Time for a new Org for THE silent lambs?

by Prisca 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  Prisca

  The actions of Bill Bowen over recent months have lead many to conclude that he is more interested in his organisation, Silentlambs, rather than the issue of protecting and supporting THE silent lambs.

  As Kismet said:

  the SL.org vehicle has been poorly identified as being of support to victims of abuse rather than it actually being an activist organization intent on changing policy through the media and the courts and public pressure

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=43702&page=3&site=3

  So we have an organisation that is clearly trying to change policies in the interest of protecting victims of abuse from further risk of harm. However, this organisation is rife with politics, with a figurehead that seems to be more interested in having his ego stroked than actually giving support to those who are hurting.

  Please note that I am not suggesting that we get rid of Silentlambs (the organisation) nor that Bill should stop his publicity programmes. He has done more than anyone in bringing this issue to the attention of the media, and the jw world at large.

  However, there seems to be a huge need to look after THE silent lambs - victims of abuse who have been silenced, and need support and a place to be heard. Not to be used as a vehicle for publicity or to further agendas, but simply a place where they can be supported, and helped to heal.

  I don't see Silentlambs (the organisation) doing that. I see SL as simply a PR resource for changing WTS policy. Whilst that has great merit, and I certainly hope it succeeds in its aims, there is not a place where the silenced lambs (the survivors) can talk to others, in the safety of a support group, who have gone through the experience of being silenced by the WTS.

  So perhaps there needs to be ANOTHER organisation, or in better terms, a support group whose prime aims are to support and nourish those hurting by WTS policies on child sex abuse?
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  pettygrudger

  Whats Lambsroar? Rev.Mak is doing a wonderful job of putting together a forum for abuse victims - or haven't you seen it? It would be nice if those 2 forums would work together - SilentLambs for the organizational/media side & Lambsroar solely for the victims.
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  RevMalk

  Whats Lambsroar? Rev.Mak is doing a wonderful job of putting together a forum for abuse victims - or haven't you seen it? It would be nice if those 2 forums would work together - SilentLambs for the organizational/media side & Lambsroar solely for the victims.

  Thank you pettygrudger, we're trying our best. And thank you also for noting that we're not 'competing' with silentlambs, but trying our best to help out. We know that this is all alot to handle for any one man. We have some exciting things coming as well, including a new addition coming to the site hopefully in the next week. We've been able to get our hands (so to speak:) on a class act Therapist, who's won several awards and has achieved national recognition for techniques he's developed in dealing with Post Traumatic Stress, and is an expert in several issues we as Abuse Survivors are dealing with every day, not to mention issues that all ex-cult members are dealing with. We'll have a Q&A section set up for him, as well as opportunities for one on one online therapy, and perhaps even group therapy as well, depending on our needs. We're trying our best to bring in what we need, when we need it, but one day at a time.
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  Bendrr

  Prisca, I don't think that Bill has pushed the victims to the side in furtherance of his cause.

  Yes the victims must be heard and given voices, but that in itself won't win the war.

  Let Bill take SL in his own direction, head-on against the WTS. That tactic doesn't exclude support for the victims, it encourages it. Just because you or I don't agree with Bill's tactics versus the old farts in Brooklyn doesn't mean we don't agree with his cause. Take up your arms in the fight, whatever they may be, but don't sit it out arguing over what is the best strategy.

  Mike.
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  ozziepost

  Sometimes in thinking of answers, we fail to ask the right questions! Like, what do we want an 'organisation' to do? Do we want an 'organisation' at all?

  After dealing with those, how about: Will the present organisation remain a national body for the US? Will it expand internationally?

  Cheers, Ozzie
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  plmkrzy

  If my kids were stranded and needed a ride I wouldn't put them in the car with an intoxicated person behind the wheel no matter HOW good his/her intentions were. And thats that.
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  Prisca2

  Pettygrudger & Rev Malk - Yes, Lambsroar is the sort of thing I'm talking about. I know it's early days yet for Lambsroar, so I wish it every success. I hope that survivors of abuse will benefit from it.

  Bendrr - I think Bill has forgotten about the victims, or at least, he has allowed other issues to cloud them out. Whilst his supposed goals are admirable, the victims need a place to go where they can speak out with the pressure of having their stories told to the media, or given the impression that those that speak out are more courageous than those who remain silent.

  Ozziepost - I know that the word "organisation" is a trigger word for most of us, but sometimes an organisation (as in a group of people) is needed to co-ordinate activities or to achieve goals. As for your last two questions, sadly, I think we know the answer to them.

  Plum - Yes, despite the best of intentions, some people aren't the right ones for the job.
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  A Paduan

  Whatever his motives - let him scatter - as long as he's scattering the wt, not the SLs

  Edited by - a paduan on 3 January 2003 2:1:23
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  jst2laws

  Prisca,

  I agree. LambsRoar and Silentlambs have two different approachs that should be compatible. Kismet said:

  Those lambs who are just finding their voice or who cannot speak up or chose not to, are better to find outside sources of support such as are available through RAINN and not through a group whos primary goal is trying to change a Cult/religion/sects policies. (See info on RAINN below)

  Why can't there be for them a very specific 'outside source' to provide personal support? I do not know enough to give personal support without the risk of actually harming instead of helping. But RevM says there is a focus on profession support, at least a place to talk about their unique experience. LambsRoar seems to be mostly supported and operated by survivors at this time.

  Bill has done well with his approach. This is an altogether different need.

  Jst2laws
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  whyhideit

  Maybe it has nothing to do with how someone or some organization is doing something. Maybe it has to do with people, survivors and others just observing, knowing that some where on this huge globe of seven billion humans is someone who cares enough to at least try. Whether their methods are correct, whether their motives are affective, whether the end result will amount to anything other then a mere comma on the book of human history. Means nothing in comparison to a victim of an oppressive religion seeing a spot of light that means to them, "you are not alone, and there are people trying to help." Perhaps that is the falling tear of the silentlambs, to have some sort of voice and some sort of support. Something after all, beats nothing at all.

  So we can point out the things that upset us all day long, and say what should be done to make it the way we think is successful. On the other hand, we could do something on our own to make the world a better place and brighten the light of hope and comfort, and stop spending so much time trying to make it grow dark once again.