In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
Death of a Myth
As Susan nears the conclusion of her work
The Myth of Helter Skelter
(by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse),
Susan tells us;
"...In 1974 I made the best decision of my life
when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
Since that day my life has got better
each and every year.
I have been blessed over and over again."
"...ceased being a part of my life in 1972,
and this case stopped being a part of my life in 1974.
While I still take responsibility for my part,
I no longer allow it to dictate
what I am going to do in the future.
As Susan nears the conclusion of her work
The Myth of Helter Skelter
(by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse),
Susan tells us;
"...In 1974 I made the best decision of my life
when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
Since that day my life has got better
each and every year.
I have been blessed over and over again."
"...ceased being a part of my life in 1972,
and this case stopped being a part of my life in 1974.
While I still take responsibility for my part,
I no longer allow it to dictate
what I am going to do in the future.
No matter what mistakes you may have made in the past,
they do not give you any excuses for failing to move forward
with your life to make the most of it
and to be the best possible influence on those around you..."
"...My hope for this book has from the start been that
it will lay the crimes out in a way that makes them look like
what they really were.
There is nothing mystic about them.
Nothing impressive.
Nothing worthy of admiration.
It is also my hope
something good will come out of this.
Every year I receive dozens of letters from people
asking me for advice in reaching their sons or daughters
or their younger relatives concerning either drugs
or the pitfalls of cults and gang-mentality.
Sometimes I get letters from police officers or correctional officers
working with youth asking how to reach children and young adults
when they get to the point where they're so alienated
they no longer listen or trust anyone.
And that's a tough question.
they do not give you any excuses for failing to move forward
with your life to make the most of it
and to be the best possible influence on those around you..."
"...My hope for this book has from the start been that
it will lay the crimes out in a way that makes them look like
what they really were.
There is nothing mystic about them.
Nothing impressive.
Nothing worthy of admiration.
It is also my hope
something good will come out of this.
Every year I receive dozens of letters from people
asking me for advice in reaching their sons or daughters
or their younger relatives concerning either drugs
or the pitfalls of cults and gang-mentality.
Sometimes I get letters from police officers or correctional officers
working with youth asking how to reach children and young adults
when they get to the point where they're so alienated
they no longer listen or trust anyone.
And that's a tough question.
One of the most important things to take from this whole story
is that actions lead to consequences.
Freedom involves responsibilities.
Freedom is a gift and a treasure.
That's what I'd like to think young people will take from this story.
This is the past I have to live with,
and I have to live with it every day.
Unlike the reader,
or the people who seem to think
Charles Manson was cool,
I can't think about it for an hour or so
and then go on with my life.
This is with me every day.
I have to wake up every day with this
and no matter how much I give back to the community
I will never be able to replace what my crime took away.
And that's not 'neat', and that's not 'cool'..."
The myth is dead.
(All quotes are from
The Myth of Helter Skelter
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse)
home
is that actions lead to consequences.
Freedom involves responsibilities.
Freedom is a gift and a treasure.
That's what I'd like to think young people will take from this story.
This is the past I have to live with,
and I have to live with it every day.
Unlike the reader,
or the people who seem to think
Charles Manson was cool,
I can't think about it for an hour or so
and then go on with my life.
This is with me every day.
I have to wake up every day with this
and no matter how much I give back to the community
I will never be able to replace what my crime took away.
And that's not 'neat', and that's not 'cool'..."
The myth is dead.
(All quotes are from
The Myth of Helter Skelter
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse)
home
