Welcome SG.
Like you, I too am an active JW (albeit an unhappy one) and I welcome whatever comments you may have (most of the so called JW posters are extremely rude, however I don't sense this attitude in you).
You say that the U.N. thing is "unimportant", but that simply isn't true. Obviously, the society wasn't actively controling U.N. agenda (and I don't believe that was the reason they joined) and they did relatively little as a U.N.(N.G.O.) member. However to become a member they pledged that they would support the charter of an organization that according to (their interpretation of) the bible is probably the most evil organization ever imagined, as well as disseminate information of the positive nature about it (the U.N.).
While from a purely objective standpoint one can argue the Watchtower really never helped the U.N., but only used it to help "further Jehovah's work", why did they drop their membership when it became public? Could it be because an average witness would think it was hypocritical for the Society to clearly compromise (to the point of offically endorsing) with an organization that is clearly "of the world", while a regular witness, under similar circumstances would be dissfellowshipped for such action? For example, if you joined the YMCA you would be dissassociated for compromising your Christain neutrality. Why? Because the YMCA is affiliated with Christendom. Forget the fact that you're only joining it to use the exersise facilities and not to promote the ideals of the church organization (which the Society OFFICALLY did with the U.N.), but the mere fact you were associated with a church of Christendom (even though you clearly aren't compromising your Christainity) makes you unworthy of association with God's people, and by extension eternal life.
There is nary a difference between the Watchtower- U.N. union and a regular JW wanting to join the YMCA. Neither really wants to be an active member of the larger (evil) organization running the operation, they both only want side benefits that come with membership. However, both can't do it, the leadership lives by one set of rules while the R&F have to obey more stringent (and irrelevant) ones.
So basically, I'm saying the U.N. incident is a big deal because according to what the society tells us in their publications, what they did was a compromise their neutrality. If they can do what they did, I should be able to join the YMCA.
By the way YoYoMama: it's vindicate Jehovah's sovreingty. The name gets santified (yes there is a difference, and no I'm not picking on you, just pointing it out for your benefit).
