One would think that Charles Manson is long past any effective influence on society. Aside from the occasional oddball who reads Helter Skelter and thinks Manson may have been on to something about this coming race war business, the perpetual inmate just wouldn’t seem like the kind of guy to attract acolytes.
But that would be a wrong assumption. It turns out that Manson has an online presence, and he has people who work that for him.
Charles Manson’s public work goes by the initials A.T.W.A. In its original sense, it stands for Air, Trees, Water, Animals. It is an ecological philosophy that he embraced even back in his Family days, before the murders and incarcerations.
Nowadays, the initials also stand for All The Way Alive. According to its website, the movement traces its roots back to the Manson Family.
”In 1967, we of the so-called “Manson Family” started the spectrum of colors into thought chambers related to the colors of the sky, earth, water, fire, plants, flowers, bugs, sea life and so on… The Earth is dying. We tried to tell you that 40 years ago but no one hears life on earth, they want it in outer space… Only a one world government will redeem ATWA on Earth…’’ – Charles Manson
The website itself claims to have been built “to put forth to the world, Charles Manson’s vision of Earth-Balance known as ATWA, it stands in defiance to those who have sold the world a lie. It exists as an archive of Mansonite thought collected from the last 40+ years”
The webmaster of the site is a fan who considers Manson a prophet. “Because he is infinitely wise and possesses just understanding, he is creative, honest, aware and unlike anyone on Earth.”
The site even espouses the old Helter Skelter notions as being applicable in today’s world.
Manson’s outreach via this site and other outlets has netted him admirers, not the least of which is one woman who considers herself Manson’s “wife”. Her name is Afton Burton, but she calls herself Star, and she says she hopes to become Manson’s official spouse one day.
“He filed for the first round of paperwork,” she told CNN. “I’m completely with him, and he’s completely with me. It’s what I was born for, you know. I don’t know what else to say.”
She even says that they would be married already if people with life sentences in California were allowed conjugal visits.
“I’ll tell you straight up, Charlie and I are going to get married. When that will be, we don’t know. But I take it very seriously. Charlie is my husband. Charlie told me to tell you this.”
But Charlie himself shrugs it off.
“Oh that,” he said. “That’s a bunch of garbage. You know that, man. That’s trash. We’re just playing that for public consumption.”
Image via YouTube