Kingdom Hall Built on Site of Former Slave Market

by Wild_Thing 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  Wild_Thing

  In Mississippi, there is a historical site called Forks of the Road. Before the Civil War, it was one of the most active slave trading markets in the South. It was a triangular piece of land formed by ... you guessed it ... a fork in the road. The historical site is nothing more than a narrow piece of land now, with several plaques and informational boards about the former history.

  A Kingdom Hall takes up the majority of the land now. I am not sure if the JWs didn't like sharing their space with the historical markers or vice versa, but there is a very tall line of spruce trees separating the two sites. You can't even tell there is a Kingdom Hall on the same site when visiting the historical site.

  I just think it is so ironic that a Kingdom Hall is built on a former slave market. The land is still being used to enslave people, just without the chains. They are enslaved mentally and are not allowed to leave without repercussions to them or their family.

  You can see the tall row of trees separating the Kingdom Hall from the historical markers.

  
  
• 

  Wild_Thing

  Shackles and chains that were used on slaves are permanently memorialized in cement just a few feet from the KH property. You can see the tiny square of cement on the map above in the lower section close the trees.

  
  
  
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  Butyoucanneverleave

  Where is this located? What city?
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  Perry

  "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey"

  The former slaves, were not such by choice. Most of us willingly submitted to our slavery from our own volition.
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  Muddy Waters

  omg, the IRONY!! The *APTNESS*!!!

  I don't think I could love this more.

  And the leaders of the WT think that they, their religion, represents FREEDOM, (George Orwell style, that is!)

  ..... the shackles and chains are awful, dreadful, horrifying... Yet to think! -- that the WT doctrine shackles your mind, your sense of reason and critical thinking.... And they shackle and chain you in every action, thought, and deed.... What you wear, what you read, what music you listen to, what tv shows you shouldn't see or movies to watch, what celebrations to observe or not, who you associate with, what education you receive or don't, who you marry, whether you should have children, and what kind of education your own children should receive, and whether you should say "bless you" to even somebody who has sneezed, and that the whole world is going to hell except them - their smug, self-righteous, judgmental, family-shunning, pedophile-protecting, UN joining, false-prophesying, lunatic-happy-face-smiling selves, while most of them are probably "master-masturbators" (ha, don't you love that phrase?), porn-addicted, uptight, selfish, fools.

  And then they put people in this sort of shackles and chains and expect these people to do the same to others. To think of it!! Gah! *

  * repeat previous paragraphs!* .. .. As I could rant on forever....
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  Wild_Thing

  This is located in Natchez, MS.

  Perry ... you are partially correct. Those of us that were born into this religion ... especially 3rd and 4th grade generation ... it was not by our choice. And they do indeed make you feel like horrible things will happen to you if you leave. But I agree that it is not the same as the African Americans being enslaved, which was by far, a lot worse ... really not even comparable.

  Nevertheless, I think it is ironic that a Kingdom Hall, a place of mental bondage, is now on the site of a place where real slave trading took place, and they have blocked it off with trees.

  You've got to see the symbolism in that.
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  Perry

  Edited to read "most of us". However, even though I was a 4th gen born in; I reached a point where: It was my own choice. I MUST deal with that fact.

  Symbolism duly noted nonetheless.
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  Muddy Waters

  Perry, now that you have edited your post to say "most of us", I can "like" it. :)
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  baker

  We are all slaves to something, money, food ,ect , l
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  under the radar

  I don't know for sure, but I imagine that line of tall trees was planted specifically to hide the KH from those visiting the historical site and vice versa. The JW's wouldn't want to be visually associated with even a historical site related to slavery.

  Ironic, considering that their precious Bible doesn't condemn slavery at all. It fact, it presents it as a societal norm in both the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Greek Scriptures (New Testament). What scant few regulations regarding slavery there are basically protect the slave owner or prohibit only the most egregious mistreatment of slaves. In the New Testament, slaves are ordered to be obedient to their masters. Not even a hint can be found that slavery is wrong in and of itself. Thank goodness society as a whole has outgrown the Bible in that regard. Now if we could just get rid of all the other superstitions...