by Dogpatch 34 Replies latest jw friends
Seeker, did you want to say something to me? :-)
I was thinking that we could really spin this the UN way. Meaning, how did this cult which violates the most basic human rights of its followers get past the NGO accreditation process so easily? Hmmmmm.
Then we could outline the basic human rights and cite specific examples.
Then we could leave it wide open for the UN to respond. Which would be a major BONUS!! Let's roll with it. Hawk, where are you?
I am professional journalist. I write or receive several hundred press releases each year. There actually may be a story buried in this one somewhere - but this is much more than "a bit too long." At least 60 to 70 percent of it needs to be cut. Ruthlessly.
Find the nugget of the story in there and delete the rest. I am very unclear as to WHO actually is stating this. If there is a human rights organization coming out publicly to condemn WTS actions, than that is the story, and it should be the lead sentence
"A national (or local, whatever) human rights organization is taking Jehoavh's Witnesses to task for claiming to support human rights while denying them to members."
Bam - opening sentence puts it in a nutshell and grabs the readers attention.
second para.
"Approaches to Education, Inc., a California based human rights group (or whatever it is) went public this week about its concerns that the Jehovah's Witness religion claims to support the UN Declaration of Human Rights while at the same time that it denys those rights to its members.
paragraph three:
"'While Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be fighters for freedom of religion and personal conscience, and in favor of tolerance, this is not what they practice inside the group,' said so-and so, the executive director of Approaches to Education. 'Individual members of the Witnesses are not allowed to question their religion, and do so under the threat of excommunication and severe shunning.'"
These are just examples - but in less than 100 words I think it covers most of the territory that is important. Add another few hundred words with more specifics about your concerns, but hit just the most important points, and limit them. At the end there should be a press contact, and any serious journalist would use that as the source of his article.
If you then wanted to prepare a more detailed press packet, as it were, with more of the details, fine. But not the initial press release.
My offer still stands.
S4
Seeker4 I accept your invitation to help our editor with this release. He was trying to meet a deadline, and did not check it as thoroughly as he could have. The only way to hold the JWs accountable is the human rights/UN way. An organization can petition the UN of behalf of a group that is being mistreated. Is any one behind me? Whoever wants to help let me know.
Blue asked "...how did this cult which violates the most basic human rights of its followers get past the NGO accreditation process so easily? Hmmmmm."
I noticed on the global policy site that Hawk listed that the Moonies have also passed four different splinter groups off as NGOs. I don't know who put the global policy site up, nor do I have the link at the moment, but clearly the UN isn't doing a bang up job of screening it's NGOs. Worse case scenario, we could consider exploiting that angle in our attempts to stir up the media. It's a bit of dirty pool, but I'm beginning to lose my patience with the thought of the United Nations reps caring only about saving face. Ah, maybe I'm just having a Monday attitude. But it's an angle.
As for John's release, a good editing should help bring it into focus. I can definitely relate to needing a solid editor to step in and help me out! I'm not entirely sure what the main grievance is, nor am I sure what the main goal is, but with a little paring here and there it should really take a nice shape.
John's efforts should be applauded. When you've got many a concern about it can be hard to pick just a few points to put out there. Good luck with this, John. Don't underestimate the power of your outrage and your desire to be heard. If enough people keep yelling somebody is going to hear! Thanks for adding another voice! Where are you going to send this?
What is really REALLY incredulous about this situation is that the WTS published an article in the November 8, 1998 Awake! magazine detailing all of these basic human rights, which they utterly deny to its members.
This is a link to the UN's 50th Anniversary Celebration, notice the second "birthday gift" (heh heh heh) is the article about the UN's Charter of Human Rights in the Awake! magazine.
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/materials/articles.htm
Maybe that is an angle worth considering.
Love, Scully
It is not persecution for an informed person to expose a certain religion as being false. - WT 11/15/63
What "human rights" organization is this? I can think of no reason whatsoever for withholding identification. Sounds like someone with delusions of grandeur beating their gums.
What "human rights" organization is this? I can think of no reason whatsoever for withholding identification. Sounds like someone with delusions of grandeur beating their gums.
If you would actually read the posts you would have seen the name Approaches To Education and our phone number. Excuse me but you are beating your gums.
We are trying to help people. These negative comments do not help us with our objective. We have filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission as a legal nonprofit entity. We have not yet filed for a 501c3 status. I can send anyone who want information our Articles of Incorporation, our corporate Bylaws, and the charter for our Human Service Team in Approaches To Education. If anyone has any further questions please call us at 520-661-8417.
For those of you who have insulted me with condescending remarks (this does not include those who have offered positive feedback and to help), do any of you have any idea what human rights is? How many of you know there are 100s of UN declarations and other related documents? This is the way to go. If everyone who has left the JWs bands together behind Approaches To Education, and then petitioned the UN, this may make the WTS think twice. I have studied human rights for several years now and am writing a brochure on religion and human rights. Any support would be appreciated
I appreciate any feedback, buit please do not insult me or others on this bulletin board. Some of us here left groups that behaved this very way.
Here is one person who e-mailed me after reading my post:
<My name is Sabrina Montgomery. I live in Utah and am an ex-Jehovah's Witness. I read your complaint and press release in the Jehovah's Witness Discussion Board and am thrilled at the insight it contains.
I have been going through a custody battle with my JW ex-husband and my children are being turned against me on the basis that I am no longer in God's favor. I have written a complaint to the ACLU as they are violating my civil rights as a mother, thus overstepping their rights as a religion.
I would like to quote or include parts of your essay if that is OK. I can send you a copy of my complaint if you would like.
Do you have any specific plans for it's use? I think we are all on the same track and need to pull together to make this thing work.
Please contact me ASAP,
Sabrina Montgomery>
If anyone questions the existence of this e-mail I will ask Sabrina's permission to give out her e-mail so she can be contacted
ttt
