Pistoff:
Last night I had dinner with my elderly mother; a loyal dub since the 50's. She asked me AGAIN about her blood card, that she had not signed the new one.
I looked at her copy; she had REFUSED all the fractions and blood therapies in the appropriate boxes. I asked her why; she said:
" I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM"
Kerry, my mother is a walking talking illustration of your legal thesis.
My Mom didn't understand either ...and she died a few years ago, because she signed her life away on a blood card. A lot of older JW's have been so convinced over the years that ANY blood products = BAD, that even when the WT makes a change...they just cannot process it.
One reason why, IMHO, is when the GB makes changes...they do it quietly, no fanfare, no BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. It's always hidden somewhere in a magazine..."Questions from Readers" etc. If they were sincere, they would put it on the FRONT PAGE IN BIG LETTERS. Tell people in clear concise words that for instance: Hemoglobin is OK ! My Mom died over that one !
That of course, would be a little embarrassing for them. And we wouldn't want the Governing Body members to feel...uncomfortable, while people are dying. Wouldn't be prudent, eh ?
The GB always adds that little caveat, "Of course it's a 'conscience matter', but, if you stumble anothers' conscience by exercising yours...you can still be blood-guilty !" (paraphrased of course) "Conscience matter" = BAD in most JW's conditioned minds.
Scary: I always thought it was the older ones who might be confused or 'stuck in gear' about this...I was recently explaining to one of my semi-JW grown children, how hemoglobin IS 'approved', as a conscience matter by the WT. I had mentioned there had been many changes on this whole blood issue. She said, "right...that's why I will not take ANY blood products of any kind."
I said, "Excuse me, w-what ?
She said, "the GB are imperfect and some things end up changing ...back to the original understanding after a while. So, just to be careful...I won't take anything. Besides...I don't want to take a chance on stumbling anyone else."
"But, you would be dead," I said.
"But, I'd be resurrected," she says.
"But, you have kids who depend on you..." I suggested
They killed my Mom, now they have my children and grandchildren in their cross-hairs.
I want this to stop...
Rabbit
