While many of the freedoms the WT fights for, such as the freedom to go door to door, freedom to hold private assembly, freedom from discrimination, are, in fact, for their members, I do agree with some of the points in the above posts. They fight for freedom of expression and then psychologically torture members who write or speak freely against thier doctrine. (Yes, I do consider shunning a form of psychological torture)
Although using the word "admirable" was a poor choice on my part, I find the conclusion drawn above to be wanting. The expressed desire must be for MORE freedom, within the Tower and without. Smug satisfaction that the Watchtower is getting what it gives gets us nowhere - other than another successful volley in Russia's war on religious, sexual, and commercial liberty.
Can you be so blinded by hatred of the leaders of our former religion that you applaud the snuffing out of freedoms long wanted, scarcely granted, and quickly snatched?
This statement is too much:
Sadly, the restriction of freedoms within the WT organization due to the dictatorial mindset of the governing body are far more oppressive than anything Russia will do to Watchtower.
Surely you do not mean what you write? I have been counselled publically, I have been through several judicial committees, I have been publically reproved, I am disfellowshipped and presently I am shunned by everyone I socialized with for many years and by a sizable chunk of my family. That is certainly oppressive. The Russian state, on the other hand, is known for secret detentions, physical torture including beatings, electic shock to the genitals, and sexual abuse all while getting forced confessions for invented offences. The state has the power to place people in geater isolation than the WT - be it in prison or in actual isolation. You speak of what Russia will do to the Watchtower... to members of our former faith pushing outlawed literature....
Sometimes I feel posters have forgotten that "The Watchtower" is a collection of human beings.
As an aside:
The fact that the WT fought for the freedoms in their own interest misses the point. Almost every point of law is argued for self-interest. When the feudal barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta they certainly weren't trying to provide liberty to their serfs. When signatories to the Declaration of Independence endorsed the line that "all men are created equal" they were not trying to free the slaves (later 3/5 a person) and certainly were not declaring women equal under law. The motives may be questionable, but we can still appreciate what their efforts afford us. Certainly in my country, Canada, Jehovah’s Witnesses did contribute to the establishment of civil liberties.
...OUTLAW