Sin and suffering are satanic Siamese twins; the latter always accompanies the former.

The evil genius of Abbie Hoffman enabled him to make sin appear glamorous, and he lured countless young people into a life of pain and misery through drugs and disease.

Hoffman was an "activist" in the New Left that ranted and raged in the 1960's. He founded an amorphous organization called the Youth International Party, commonly known as the Yippies. The members of this "party" sought to employ sex and drugs to de-energize and destroy American society. Hoffman practiced what Herbert Marcuse preached.

He wrote the book Revolution for the Hell of It in which he promoted the use of sex and drugs. He commended girls who ran away from home in their early teens and joined the promiscuous hordes of "street people." He promoted theft by another book entitled, Steal This Book.

He captivated the news media by promoting the "Theatre of the Absurd," casting dollar bills over the brokers in the New York Stock Exchange, and claiming to levitate, or lift from the ground, the pentagon, during a protest demonstration against the Vietnam War.

His true character was revealed when he fled to escape arrest for selling a large quantity of Cocaine. When he finally surrendered to the authorities after spending years underground, he was treated as a hero by many in the news media.

In one sense, Hoffman serves as a mirror in which the true character of much of the news media is revealed. I first learned of his death from a program on CNN Television. Judging by the adulation given him by the announcer, it might be thought he was worthy of sainthood. His co-conspirators, Jerry Rubin and William Kuntsler, were presented to eulogize him. Rubin, brushing away crocodile tears, claimed Hoffman had changed the world.

In a sense, Rubin was right. As a pusher of drugs, Hoffman increased drug abuse and its associated disease in the U.SA. and Europe.

Shakespeare states in the play, Julius Caesar: "The evil men do lives after them. " This is certainly true of Hoffman Many will continue to sin and suffer from the evil which he did. Drugs will destroy lives and children will suffer abuse.

During much of his life he wore the uniform of a clown. While making others laugh, his own misery must have been intense. I am reminded of the story of the man who consulted a doctor because of severe suicidal depression. The doctor prescribed tranquilizers and anti-depressants without success. Finally in desperation he said: "Recently I attended an entertainment which featured a brilliant clown. He provoked roars of laughter from the audience. I have never laughed so much in my life. Go and watch him."

Sadly the man replied: "Sir, I am that clown."

The suicide of Abbie Hoffman, in the prime of his life, proclaims to all the world, "I was that clown."

(This article was written by Dr. Fred Schwarz and appeared in the 15 May 1989 issue of his bulletin, Christian Anti-Communism Crusade, P. 0. Box 890, Long Beach, CA 90801-0890. Many of us remember the rebellion and mayhem promoted by Hoffman. He hated every standard and symbol of authority, both civil and religious. "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities" [Jude 81. Hoffman's tragic suicide confirms what the Bible says of such people: "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption " [2 Pet. 2:19]. Ron Halbrook, 654 Gray St., W. Columbia, TX 77486.)

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 19, p. 585
October 5, 1989