Hmm ...
The problem showcased by the 20/20 show is certainly a serious problem and one deserving of media attention and very aggressive scrutiny, but I believe that open dishonesty (not informing the person on the line of the true nature of the call) does not reflect well upon the individual trying to make his/her point.
Well in my mind what Bill did was not dishonesty. I do it all the time in my line of work and when I am talking on the phone during my job I expect to be taped as well since a lot of my expert positions and opinions must consistently represent corporate policy and its statutes.
What Bill did is just the same as taking notes of your conversation. Its called a recollection of the facts and is far from being dishonest and in fact can be used in a court of law.
It is quite legal for one party to tape or record another party without their knowledge. What is illegal unless a warrant is obtained is for a third party like the government to listen in on a conversation between two parties.
I guess you are coming from the point of view that Bill should have asked that WTS man if it was okay for Bill to tape the call. Give me a break. Like that would have brought out the "real truth" from a "real society man" who practices theocratic warfare.
And it far from backfired. Quite frankly that tape clearly, without a doubt shows how the WTS handled these cases and is extremely important on how explaining the problem to the public as well as to the Court in future court case. Something so useful that Dateline, Panorama and the 5th Estate among others have used on their TV shows.
Oh BTW I believe the show was called Dateline and it aired on NBC. 20/20 is an ABC show and as far as I remember the ABC network has not run an episode on the abuse scandal.
As for calling it a pedophile paradise - I think most of the 17 victims who were brutilized by Fitzswater and the 42 who were abused by that sicko in Oregon would tend to agree with Bill's comment. Like, the elders are told not to report in non-reporting states, tell the victims to stay silent under threat of dfing and there needs to be two witnesses if the sicko doesn't confess - when was the last time a person watched a pedophile hurt a kid for christ's sake. I think Bill got it just right for the public to understand what is going on in JW land in the USA and the victims who were featured on the program easily backed him up on it. Dateline could have put 60 more cases on if they wanted too and they would have said the same thing. Keep in mind pedophile paradise does not mean the majority of JWs are pedophiles. What it does mean is that the organization is more concerned about its friggen corporate "clean" image than the victim and when given the opportuntity will hide and protect the pedophile to the fullest extent possible to keep the organization "clean".
As for your comments on compensation or lack of audited booking practices comments I want to add this - Even though I am not a member of Silentlambs I am not sure if you should have stated what you did until you asked for a copy of their financial statements. Telephone them up and ask for a copy of the statements. If they refuse to give them, then get back to this board. Hinting at accusations like that without backing them up is kinda ... well ... not the greatest thing to do .... especially when I watched the man spend 10 grand of his own money at one time on this issue. If anything I have tried to relay the message over the time I have known him that he should focus more on his home life and candle business and less on this cause as it can be very tiring. But he basically is a one man show and is very passionate about it and is very much on a mission.
I have always said that before giving donations to Bill, one should consider if they like what he is doing or not and of course should see the books. A lot of folks have reservations of Bill's responses to things especially over the Franz issue. That one no doubt cost him serious coin and possibly some good friends. But hey if you are uncomfortable about his approach then don't donate. If you like it and get to see the books - then let it fly if that is what you want.
As for being disappointed at what CBS presented. Well you try pulling it off in explaining everything in 2:30 to 3:00 minutes and get back to me. As far as I am concerned CBS didn't do anything to hurt the cause, reported very accurately on Heidi, Oregon and Bill's Silentlambs network and if anything it brought more attention to the cause as some 7 plus million viewers watched.
hawk
