I found the story of the abducted young boys very moving this weekend. It must have been an absolute miracle for Shawn Hornbeck's parents to find him again.
I understand that young Shawn had relative 'freedom' at times when his captor was at work. I understand that many people will not understand why Shawn did not run away at those times. But Shawn's captor was clever. He knew where to put the bars on Shawn, and he chose to put them around his mind. So Shawn, even with the front door wide open could not run away because Shawn was in an even stronger prison than any bars could build.
I have recently been very intolerant of my JW relatives, but the extreme example of young Shawn has reminded me, how easy it is to be imprisoned with mind control. Sometimes I think that is why I am still so angry at the WTBTS and JWs, because most of myself is out of that prison, but my foot seems to have got stuck!!
I watched a programme on prisons in, I believe it was a Scandinavian country. There are no bars in this prison. There are no gates or locks. However, when interviewed the psychologist in charge of the prison said that they kept their prisoners under control more effectively. They put the bars in the minds of their prisoners. The prisoners were electronically watched constantly, but they could not run away and they did NOT run away.
People in general need to be made more aware of thought/mind control. Those who have never been trapped in such situations can probably not understand how difficult it is to break free. I understand with the Scandinavian prison example, prisoners still 'behaved' for much longer on leaving prison that those incarcerated in cells.
I hope that young Shawn can be helped in time to break free of his bars, as in the case of the young german girl who recently escaped from her captor of years. I understand that she too is needing a lot of psychological support now.
But cults and abusers all use the same method of control, 'fear of' and' what if'?
I'm going to try to be a lot more patient, and perhaps a lot more clever when I'm with our JWs.
There just doesn't seem to be an easy way to unlock those prison bars that doesn't cause pain sooner or later though.
In the mean time, I hope that all goes well for young Shawn Hornbeck and his very happy and relieved family.
Good Luck, Shawn!