Charles Tex Watson and the Manson Family

Charles Tex Watson went from being an A student in his Texas high school to Charles Mansons right-hand man and a cold-blooded murderer. He led the killing spree at the  Tate and LaBianca  residences and participated in killing each member of both households. Found guilty of killing seven people, Watson is living out his life in prison as an ordained minister. He got married and divorced and fathered four children while in prison, and he claims to feel remorse about those he murdered. Childhood and College Charles Denton Watson was born in Dallas, Texas, on December 2, 1945. His parents settled in Copeville, Texas, a small, impoverished town where they worked at the local gas station and spent time at their church. The Watsons believed in the American dream and worked hard to provide better lives for their three children, of which Charles was the youngest. Their lives were financially modest, but their children were happy and were following proper paths. As Charles got older he became involved in his parents church, the Copeville Methodist Church, where he led devotions for the youth group and regularly attended Sunday night evangelistic services. In  high school, he was an honor student and track star who set records in high hurdles. He also was editor of the school paper. Determined to attend college, Watson worked at an onion packing plant to save money. His small hometown was beginning to close in on him, and he dreamed of gaining independence by attending college 50 miles away. In September 1964, Watson went to Denton, Texas, to begin his first year at  North Texas State University. His parents were proud of him, and Watson was excited and ready to enjoy his newfound freedom. Academia quickly took a backseat to parties. Watson joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity in his second semester, and his focus switched to sex and alcohol. He participated in fraternity pranks, some more serious than others. One involved stealing, and for the first time he disappointed his parents by admitting he broke the law. But his parents lectures failed to dissuade him from getting back to the campus fun. Drugs In January 1967 he began working at Braniff Airlines as a baggage boy. He earned free airline tickets, which he used to impress his girlfriends by taking them for weekend trips to Dallas and Mexico. He was getting a taste of the world away from Texas, and he liked it. During a visit to a fraternity brothers home in Los Angeles, California, Watson was attracted to the psychedelic atmosphere of drugs and free love that took over the Sunset Strip during the 60s. Against his parents wishes, in August 1967 Watson left NTSU and moved to Los Angeles. To keep a promise to his parents to finish college, he began attending classes in business administration at  California State University. He swapped his once-cherished frat clothes for the cooler hippie look, and his preferred high switched from alcohol to marijuana. Watson enjoyed becoming part of the group that separated themselves from the establishment. After a few months, Watson took a job as a wig salesman and quit Cal State. He moved to West Hollywood and  then to Laurel Canyon in a house behind the Strip. His mother visited him just once, after he was hurt in a serious car accident. Unimpressed with his lifestyle, she begged him to return to Texas. Although part of him wanted to return to his hometown, pride kept him from going. He would not see her again until he was on the run for  killing  seven people. Watson began dealing marijuana, and he and his roommate opened a wig shop called Love Locs. It closed quickly, and Watson began relying on drug dealing to pay for his Malibu lifestyle. His desire to earn money soon yielded to wanting to get high, go to rock concerts, and lie on the beach, becoming what he thought was a full-time hippie. He had found his place in the world. Life-Changing Meeting Watsons life changed forever after he picked up a hitchhiker: Dennis Wilson, a member of the rock group the Beach Boys. After they arrived at Wilsons Pacific Palisades mansion, Wilson invited Watson to see the house and meet the people hanging out there. They included Dean Moorehouse, an ex-Methodist minister, and Charlie Manson. Wilson invited Watson to return to the mansion anytime to hang out and swim in the Olympic-size pool. The mansion was filled with dropouts doing drugs and listening to music. Watson eventually moved in, mingling with rock musicians, actors, children of stars, Hollywood producers, Manson, and members of Mansons Love Family. He was proud that a boy from Texas was rubbing elbows with the famous, and he was drawn to Manson and his family, Mansons prophesying, and the relationship his family members had with one another. Manson Family Watson began taking hallucinogens regularly and became consumed by a drug-induced perspective in which he believed love and deep bonds of friendship were formed. He described it as a kind of connection even deeper and better than sex. His friendship with Moorehouse and many of Mansons girls deepened, and they encouraged him to rid himself of his ego and join the Manson family. Wilson began to pull away from the regulars living in his mansion after complaints of child sexual abuse circulated. His manager told Moorehouse, Watson, and others that they had to leave. With nowhere to go, Moorehouse and Watson turned to Manson. Acceptance wasnt immediate, but in time Watsons name changed from Charles to Tex, he gave all his possessions to Charlie, and moved in with the family. In November 1968 Watson left the Manson family and moved to Hollywood with his girlfriend. They were financially comfortable drug peddlers, and Watson changed his hippie image to a more stylish Hollywood look. As their relationship fell apart, Watsons desire to reunite with the Manson family grew. By March 1969, he was back at the nearby Spahn Ranch, a 