WILL YOU kindly help me?

by Terry 86 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Terry

  You hadn't committed a sin in God's eye; but in the government's eyes. You could not get out of going to the War on your own merit--just because YOU didn't think it was right--that's pretty sad. Why didn't "The Society" help guys like you get up to Canada? I guess they felt you had to pay Caesar's things to Caesar! I don't understand that part. They wanted you to resist induction; but not help you to escape inprisonment! Something's wrong with that picture!
  

  They will come stand guard at a hospital where someone is being asked to take blood; but didn't do the same thing in your case! Your life, mental health, physical well-being, and all were at stake! How come they didn't feel the same way about a teenager refusing induction as they did about a teenager refusing blood?

  And why do you have to be affiliated with a church and considered a "minister" to not have to go to war? That's not right either!

  The Society's idea, I'm fairly certain, was making a theatrical spectacle of JW's any way they could get them to co-operate. Not celebrating birthdays is one way on a small level. But, think how that affects a little kid and their social life at school! It puts them on the outs.

  I went along with making the decision not so much because I completely understood the logic of it. It was simply made crystal clear that this is what I am supposed to do if I am a servant of Jehovah who possesses integrity. It is like listening to your doctor's advice and not really understand how the regimen is going to make you well.

  Neither the Society nor the local congregations gave much consideration as a group or as individuals to brothers in prison.

  There was a Brother Bourgeoise from a Dallas congregation who came out once a month as a kind of Circuit Servant. He gave an hour talk. I'm cynical enough to think he did it to report the time! I don't remembe anything at all special about what he said or the attention he gave to us.
• 

  Terry

  Did you ever privately ask Jehovah "What gives?"?

  I had an "inner monlogue" conversation with Jehovah day and night. It was like a crazy person on the street talking to themselves! It was a prayer non-stop. It kept me in the state of mind I needed to stay focused.

  It creeps me out talking about it now, believe me!
• 

  Terry

  Have you checked w/an entertainment lawyer on the real names in your book? I think you might have an issue there.The reason why in the beginning of books they say "any resemblance to actual persons, places or events is entirely coincidental" is to protect folks legally. Yours are obviously not just coincidental resemblances. If it were NON FICTION, stating true names would be one thing since you are standing behind your statements about their actions and words. But putting a person who is a correctional officer, in a particular prison, with a specific name and time frame-I think you have trouble. Fictionalize every name or do a memoir and tell it like it was. I favor the Memoir approach rather than the fictional, but of course that is your call.

  I was just considering this very thing today! I've come to the same conclusion you have. I need to disguise the actual names. I'm toying with the idea of keeping the names similar enough so that actual persons can be identified. But, maybe I'll go allegorical. I don't know yet. Thanks for raising this issue.

  I had no idea until this post (or it got lost in all the thousands of posts I have read) of your experience. I can't wait to read the book! I hope you are able to find a publisher that will promote it. With all the funky JW things happening, it might be more likely to happen with a timely and compelling story of how the WT treats its sales personnel. How the congregation treats those who put it on the line for the vindication of their organizational name.

  It is first and foremost an autobiographical memoir cum novel. There will be plenty of JW information in depth, but; not the usual moaning and groaning and epiphany story.

  I read a true crime novel years ago titled THE MORMON MURDERS. It was about a fellow who earned a pretty good living selling fake documents of antiquity to the Mormon church. He got himself blown up! It was a crime book, certainly. But, I learned so much about the inner workings of the Mormon Church at the same time it made it pleasurable in a different sort of way than pure research.

  I never liked at all books like THIRTY YEARS A WATCHTOWER SLAVE. They rang somehow false in my ear. I wanted to avoid that.

  Being a true believer then, and being who you are now. . .do you think you would have otherwise gone into the military then without a fight? If you had not been indoctrinated at the time?

  An interesting question! When I was first in High School I wanted to join the R.O.T.C. and eventually become an Air Force pilot. But, years later I found out from my father (when I finally met him) that our family came over from Finland to prevent the young men from being drafted into the army of Sweden! Ironic, to say the least!

  Had I gone into the Air Force I'd have plenty of benefits. Other members of my family distinguished themselves in the service subsequently. I'd have had free education and considerable financial leverage. A different life would have been mine for certain.
• 

  bikerchic

  I wish my brother would have gone to prision instead he enlisted. He came back from Nam in a casket. Not to be a downer Terry I look forward to reading your book as I'm sure it's a good one.

  I've been missing my brother it was his birthday last month and am a bit melancholy.
• 

  Terry

  I am interested in day to day details of a person in prison who really is 'innocent', that is-not guilty of a crime against persons or propterty, not a 'bad guy'. (leaving out the politics/morals of CO) How did you feel about the other inmates? Did you learn things about yourself or others that made you better, worse, kinder, less so? Did it affect the way you raised your children or treated your wife? Do you have any kind of PT stress syndrome? Has it affected your ability to be gainfully employed?

