by keyser soze 84 Replies latest jw friends
Keysor , I agree, and have expressed the same thoughts in the past. It's just so mean-spirited, and not only that - how about the man like your father, who is a window-washer, and maybe feels shame because of his profession and the way our culture does not respect honest, hard work, his lack of education. He comes here for support, and reads that. Another twist of the knife, imho.
tal
Some posters have been a bit glib. I have myself used that same reference. But some JWs are willfully ignorant when they could actually learn to think for themselves and get better jobs. I regret giving up my job as a chemical analyst to pioneer, I can't get it back again now that I have left WT, so sometimes I hold resentment and may be a little crass, humour helps. But I also get your point, I will stop it now.
Kate xx
I agree 100%. Very few window washers, mostly i've known in 32 years held very good jobs.
Some CEO.
Many owned their own business.
A few in carpet cleaning that have become millionaires.
Some that i have known were worth more than 100million dollars.
Just like any religion..rich and poor.
Have nothing against window washers.
Hi Kate
Why can't you get your job back? You seem smart and intelligent from the posts I have read- is their any options to re-train etc?
Scott x
i think mental stamina is required. i found to do 10 hour days often in 80f weather with no one to talk to or to work in biting cold below freezing windy weather with cold water and ice cold aluminum laddars with no gloves just as it was to work for hours in the field service pioneering in such conditions
I feel they same way, Keyser. I remember your dad, he was a hard worker.
I live in an area with a high percentage of college graduates that love living here. That is why you will find many taking jobs that don't require a degree so they can stay. I had a cleaning business that paid quite well. I learned how to bid jobs, make relationships with customers, buy supplies, organize my time and that of a few employees. Many jws in this area were construction people, electricians, plumbers, concrete workers, real estate agents, auto mechanics, sewing/recovering furniture, accountants, CNAs or nursing assistants, all made a decent wage none had a college degree. In this area they are crying for people in the trades but some think having a degree proves you alone are smart. Most did went to the local community college. They were able to support themselves.
Not a single elder washed windows in my 50 years as a jw...except one...and he had an income higher than any people I know with college degrees.
Well said Keyser
Here are my thoughts on the subject from another thread in a similiar vein.
Guys, I am coming out of the closet. I am a maintenance/cleaning person and am employed by New York State at a university. I consider myself to be intelligent, open minded, and a logical and clear thinker.
I am considering going on to another field but for now with the economy the way it is, and the cost of college the way it is, plus family responsibilites I am staying put for now. I make the same or more than some of the office workers in the building i maintain. Are my opinions any less important than theirs? I work with many college educated, smart people who have been laid off from factories or cannot find jobs in their field. This job with its generous paid time off and benefits is the best fit for them and their family. I accrue 6 hours of vacation time and 4 hours of sick time every two weeks, plus 5 personal days a year and 12 paid holidays. I have this job because it is my best option for the time being as I see it. Many who have went to and graduated college want my job. I find this constant bashing of janitors on JWN offensive.
The WT is to blame for influencing intelligent people to do menial labor when they could have done more, and this upsets me greatly. I am reaping the rewards now for their influence on my mind in high school, when considering college etc. However the worth, knowledge, intelligence, or logical thinking abilities are not defined by what you are employed to do. I can hold an intelligent conversation on many topics, and should not be written off because I change lightbulbs and vacum and shampoo carpets.
I dislike most elders and despise their role as judge over others, but ones employment does not neccisarily show you what kind of person they are. Some doctors (general practicioners) are not too smart about anything outside of their field, and only tell you things you could have found out in a google search. The same doctor could be a drunk, abuser, and pedophile. On the other hand there are many brilliant, smart, kind doctors. Dentists have the highest suicide rate. Why? Maybe all that school and high salary and TITLE does not mean everything after all.
I ask what occupation COULD the elders have that would qualify them to "lord it over" the JWs? How many years of college could they have attended to make being judge, jury, and spiritual executioner and enforcer of the GB ok? Maybe if they had a masters it would be more palateable? What difference does it make what their occupation is? No one should be doing what they do.
I make an exeption for the times they give out non-professional advice about marriage, suicide etc.. Its not because they are window washers but because they are not qualified marriage counselors/suicde prevention experts that is the issue. If they were lawyers or ship captians they would be just as unqualified to set themselves up as masters over the congregation.. I do not know many elders that are janitors.. I am sure there are plenty, but really, are the non janitor elders any better?
Agreed, but I do wish you had written that like Al Swearengen.
I'm guilty of that (referring JW's as window washer) but I was
one and made a damn good living at it. My JW family members
were electricians and janitors. The problem, the borg don't encourage
the young ones to do better. Every parent desire for their kids to do
better then their folks. The ceiling is low for young JW, discouraging
higher education. I clean toilets and employed around 10-12 JW's
but I would like better for my kids...Yes window washers is a honest job
nothing to be ashamed of, but many of the young JW's have the
potential to do better. Window washers is a very competitive business
here in California.
Your Father was a custodian for the state university,my father
was a waiter and raised six kid and did a damn good job. But
he and my mom(she clean folks houses) wanted better for us.
All the guys that came into the borg around the 60's and 70's
that were janitors and electricans are still working today, they are
in their late 60's and 70's. I'm sure your father had a nice retirement
plan from the university, but not so with the average JW that wash
windows. That damn cult....