55-acre former movie set the family had occupied. But their focus had changed into something sinister, which the family called Helter Skelter. For several  months, Manson spent long hours talking about Helter Skelter, a race war he envisioned to help change society. But the revolution was not happening quickly enough for Manson, and he conceived a plan to kick-start it. On August 8, 1969, the first phase of Helter Skelter began. Manson put Watson in charge of three family members—Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. He instructed Watson to go to 10050 Cielo Drive and kill everyone inside the home, make it look bad, but most important make sure each girl participated. Murders With Watson in the lead, the four entered the home of actress Sharon Tate-Polanski. Once inside they brutally beat, stabbed, or shot the occupants, including the eight-months-pregnant Tate, who begged for her babys life and cried out for her mother as they stabbed her 15 times. Also found shot to death was 18-year-old Steven Earl Parent, who was visiting the caretaker and was caught by the Manson group as he left the house. The next day Manson, Watson, Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, and Steve Grogan drove to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. Manson and Watson entered the home and bound the couple, then Manson left and sent in Krenwinkel and Van Houten. They stabbed and beat Leno, then Rosemary, then scrawled on the walls in blood the misspelled words Healter Skelter and Kill the Pigs, with triggering a race war in mind. Manson had issued the order to kill but left before the killing began. Eight days after the Cielo Drive murders, police raided Spahn Ranch and rounded up several members on auto theft charges. After the raid the rest of the family headed for Death Valley, but not before Manson, Watson, Grogan, Bill Vance and Larry Bailey killed ranch hand Donald Shorty Shea. Manson believed Shea was the snitch responsible for the raid. Watson stayed with the Manson family until early October, then decided to return to Texas. But his dramatic change since he left home in 1964 made it difficult to stay. He decided to go to Mexico but felt a strong pull to return to Charlie and his real family. He flew to L.A., got near to where the family was staying, but stopped short, believing that Charlie would kill him. Charged Watson returned to his family in Texas, cut his hair, and tried to blend in with this unfamiliar world. He reunited with an old girlfriend and reduced his drug use. The future began to show some promise as parts of his old life returned. All that stopped on November 30, when he was arrested and charged with seven counts of murder for the Tate and LaBianca killings. It took his mother years to believe the charges. Some Manson family members had revealed to the Los Angeles district attorneys office what they had heard around the ranch following the murders. Atkins, who had been arrested, couldnt resist bragging about the family and the murders while in the Sybil Brand Institute for Women east of downtown Los Angeles. Later she told the same story to the grand jury and described Watsons involvement. Not long after, Watson was located in Texas and arrested. After fighting extradition to California for nine months, Watson was finally returned on September 11, 1970. By this time Manson and several of his girls were in their third month of trial. The extradition process prevented Watson from being tried with the group and gave him a chance to see who was being blamed for which crimes so he would know what to admit and what had been blamed on others. Watson began suffering from acute paranoia and regressed to a fetal state, stopped eating, and lost considerable weight. He was sent to Atascadero State Hospital for evaluation of his fitness to stand trial. On August 2, 1971, Watson finally went on trial for the brutal murders. Trial District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi had successfully prosecuted the others involved in the Tate-LaBianca murders and now began the trial of the last, most culpable of all involved. Dressed in a suit and holding the Bible, Watson pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, yet he was sane enough to admit on the stand only the crimes he knew the prosecution was already aware of. He did not admit to killing Tate or being with Manson when the LaBiancas were taken captive. After two and a half hours of deliberation, Watson was found to have been sane during the murders and received a death sentence. Husband, Father, Author From November 1971 until September 1972, Watson was on death row at San Quentin prison, north of San Francisco. After California briefly outlawed the death penalty, he was moved to California Mens Colony in San Luis Obispo, where he met Chaplain Raymond Hoekstra and became a born-again Christian. Five years after mercilessly murdering seven people, Watson was teaching Bible studies, eventually leading him to form his own prison ministry, Abounding Love Ministries. During his stay at the Colony he wrote an autobiography, Will You Die for Me?, published in 1978. He married Kristin Joan Svege and in 1979 gained the trust of Suzanne Struthers, Rosemary LaBiancas daughter, who fought for his release during a 1990 parole hearing. Through conjugal visits, he and his wife had four children. In 1996 conjugal visits for prisoners serving life sentences were banned. In 2003, he and his wife divorced. As of October 2019, Watson was in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. Three years earlier he was denied parole for the 17th time. He will next be eligible for parole in 2021. Sources Bugliosi, Vincent and Gentry, Curt. Helter Skelter. Bantam Books.Hamilton, Matt. Parole denied for convicted Manson follower Charles ‘Tex’ Watson. Los Angeles Times.Murphy, Bob. Desert Shadows. Sagebrush. Steffens, Bradley. The Trial of Charles Manson. Lucent Books.