  I'm interested in telling that, too. In fact, I did! A friend of mine recently said this to me. "What makes your story so interesting is that you were an innocent kid who voluntarily went to prison and, instead of prison reforming you for the better, it ruined your life at the time. You started out a man of faith and ended up without religion at all. Most people live their lives just the opposite. They start out hell-raisers and end up pious and God-seeking when they grow older and have something to be forgiven for."

  At first, my stress and reactions were quite bothersome. I'd have prison dreams and panic attacks. I'd wake up and not know where I was or why. It gradually went away. It ruined my chances for certain types of jobs, certainly. I've never had a job that required a level of security clearance.

  I am a better father for having had the experience. I see what happens to boys who aren't parented and end up in jail. I've heard their stories.

  Do you need a proofreader/second eye?? I am a reader and a continuity critic(I hate when writers forget details and contradict themselves in an otherwise good book)

  I'm in the revision and editing stage right now. When I sort it out and put some connectives to it I'll probably send out certain scenes for people who are willing, to comment and give advice.

  Thanks, I'll keep you in mind.
• 

  Terry

  I wish my brother would have gone to prision instead he enlisted. He came back from Nam in a casket. Not to be a downer Terry I look forward to reading your book as I'm sure it's a good one.

  I've been missing my brother it was his birthday last month and am a bit melancholy.

  Thank you for your comment! That is one thing I really beat the drum about in the book. There were people who did go to Viet Nam and did do their patriotic duty and did spend the only life they will ever have paying for the freedom of some little snot-nosed Witness boy without a clue what the world is really about who doesn't appreciate his sacrifice!

  I feel only shame, personally, that people of greater moral enlightenment than myself have paid for the freedoms we have which we hardly deserve!
• 

  LeslieV

  Can't wait till the book comes out. I applaud you for writing what most people would never know happened to those that were sentenced to prison.

  I pioneered with a Brother that also was in prison during the Vietnam years. I have to say that most pioneers were told that the brothers that were in prison were always treated well, that it was like a vacation because Jehovah protected them. No wonder those that experienced anything different then what was told to us, would have ever told anyone what really happened to them. I have in all these years never given it a thought until reading this thread. Thanks for telling us the truth. It really never ceases to amaze me that I was so gullible.

  Leslie
• 

  Tara

  My questions have already been raised by previos posters. I agree that writing it as your personal, true story would be more effective than as fiction, but I certainly understand why you can't do so. Perhaps you could address that in a foreward to the story so the reader knows. I also agree with whoever suggested seeing a lawyer in regards to using real names. CYA!

  I look forward to reading your finished book as well, and I would also like to volunteer to read the unfinished work and offer comments.

  My boyfriend is an author so I know what goes into getting a book published. Good luck.
• 

  Terry

  I pioneered with a Brother that also was in prison during the Vietnam years. I have to say that most pioneers were told that the brothers that were in prison were always treated well, that it was like a vacation because Jehovah protected them. No wonder those that experienced anything different then what was told to us, would have ever told anyone what really happened to them. I have in all these years never given it a thought until reading this thread. Thanks for telling us the truth. It really never ceases to amaze me that I was so gullible.

  I knew brothers who were beaten in country jail. They knew JW's were not fighters and that by getting them to fight and defend themselves it advertised they were liars. How? If you are willing to fight for yourself but, not your country that made you a hypocrite. It was a double bind.

  The main crisis of my novel is this double-bind and the issue of never admitting publicly that Jehovah, in fact, was NOT protecting you.

  Nobody who depends on believing they are protected wants any information to the contrary! I assure you that is the case.
• 

  Terry

  My questions have already been raised by previos posters. I agree that writing it as your personal, true story would be more effective than as fiction, but I certainly understand why you can't do so. Perhaps you could address that in a foreward to the story so the reader knows. I also agree with whoever suggested seeing a lawyer in regards to using real names. CYA!

  I look forward to reading your finished book as well, and I would also like to volunteer to read the unfinished work and offer comments.

  My boyfriend is an author so I know what goes into getting a book published. Good luck.

  I put off writing this for so long because I didn't really want to revisit these experiences again. Why reopen wounds or expose myself to scrutiny? There were things I didn't want to know and certaintly didn't want other people to know. After all, when you have a book out there in the world it isn't your property to control anymore. My family, friends and ex-brothers and angry JW's can use information I give about my personal self to make my life very uncomfortable. It is an excruciating kind of crucible to place my self in side of and let go.

  The more I revise and re-read what I've produced; the more I'm convinced this is an even larger book. God! It is a mountain with no top. I need to restrain myself. Gaaaaahhhh!!

  Anyway, had to get that out...

  When I have it in reasonable condition I'll allow various volunteers to give hammer and tongs to it and see what stands and what falls away.

  Thanks!