In defense of Bill Bowen and Silent Lambs

by Junction-Guy 32 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Junction-Guy

  After reading some of the comments against Silent Lambs, I thought I would respond back with my own topic. Anyway, I have met Bill Bowen in person at the Silent Lambs summit in Nashville back in march. I did not feel that he was arrogant in anyway or egotistical.He seemed to conduct that summit in a very professional way and really put together a good program. Any organization that helps expose the JW's is Ok in my book. I try not to get caught up in all the political infighting and bickering here as it does nothing to help our cause but cause divisions among us. You know if we all could get together as a group we could really do some damage to the WT society. Instead there just seems to be a lot of negativity that is dividing us. Posting on these boards is great and alot of fun, but when was the last time you personally did something to counteract the policies of the WT society? I am very vocal in my oppostion to the WT society and have probably educated 100 people or more about the JW's in just the past few months, and these are mostly people I work with. I have also bought some anti-jw tracts from a christian bookstore and plan on circulating these at an upcoming festival. I am also very active in picketing local kingdom halls, in fact im probably the 1st person in this part of the state to do that. My whole point is this, if we all could just band together and do something we could make a difference. As the motto of the great state of Kentucky says "united we stand-divided we fall"

  I have only about 15-20 minutes left to reply back today, but maybe i can share some more input with you tomorrow.

  Dave
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  blondie

  I was at the conference too Dave and had the same feelings. I also went to the SNAP convention in Denver and came away with the same impression.

  Bill has joined forces with SNAP and LINKUP in fighting clergy sexual abuse.

  http://www.snapnetwork.org/

  http://www.thelinkup.com/

  Linkup also has a new facility outside Louisviille for seminars and counseling abuse survivors. (Conference coming up 10/22-24; see website)

  What is The Farm?
• 

  Junction-Guy

  Yeah, he just seemed very low key and humble, he wasnt an obnoxious type. I really enjoyed the presentations there and it was nice meeting up with other people involved in this cause. I personally was never a victim of sexual abuse, but I will do anything to help prevent it from happening to other kids. He is a very noble man with a noble cause, and chose to speak out against abuse even if it meant alienating himself from some of his family.

  Dave
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  shamus

  Actually, very few people dragged him 'through the mud', so to speak on that thread. It completely backfired.
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  Junction-Guy

  Youre right Shamus, This particular time wasnt that bad, but there have been several posts in the past that have been negative toward Bill and Silent Lambs, I guess I just finally had to speak out about it.

  Dave
• 

  gypsywildone

  I try not to get caught up in all the political infighting and bickering here as it does nothing to help our cause but cause divisions among us. You know if we all could get together as a group we could really do some damage to the WT society. Instead there just seems to be a lot of negativity that is dividing us.

  Bravo, great post Dave!
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  lawrence

  I agree. Loved your post JG. Bill is helping many, and that's all that counts.
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  Brummie

  I've met Bill and he is a great guy, not a hint of arrogance in real life. You have to admire him for his determination and tiredless efforts for helping those abused. He did upset this board big time 2 years ago, and it became a war to even try to give the guy a little bit of credit, hopefully that war is over.

  He's just a man who has made his errors along the way but has had a positive impact on many.

  Brummie
• 

  avishai

  Bill rox!!!
• 

  Englishman

  I've met Bill and he is a great guy, not a hint of arrogance in real life. You have to admire him for his determination and tiredless efforts for helping those abused. He did upset this board big time 2 years ago, and it became a war to even try to give the guy a little bit of credit, hopefully that war is over

  Time marches on and no-one stays the same forever. At the time of Silent lambs commencement, Bill appeared to take the point of view that this new campaign needed a manager, someone who could cut across all the crap and get things done.

  He reminded me of the late Brian Clough, a football coach who was a phenomenal motivator. He specialised in getting mediocre players on board and then turning them into superb performers by inflicting alternate bouts of lavish praise and then withering criticism upon them. He was so succesful that the best team in the country, which was then Leeds United, payed a fortune for him to leave his exixting club and work exclusively for them. It was an unmitigated disaster and Brian Clough was fired after only 44 days.

  The problem was that he was using the same techniques at Leeds United as he had at the other more lowly less skilled teams. Leeds United players were already superb at what they did and didn't want Cloughs abrasive management syle telling them what to do. They knew what to do. They were superb at their job already.

  This was the problem with Bills initial style with Silent Lambs. Folk who had been out for many years and doing much good work with ex's were suddenly being treated with an abrasive management style that was also emanating from a very newly-departed dub who hadn't even been disfellowshipped at the time. His emails were challenging and sometimes insulting. Bill appeared to be acting like a sales manager who had just bought the company and wanted everyone to jump.

  The shame of all this was that the Silent Lambs idea was good and also did a great deal of good for a while. It was a shame that the good intentions of Silent Lambs became overlaid with annoyance and irritation at Bills style of doing things. He did make one or two unsubstantiated accusations against certain persons and I had no choice but to delete those comments.

  Unfortunately, long-time ex's eventually become weary of the revolutionary ideas of passionate newbies, so many have there been over the years. Most of us realise now that it's the constant drip drip drip of information about the WTBTS that is the most succesful way of helping people out of the org.

  Englishman.