Comparison of how The Flea and To His Coy Mistress Present...

The Flea and To His Coy Mistress are two poems written by poets living during the Renaissance Period. To His Coy Mistress was written by Andrew Marvell and The Flea was written by John Donne. Both of these poets were well-educated metaphysical poets, and these poems illustrate metaphysical concerns, highly abstract and theoretical ideas, that the poets would have been interested in. Both poems are based around the same idea of trying to reason with a mistress as to why they should give up their virginity to the poet. There is a similar theme running through both of the poems, in which both mistresses are refusing to partake in sexual intercourse with both of the poets. The way in which both poets present their argument is quite†¦show more content†¦He goes on to suggest that, when she has killed the flea that holds blood, which in this case is considered as ?life?, from both him and her, that the blood lost had not weakened them (?Find?st not thyself, nor me the weaker now?) and she had not lost any honour. Therefore, with these points considered, the blood she would lose to him would not make her weaker and she would not lose any honour, ?Just so much honour, when thou yield?st to me/ Will waste, as this flea?s death took life from thee?. To some extent, both poets express a way in which they will consummate or have consummated their mistress. Marvell suggests that they should ?roll all their strength and all/ Their sweetness into one ball? and ?tear? their pleasures ?with rough strife/ Through the iron gates of life.? Whereas Marvell explains the consummation as aggressive, sensual and romantic, Donne uses the flea, a very insignificant, unromantic creature, to imply sexual intercourse, ?and in this flee, our two bloods mingled be.? In any poetry, the language used is of paramount importance to the feel and meaning of the poem. Donne and Marvell integrate metaphysical conceits into their writings, Marvell suggests his ?vegetable love? for his mistress, even though this is not, on the whole, very romantic, it illustrates a steadfast idea of natural, organic love that holds no lies and is not temporary, maybe likeShow MoreRelatedthatcher4803 Words   |  20 Pagesï » ¿1. G. M. Hopkins, â€Å"The Windhover†, â€Å"I wake and feel the fell of dark†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2. William Shakespeare, Sonnets 1-7 3. John Donne, â€Å"Valediction Forbidding Mourning†, â€Å"The Flea†, â€Å"Hymn to God, My God in my Sickness† 4. George Herbert, â€Å"The Collar†, â€Å"The Altar†, â€Å"Love III† 5. Andrew Marvell, â€Å"To his Coy Mistress† 6. T.S. Eliot, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, â€Å"Journey of the Magi† 2. Poems for individual reading: 1. William Shakespeare Sonnet 73 (â€Å"That time of year†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) 2. John Donne, â€Å"Holy

