JWN Letter Writing Campaign

by okage 60 Replies latest members meetups

• 

  talesin

  I think a letter writing campaign to the PRESS is a great idea. Look at what happened with The Guardian when we focussed on the "mentally diseased apostate" article! It was a great anti-witness.

  I say, lose the phony letterhead, work on a form letter that is short and to the point, with an appropriate space for insertion of each individual's personal account(s) of abuse/shunning/etc.

  Focus on one or two major newspapers / media outlets. If we can get even one major outlet to publish a story, it can easily snowball if it's put on AP or Reuters.

  Conversely, an email campaign may be the wtg -- people are much more likely to shoot off an email, than they are to take the time to print out a hard copy letter and actually mail it. Imagine if HuffPo received 2,000 emails from exJWs, each relating a personal story, ON THE SAME DAY. This would certainly catch their attention.

  Instead of being discouraged by criticism of the original idea, be flexible and let's give this project a bit of 'massaging' ...

  tal
• 

  steve2

  tal I've got to say you've come up with some constructive and compelling ways in which this could be an effective endeavour!
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  I think the idea of flooding a media outlet (NBC, nytimes, latimes) on a particular day is far more productive than sending letters to any branch office.

  DITTO.

  Coordinate the timing with the District Conventions in major cities.

  The Chairman's Office sends out Press Releases to the various local news media. It's not unusual for the Convention to get a "blurb" in the local paper or on the evening news.

  Give them something to "balance" their air time/column inches. A letter that mentions the Convention but warns of (1)the damage & breakup caused to families due to shunning. Remind them that this is a "Hate Crime" in many places because it is an action based on religious prejudice. (2)Remind them of the Awake! article where the sister was prepared to break the HIPPA laws when she knew another JW had had an abortion, and that this is REQUIRED of members. Loyalty to WTS even if it means breaking laws. (3)Provide links to the Conti trial and a non-emotional summary of WT policy that created the Pedo Paradise.

  Perhaps try to arrange a fluent, professional looking "spokesperson" in the major city(ies) targeted. NOT Crazy Mary or Stoner Phil.

  Doc
• 

  ABibleStudent

  DesirousOfChange - Coordinate the timing with the District Conventions in major cities.

  Great idea DesirousOfChange to coordinate writing to local newsmedia before DC's!

  I remember watching a TV news story about a year ago that seemed more like an informercial for the WTBTS. I wondered how could that reporter be so biased in favor of the WTBTS.

  I would be willing to write to newsmedia (especially TV outlets) in a targeted effort about 1 week before DC's in major metropolitian cities. I was not going to write to the WTBTS as originally proposed, because I was never a JW.

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
• 

  sir82

  These letters in this format will force them to read something they refused to

  If by "them" you mean, "mail room flunkies who are trained to immediately throw away anything even remotely resembling apostate information", well, then, yeah, "they" will read it.

  Oh, you were hoping the governing body would read your letters?

  Um, yeah.

  So what color is the sky in your world?
• 

  RayPublisher

  I'm in favor of going forward with this and DOING something. A lot of good feedback is being offered. My vote is for:

  • A non-deceptive letter writing campaign aimed at the media

  • Hundreds (or thousands!) of us that are WT Dissenters would write our stories in one typewritten page or less

  • Email them to one person (Okage?) that will speak for all of us. They will print them out and sort them. The most tragic and succint stories can be at the top of the stack.

  • Either snail mail or hand deliver the letters to a large news outlet or outlets in the area, ie, The L.A. Times.

  • Timing around the DC is a great idea. A cover letter can and should be included, explaining that the attached bundle of letters are a testimony to the fact the the JWs are not just some innocuous little group that wants to just conduct free home Bible studies with people. Their expectation is world domination and their daily prayer is for the entire society of men to fall, with their leaders taking over control of the entire earth.

  Let's DO IT!
• 

  Emery

  I think we should aim to have this done around the time of the memorial if possible, that is when JWs are all out trying to get persons to go to their most celebrated and famous meeting of the year.

  Should this campaign have a name? haha I am interested.
• 

  Emery

  Also, I think we should we be more specific in choosing a select few media agencies to target, like maybe 2 media giants per english speaking country?

  A professional press package attached to our personal story letter displaying the main problems found in the Watchtower. That way we can provide a great selection of options or outlines for these agencies to choose from.

  • Blood
  • 2 witness rule for peodophilia
  • Claimed authority having no evidence- cult like control
  • 586/7 vs 607
  • Shunning - no honorable way to leave, broken families.
  • Double standards
  • Information control/suppression of contrary evidence
  • Blatant dishonesty - journalistic, quote mining, public printed lies, misrepresenting the position of persons who voluntarily leave the movement

  We also need to choose a well versed spokesman as mentioned.
• 

  okage

  i love the blinders steve2 has. talesin has a great idea. one that was offered earlier in the thread by a few others. one that i had already accepted.

  still waiting for the ideas steve2 and oz have that they feel will work.

  talesin brought up the guardian reporting the mentally diseased because someone brought it to their attention. despite steve2 saying that the idea will never work and offered validation by claiming connections to the media...its a good idea now because someone else said it.

  okay.
• 

  okage

  sir82

  no need to be a dick. how about reading the other posts on the thread.

  again

  and for the last time

  this post is for ideas from people who want to take action. instead of flapping gums about about how this wont work try offering something you think will work. this isnt kindergarten. you dont need people telling you how to be a decent human being to others.

  there are many on here supporting this idea and believe it will work. the idea that i conceded to a while back. not the initial idea. i have repeatedly said i will evolve this with the input of others and have done so. but i guess its easier to crucify someone if they have a solid idea from the getgo.

  there are people on here who know my idea is intended to become a cooperative movement. i admitted it. i acknowledged the date came from one suggestion. i acknowledged the letter writing came from a few others.

  the concise request of raypublisher is an affirmation of the plan i have already conceded to proudly. i would love emery to email me so we can discuss what exactly would go into a press package because it is a great idea.

  ive said multiple times i would have no problem with a leader taking this idea from me and running with it. ive acknowledged there are those who dont have confidence in me because i am not established on here. steve2 proved me right.

  a bible student said he isnt participating but he still offers encouragement to the idea of doing something.

  steve2 said he wasnt discouraging doing something but i have still not seen a single idea from him.

  sir82 has nothing to offer for ideas. oz has nothing to offer for ideas. entirely possible has nothing to offer for ideas.

  just bashing.

  i thank those who have evolved this plan to what it is. i do not discount their ideas and am making strides to incorporate those ideas as a complete plan.

  the very last time this will be said

  if you have nothing to grow the plan then keep your criticisms off the thread. if you say letter writing sucks because you think hiring an investigator to document the gb is more sound then welcome to the thread. if you have anything to offer then you bought a ticket to criticize whats on here. what many are hopeful for. what many want to take part in.

  learn decency. dont be buzz killington.