When I surf on this Discussion board I feel a lot of anger. This is totally understandable because a lot of us suffered or still are suffering from their association with the Watchtower Society. Some of us are victims of child abuse. A lot of us are the victims of shunning. But (and I hope I dont sound to much like a teacher) dont let anger rule your view on reality!
Some of us feel rejoiced when the Watchtower Society is attacked in newspapers and television programs: 1-0 for us!. They hope that the last days of the Watchtower Society have finally come. But how many of us consider it a disaster that the Roman Catholic Church is still live and kicking? The history of the Catholic Church is much darker and filled with intrigues and genocide than the history of the Watchtower Society. Despite this blemished history, most of us dont see the Catholc Church as one of the axes of evil because we are not emotionally involved with its dealings.
When the media shows how the Organization deals with sexual child-abuse we have to be happy because this media attention can be of great benefit for the victims. We don't have to be happy because it harms the reputation of the Watchtower Society. It is not necessary that the Watchtower Society crumbles and finally disappears, it is necessary that the Watchtower Society changes some very important issues. And I think we have a long way to go to achieve these goals.
We can continue our struggle for more freedom within the Organization -a healthy policy regarding blood and sexual abuse and a humane association with Disfellowshipped ones- without venting our rage on the Society. If we approach all these issues on a balanced manner, doubting Witnesses will see that our intentions are good and that we arent stereotype apostates.
Just my thoughts based on my own experiences
Rado vleugel http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/
Edited by - Rado Vleugel on 12 August 2002 9:32:40