Well I got a threatening visit "shepperding call" from a couple of local elders last night. Seems "someone" saw me with a poppy on my coat yesterday, which of course is a big no-no. They wanted to ask me about this in person. I've been itching to say something about this, so I invited them both in (much to their sorrow as they soon found out).
They actually had the damn Live Forever book with them and they talked about how "Catholics kill Catholics" during wars, with the Church's blessings and how as Christians, we don't believe in killing other people (unless it's by denying them the right to a blood transfusion---then it's okay). They switched to how many thousands of brothers and sisters died during the Holocaust and how they "stood up for their religion" rather than denounce it.
I said that that was fine, but I saw nothing wrong with remembering non-Witnesses who died in the war either. When they said that that wasn't right, I said "and where do you think the Organization would be today, if we had not gone to war in WWII? If America and her allies had not fought Hitler, do you really think we'd have the Freedom of Religion that we enjoy today? Do you think the Third Reich would allow anyone to go out knocking on people's doors, denouncing them and all they stood for?"
Their answer was, "no, we probably would not enjoy the freedoms we have today, but does that justify killing people?" I replied "...I think you'd feel quite differently if your wife and children were exterminated in a gas chamber, rather than have their countrymen stand up to Evil." I then added "......You say that Catholics kill Catholics" during the wars. How many Catholics died so that Jehovah's Witnesses could live?"
Dead silence.
Me: "....And how many Witnesses died so that Catholics could live?"
Them: "......well um, as uh.........followers of Jesus, we don't believe in going to war."
Me: "..That may be so, but maybe we shouldn't be so quick to bash those that died for us, when they didn't even know us."
Brother Moron: "...So what are you saying Mary; that we should honor Catholics who perished in the War? Honor is supposed to only go to Jehovah God, not men."
Me: "....what about the Commandment to Honor your Mother and your Father?"
More silence accompanied by filthy looks directed at me.
Brother Idiot: "....Look this is what we, as Jehovah's people believe. We don't honor anyone who goes to war as that's the same as giving honor to Satan the Devil (yes, you read that right). Wearing a poppy is showing honor a practice which we don't believe in."
Me: "..Well seeing as there is nothing in the bible which condemns something like this, I think Paul's words should be taken to heart where he told us not to be judging others with regards to eating (certain foods) or putting one day above another.........I don't think I've done anything wrong and I'm sorry if you feel that I have."
To make a long story shorter, I politely came up with a rebuttal for every argument they had. I was completely expecting them to tell me they were forming a Judicial Committee (at this point, I really don't give a shit), but amazingly they didn't. I could tell they were frustrated and were thinking about what I had said, as clearly they hadn't thought of anything like that before.............I'll keep you posted as to any new developments!!
Meanwhile, destroy those poppies!! They're demonic and before you know it, you'll be seeing smurfs running around your house!!