Social Significance of Architecture Free Essays

Social Significance of Architecture The use of architecture to improve society dates back as far as any records go. Whether it was the Romans building coliseums, Egyptians constructing pyramids, or the Indians putting up teepees, architecture was a very important aspect of people’s lives. Since the earliest of times, architecture has been used to design homes and shelters, as well as centers of gathering for the public. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Significance of Architecture or any similar topic only for you Order Now These structures were very well respected by society, and for many years were the only thing for the public to take pride in. Architecture proved to have a huge impact on the lives of people many years ago. But over the past century, the social significance of architects and architecture in our society has been going down. The importance of well designed, eye-pleasing buildings has begun to be overlooked. The hard work and dedication that many architects put in everyday is being ignored by today’s society. But I believe that architecture strongly influences the choices that people make in their daily lives, helps aid the economy, and gives architects critical thinking skills that allow them to make decisions that could have a significant impact on society. The most straight forward way that architects affect today’s society is that they design the structures that people use everyday for businesses, sports events, and homes. Architects make a community much more livable and attractive for those who view it. For an architect, it is vital to ensure and dignify the lives of those who live in it (Heyer). For this reason, communities will expand greatly do to the aesthetic quality of the buildings and homes. Along with the sense of visual appeal, another factor that comes into play are the mental aspects that many people subconsciously have while viewing a structure. Several people will make decisions not only off the look, but also the sense of security and safety that they feel about a certain structure. Local architect, Kelly McMurphy, said in a personal interview that â€Å"the aesthetic quality of the design comes second to the precautions that must be taken to ensure the safety of the people†. The mindset of the viewer can be strongly influenced by the architect, and will in turn encourage or discourage a person towards the piece of work. Another way that architecture has an impact of society is that it aids in boosting and supporting the economy. An architect must assume a vital role in protecting the economic state of a community, state, or country (Heyer). As businesses urchase buildings to further their market and families purchase homes to move into, money is shoved into the economy in large portions. With more and more people looking for venues to start or continue their industry, the need for architects rises to new heights. The economy is stimulated greatly by the investments of these structures, and it all begins with an architect designing the structure to be pur chased. Architects can also have a significant responsibility in society by the decisions that they make and the role that they play in the community that may effect the public. The architecture programs and job fields often facilitate the development of critical thinking skills that can often be applied to solving problems and addressing situations beyond the realm of design (Jubany). The ablility to plan, order, and discipline is quite characteristic of modern architects (Heyer). Architects play a significant role in improving the well-being of the community by being involved in nonprofit organizations and raising critical awareness of social issues (Jubany). Because of this, architects can influence society in ways outside of the studio that do not require their professional skills, but rather their critical thinking and ability to process situations in an educated fashion. The last way that architecture displays an impact on society is the fact that it sheds a new light on the modern art. In a time where the arts are beginning to dwindle out, architecture helps portray the importance of having respect and knowledge of modern art. Along with the increase in the public respect of art comes the increase in respect of the arts by the government. In recent years, the government has begun to make nationwide cuts on art funding. Funding of art programs by local and national governments have been cut nearly in half over the last ten years (Heyer). The rise of respect and knowledge for art will help in encouraging the government to put more funding towards art and art related groups. Many may argue that an occupation in architecture is not as important to society as a teacher or a doctor because is does not have as direct of an impact. But when it is looked into deeper, the jobs of doctors and teachers are only possible because an architect provides them with a place to carry out their occupations. Improving education, treating the ill, and imprisoning the criminals would not be an option if it were not for the designing and planning of an architect. The importance of an architect in today’s society is strongly overlooked by most people. Architects provide visual appeal to a community and give people a sense of protection and security. They are also capable of affecting society outside of the studio by providing educated decisions to the community. Without architects, many other businesses and occupations would struggle to expand, or not be possible at all. Works Cited Jubany, Helena L. â€Å"The Social Responsibility of Architects. † DesignIntelligence. Di. net, 9 June 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. http://www. di. net/articles/archive/the_social_responsibility_architects/. Heyer, Paul. Architects on Architecture; New Directions in America. New York: Walker, 1966. Print. McMurphy, Kelly. Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2012. How to cite Social Significance of Architecture, Essay examples

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement actions speak louder than words free essay sample

That actions play an important role in making every persons life is an undeniable fact. Should people realize the advantages of being active persons instead of being talkative person in their lives, they will ponder over them much more scrupulously. This issue has recently been the topic of debate among experts. I do believe that our actions speak louder than our words, and these are my justifications. To begin with, in these days everyone speaks about everything but I believe that actions impress persons and remain in minds, for example a lover always talks about his bravery and courage for his sweetheart, but if he proves it by his actions, she will impress there for she will believe that he is a brave man in her heart, otherwise she will never emphasize to his words a lot. The second reason why i advocate this point of view lies in the fact that actions explain our personality traits because we just can prove our personality traits like honesty, loyalty, sacrifice, kindness, faithfulness, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? actions speak louder than words or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page for example we can prove kindness with our actions like by helping who needs our considerations, or we can prove our sacrifice by disregarding our wanting in front of our friends or family. Finally, I believe that our actions make our success therefore they make our lives. For example, I want to be an engineer, therefore I should try hard by studying hard and attending to classes and if I do these works, I can be an engineer and not by saying words like that I want to be an engineer. By taking all above-mentioned arguments into consideration, the following conclusions can be drawn about the issue. Understanding the advantages of being active person in life is logical. Attending to this issue properly contributes to people to being active person not being talkative person, and can improve their personality and lives.