Finding New Jerusalem
Michocan_We’ve gone West into Michoacan, past Tuluca which was not one of Mark’s favorite places - he sped through in the way that I would most preferably go through Los Angeles. There was a horrible smell and traffic that, not unlike Mexico City, was a Hobbsian exercise in competition for survival. We got out of there fast and kept going west into Patzcuaro where we would stay the night and then drive into New Jerusalem with some kind of plan in place to get into the town. Mark had been there seven years earlier when he was writing a millennium feature story and New Jerusalem members were expecting the world to end in 2000. But it didn’t, so the community continued. Vigilance at that time was high and the community had its own armed guards and people standing vigil at all times to keep people (especially reporters for which there was a permanent ban out). In recent years the community had experienced many problems, including allegations of sexual abuse and violence. There was no telling how we would be received. The chances of me being able to use a camera or audio device was practically nil.
