Yadirf,
: Farkel's PREFERENCE is, to quote him: "The issue is not whether I'm alive today because I chose not to take up combat. The issue that I've always presented on that subject is that the society's stance on alternative military service when I faced it was idiotic."
: You see, Farkel likes to be the one who dictates what the issues here are going to be.
Uh, the title of your thread is "Wrong Type alternative service", Yadirf. Was your thread about alternative service, or not? If it was, then my comments about that subject were totally in line with the topic you started. Your whining about me "dictating" the issues here when I was talking about the issues you started is disingenuous and slippery.
Your original argument seemed to be this: "Dubs should be grateful they are alive because of the society's position on neutrality." Wasn't that your original point? If not, then what WAS your original point? Assuming that was your original point then my comments were not only relevant, they demolished your assertion. I showed that in my Country no dub had to die in war because of the civilized attitudes in dealing with conscientious objectors. I showed that no dub had to even do any non-combatant service on the battle field, but instead could do civilian work to make their contribution to the society that was fighting for their freedoms. Furthermore, I showed that the society had a policy (since changed) that needlessly changed my life in a negative way. It was an idiotic policy and thousands of young men like myself were harmed because of the society meddling in personal matters of conscience.
With regards to statements made about me becoming a doctor, I was told that even getting an undergraduate degree would be proof that I was scoffing at Jehovah's upcoming day of Armageddon in 1975. How many dubs did you know in the 1960's and early 1970's who left high school and went on to become doctors? How many, Yadirf? Someone has already shown you from the society's own publications how they viewed someone who went on to college, and much more so how they viewed someone who went on from college to get a medical degree.
With regards to it being my choice as to whether I should follow the society's policy or not, technically speaking you are right. It WAS my choice. If someone put a loaded and cocked gun to your head and says if you don't embezzle money from your company he will blow your brains out and you choose to break the law and embezzle money it is still YOUR choice. You DID have the choice of watching your brains exit in big chunks from your skull. Some "choice."
Well, the WTS also had a gun to my head. If I didn't do as they say, not only would I be shunned by all friends and family, but my eternal salvation would forever be lost. Still, it was my choice, but the consequences of doing anything other than what the society told me to do were severe enough to destroy my shot at eternal life.
It was not me who started yapping about how bad and wrong war is, Yadirf. It was the non-thinking yappers who can't yet understand that a thread has a topic and that people should stay ON that topic, rather than blurting out the first thing that comes into their heads.
As others have pointed out, you skirt around the real issues you started. What I've just stated are the real issues you brought up and my experiences with them.
Farkel
