WOW
I don't usually get involved in the debate of this whole thing but feel a need to speak up here.
Ray Franz supports the WT policy on child abuse.
This is a very powerful statement Bill and something you couldn't possibly know unless he actually came right out and said it. I highly doubt that is the case. Your statement, IMHO, also borders on slander. What is the purpose in stating this? Do you feel that you will somehow ferret this man out to speak to what YOU have said?
In my opinion he is covering up for something he does not wish to reveal.
Key words- in YOUR opinion. That's all it is Bill- your opinion. Again, planting a seed in others' mind that he "might" have something to hide based on nothing but pure conjecture on your part.
He wrote a book that was dynamic in what it reveals, but his silence regarding abuse causes me to question his ability to stand for what is morally and ethically right.
So be it. If you wish to question anything about Mr. Franz based on whatever you wish; including something as innocuous as silence- go right ahead. But don't push that on anyone else as though it were fact. You are in the public eye Bill. You are a leader. And being a leader carries with it a great deal of responsibility for the words you speak and their impact on others. And if you don't want that responsibility or cannot carry it, trying to get around it will only hurt you and your cause. You lose a great deal of confidence with statements such as you have made about Mr. Franz. IMHO, it is irresponsible to add voice to your own well earned credibility to plant seeds of doubt about the credibility or the character of another with no facts to back it up.
OK all you arm chair warriors call him and ask. You want facts but you are too lazy to get them yourselves.
You're kidding right? Why would I do that? You are telling us that we are "lazy" if we don't call Ray Franz and ask him to answer your allegations? Things YOU think or feelings YOU have about how his behavior might translate to you? Wow. And I'm not real sure I like being called lazy in the first place. It's really not nice at all.
I do not ask Ray to do anything but use his mouth to acknowledge and support abuse survivors, he flatly refuses to do so.
And because he flatly refuses to do so- it means that he isn't a friend of silentlambs or supports WTS abuse policies? Sounds like too much black and white thinking to me. Why would he want to work with you? Look what happens if one behaves in a way which might cause you to make nasty determinations about them. Sounds like you want folks to be "for" you and your cause, in a manner you approve of and if they aren't, they are "against" you.
If an individual is working in their own way towards this cause but do not need any attention for it or even acknowledgement- that doesn't make their efforts invisible or non-existant. You have no way of knowing what Mr. Franz feels about any of this or what he or anyone else may be doing on their own for this very worthy cause.
I'm with Moe- take a vacation. It sounds to me that you are angry that he has chosen, for whatever reason, not to join the cause in the fashion you want him to. I, for one have lost a great deal of respect for this movement due to the kvetchings of late.
XW
Edited by - xenawarrior on 9 October 2002 16:25:34
Edited by - xenawarrior on 9 October 2002 16:26:6
Edited by - xenawarrior on 9 October 2002 16:28:14