Charles Manson, like Elvis, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, is a major cultural icon. His demonic visage, staring out from Life magazine's "Love and Terror Cult" cover story burned its way into our collective Jungian oversoul and there that image will reside forever.

Manson's an old man now, but he's lost none of his power as a living totem of pure evil. Why? Would the fears Charles Manson provokes be so potent if he was not exactly what he claims to be: a mirror image of us in the second half of the 20th Century--the American Dream driven deliriously and murderously insane?

The continuing fascination with Manson is testament enough to his enduring iconic legacy as societal bogeyman, but trendy glorification of Manson by artistically challenged rock stars (Axl Rose, Fred Durst) and the predictable trotting out of Charlie by tabloid television programs during sweeps week aside, it is not my intention to contribute here to the cult of Manson. This interview with Manson's friend and webmaster George Stimson should not be seen as an endorsement of Manson or his viewpoints. Nor is it a critique. It's there for you to make of it what you will.

However I do see Manson's place in American society as an important one: because underneath it all, beyond the hype of "the most evil man alive," Charles Manson has a pivotal role in the cosmic play as a teller of unpleasant truths . . . a warped witch doctor, a hillbilly exorcist, a white trash shaman . . .

"Your society is so distorted that a sane person would appear like a madman."

Manson has sat rotting in a birdcage for nearly thirty years, and has nothing to lose by speaking his mind. Nothing at all. Now his thoughts and his philosophy are available to anyone who cares to dial up his Access Manson Web site. Have fun . . .
~ ~ Richard Metzger.

Richard Metzger: What is your purpose in putting Access Manson on the World Wide Web in the first place and when did the site go up?

George Stimson: Access Manson went on-line on January 26, 1996, the 25th anniversary of Manson's illegal conviction for murder. The purpose of the site is stated on the home page, to tell the world the truth about Charles Manson and to get him his rights by showing how those rights were taken. This has not been possible through over 25 years of dealing with the mainstream media. They are only interested in presenting the same old story that still sells so well. Only through the technology of the World Wide Web, and by our ability to use that technology to put out exactly what we want, can we achieve our purposes.

RM: Why do you consider it important for the world to hear the philosophy of a man considered by some to be one of the most evil men alive?

GS: The world is in a lot of trouble from a lot of different directions, but most of the serious ones are grounded in overpopulation and its resultant ill effects, like pollution. Manson can restore mankind to its proper place in the natural order. It is the only real chance humans have for survival. That is important to us. As for people who think Manson is "one of the most evil men alive" -- we're not necessarily trying to reach them.

RM: "Manson can restore mankind to its proper place in the natural order." What do you mean by that?

GS: Mankind has been making a great effort over many centuries to separate itself from nature rather than admitting that it is a part of nature. As a result of this attitude man has placed himself in an adversarial role with everything that allows him to live. Instead of realizing his part in nature and working in harmony with it, man has viewed the natural world as something to be confronted, conquered, and used (sold). This has created an imbalance that threatens the survival of this planet. The solution to this problem is not really difficult to understand. But it means that people are going to have to make some real decisions, some hard choices. Manson has the mind to determine and implement those choices.

RM: Has Manson discussed with you what his plans are to deal with overpopulation?

GS: Well, he has said that 50 million people have to go, but I don't see where that would be enough. As to how they go, we've had some discussions on that, but not real specific planning. We haven't started figuring logistics or anything.

RM: What are Manson's feelings about having the uncensored direct access to the public that the WWW affords him?

GS: I put this question to Manson when he called the other night. His response:

CHARLES MANSON: That's like someone saying 'How do you feel that you have access to the mind?' The mind. Am I so persecuted and condemned that I don't even have access to the mind? That I can't even use the language anymore? What am I, on language restriction? In other words, I'm persecuted by everybody who feels like they want to get away with doing something to me, because I don't have any rights, but then when everybody wakes up that it's their rights, and then they're not going to have any rights. And they can't exist without rights. I can. Because I've never had any rights anyway. I was born on the wrong side of the law. So therefore, the world of darkness is mine. And then they're telling me that they don't want any darkness. There's no light without the darkness, because you've got to have both to have one.

The United States of America was based on my right to have access to the public. The bottom line is, I am the public. They sold the public, the public sold themselves. So as far as the public, I am the goddamn public. I'm the king of the public. I'm the leader of this whole damn world. I have a one world government that's in my mind. I have a one world mind that's in my soul. Everybody in the public is dead, unless they live in my grace. They're already dead. They're killing themselves in all kinds of ways.