http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ql3yrDs6Cc

Jonestown, the informal name for the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, was the home of an American religious organization lead by Jim Jones. On November 18, 1978, 918 people died in the settlement, at the nearby airstrip, and in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Of the 909 who died in the settlement, all but two were killed by cyanide poisoning. An additional five were gunned down at the nearby airstrip, including United States Congressman Leo Ryan. In this video, Jonestown survivor Vernon Gosney speaks about surviving that day. Gosney claims to be the one responsible for trying to communicate to Congressman Ryan and his delegation that a number of Temple members were unhappy, however his letter instead ended up in Jones’s hands. Says Gosney: “There was great terror and fear. I never thought I was going to get out alive.”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RO0m7HMYlA

U.S. veteran Gerald M. Boe, the guard for Hermann Göring during the Nuremberg Trials, shares his memories of that time. Göring was one of the surviving leaders of the Third Reich and the highest-ranking Nazi to be tried at the Nuremberg Trials where he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death. Boe would have to frequently tell Göring to sit-down because he was “ranting and raving about the sentence that he got.” The night before Göring’s sentencing to death by hanging was to be carried out, Boe recalls how Göring took the cyanide pill that was smuggled into his cell–committing suicide. The Nuremberg trials in Nuremberg, Germany began on November 20, 1945 and ended on October 1, 1946 held by Allied forces after World War II for the prosecution of members within the Nazi leadership.

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Hermann Göring’s Guard on His Suicide at Nuremberg Trials appeared first on Witnify.

“I realize that stories in the press regarding my drug use may make you think that this request comes from a desire to parallel our lives. Let me assure you that this is not the case. As a fan and student of your work, I would cherish the opportunity to work directly with you…”

Although Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain and famous author William S. Burroughs collaborated on the EP entitled “The ‘Priest’ They Called Him,” they never had the chance to meet while recording. Intent on meeting the literary icon whose voice he accompanies on the track, Cobain penned a letter to Burroughs asking him to appear in Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” music video–even in disguise. Although the offer was declined, the pair finally met several months before Cobain’s death. The letter:

August 2, 1993

Mr. William Burroughs
WILLIAM BURROUGHS COMUNICATIONS

Dear William:

It’s a bit odd writing someone whom I’ve never met but with whom I’ve already recorded a record. I really enjoyed the opportunity to do the record — it’s a great honor to be pictured alongside you on the back cover. I am writing you now regarding the possibility of your appearing alongside my band (Nirvana) in the first video from our new album, “In Utero.”

While I know that Michael Meisel from Gold Mountain Entertainment (my management company) has been speaking to James Grauerholz, I wanted the opportunity to personally let you know why I wanted you to appear in the video. 

Most importantly, I wanted you to know that this request is not based on a desire to exploit you in any way. I realize that stories in the press regarding my drug use may make you think that this request comes from a desire to parallel our lives. Let me assure you that this is not the case. As a fan and student of your work, I would cherish the opportunity to work directly with you. To the extent that you may want to avoid any direct use of your image (thus avoiding the aforementioned link for the press to devour). I would be happy to have my director look into make-up techniques that could conceal your identity. While I would be proud to have William Burroughs appear as himself in my video, I am more concerned with getting the opportunity to work with you than I am with letting the public know (should that be your wish).

Having said that, let me reiterate how much I would like to make this happen. While I am comfortable letting Michael and James discuss this further, I am available to discuss this with you at your convenience.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Best regards,

(Signed, ‘Kurt’)

Kurt Cobain”

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[Text] Kurt Cobain’s Letter To William S. Burroughs appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RfmqrMTvPE

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, has become the frontline for war between Taliban insurgents and western troops. In this interview, two failed suicide bombers, Abdul Quboshi and Farman Ullah, discuss how they got involved with the Taliban.  The young boys explain that they were at school when the Taliban came to talk with them, claiming that it was their religious duty under Jihad to become suicide bombers and that they would be immediately taken to “paradise” once they followed through. They talk about the explosives that were strapped to their vests and their mission of killing a local Afghan governor. Hekmat Karzai, an expert on the Taliban’s ability to brainwash their participants, explains how they use the religious obligation of Jihad to justify war and recruit suicide bombers.

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Techniques of the Taliban to Recruit Suicide Bombers appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfSXE9JehLI

Courtney Love discusses her husband’s suicide and her feelings of guilt and blame. She thinks that a major reason he killed himself was because he dropped their daughter on her head. Cobain committed suicide on April 5, 1994.

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Courtney Love on Kurt Cobain’s Suicide appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3KUlXhH72A

Dave Grohl speaks out about the death of bandmate Kurt Cobain in this 2011 interview and remembers his reaction when he heard the news of Cobain’s suicide on April 5, 1994.

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Dave Grohl on the Death of Kurt appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qibk2XNemY

Rolling Stone Music Editor David Frick explains the untapped potential that Kurt Cobain had left in him before his sudden death on April 5, 1994.

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Rolling Stone Reaction to Kurt Cobain’s Death appeared first on Witnify.