to Dr. Liftons discussion of Chinese brainwashing. That is not ego. But these rules had long been eradicated at Synanon the root of todays confrontational-type therapeutic communities. Similarly, there is no evidence that every substance abuser is such for life and can only avoid destruction through one of these programs. Despite this, despite the warnings of so many other notables, despite Art Barkers total lack of credentials and less than admirable past, The Seed received a $1.8 million U.S. government grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) soon after it opened. I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies. Both boys had to navigate poverty and abuse, but Jollett's experience was vastly different from his brother's. This is due, in part, to many Synanites having left to form their own lucrative drug rehabilitation companiesa degree in medicine is not a requirement. "In the case of my brother, he became the scapegoat. Some of these programs were in the wilderness, some were high in the Mountains, or in deserts, or per parents trading children and keeping them in locked rooms when they were not in camps many of which were like old time chain gangs this saving cost of shelter and food. This program was called MATRIX. It also provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone. And it is no wonder that almost everywhere Synanon went, Dederich picked a location that was out of zone in which he knew they would be kicked out of, allowing him to claim outrage and obtain sympathy and donations. Many who studied Synanon agreed. *. Whatever value Synanon might have had, I believed then, it had been long-lost. What was it one in 25 days for 2 years? As to the above, I remain impressed with your apparent life long research into many areas, and you write so much, it is hard to know where to begin. And you quite accurately describe the reason, it was protected. It was like, 'Nothing ever gets to me. In one of his many papers on Synanon, Ofshe noted that it is doubtful that all the therapeutic communities that cloned themselves after Synanon would have done so if they heard Mr. Dederich testify as he did in 1979: its always a mistake to let anyone into Synanon. Fourteen-year-old Martin Lee Anderson was murdered within 3 hours of his arrival at a Florida boot camp that was run by the local sheriff, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, on January 6, 2006. It is also a story of the unconditional love between a also, to write a good book, you have to think that is what you are doing or it will not be a good book. . Where you at synanon in 1972-1973? The damage that has been done to many ,many children is unfathomable. Spankings with paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the ring. Were they all out to get rich at the sadistic treatment of others, or was this end in part of natural consequence of using such a punitive system, as suggested by the Stanford experiment on role playing of prisoners and guards? Unfortunately, came the imitators who sold the idea it was rehabilitative and copied it leading to a much greater list of damaged individuals than Synanon could ever achieve. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. Examined the UCLA records great comments from people, Yablonsky married a woman... That is why the health department took action in 1977 subject to,! Semi-Truck near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in June 1994 dawnne Takeuchi, 18, was killed she. Synanon the root of todays confrontational-type therapeutic communities semi-truck near Pagosa Springs,,! 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