"And you probably remember all of those papers and documents that they had published in the newspapers. And, you know, when you look at that, it really was their own little jihad that they had going. It just wasn't taken very seriously then"

This quote from Patty Hearst referrals her personal experiences and wider concerns associated with details dissemination and public understanding, especially concerning extreme and militant activities throughout the time of her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) in the 1970s. Hearst, when a prominent kidnapping victim, later on ended up being a questionable figure when she was seen helping her captors in their criminal acts. Her reference of "documents and documents that they had actually released in the newspapers" likely describes the SLA's efforts to communicate their ideology and demands to the general public through manifestos and communiques sent out to media outlets. These files belonged to their strategy to gather attention and legitimize their actions by framing them as revolutionary or in pursuit of justice.

Describing these efforts as "their own little jihad" underscores the strength and conviction with which the SLA pursued their cause, comparing it to a personal holy war. The term "jihad" typically stimulates notions of struggle or dispute, sometimes with religious undertones, suggesting the SLA viewed their battle with a comparable degree of seriousness and moral necessary. Nevertheless, Hearst's use of "little" might be perceived as an effort to minimize or belittle the perceived impact or severity of their actions at the time, possibly showing hindsight or a societal underestimation of the group's possible risk and ideological dedication.

The phrase "it simply wasn't taken really seriously then" suggests that there was a detach in between the group's self-perception and how they were perceived by the public and authorities. This might recommend either a social desensitization to extreme movements at the time or a failure of these groups to interact their message effectively. Hearst's reflection might also hint at how hindsight can change one's understanding of occasions, acknowledging that actions or groups as soon as dismissed or undervalued can get significance or notoriety over time. This quote records the complicated interplay of media, perception, and impact worrying extreme societal movements in the 1970s.