One subject I've never seen addressed on these boards
concerns violence - or rather the lack of it - in
response to injustices within the organization.
This is a touchy area, I realize. I had a roommate
at Bethel once who got booted for threatening a factory
overseer - probably best for all concerned that he
left.
It might surprize you to know that the organization
has defended violence/self-defense at times.
For example, in resisting rape -- or many years
ago when Rutherford thought whacking loud mouth
Catholics was a good idea, at Madison Square Garden.
(The Olin Moyle letter may refer to this incident).
I don't advocate anything illegal here.
But I would like to repeat the story of Madame DuBarry.
Madame DuBarry was an aristocrat during the French
Revolution. She was known to be kind and generous,
unlike those who said 'let them eat cake'.
The Revolution became extreme, condemning anyone who
had anything to do with aristocracy, including her.
On her way to the guillotine, she protested and screamed.
She shrieked and thrashed while they cut off her hair
and fought her executioners hysterically.
The crowds who observed this were repelled. It wasn't
pretty and they expected the well-born to go to their
deaths as if they deserved it. After her death,
the Revolution's interest in these lurid spectacles
declined - they weren't fun anymore.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Witness who has ever
been harmed by the Society acted like she did? Wouldn't
it be great if every judicial committee had to
confront this kind of scene?
Wouldn't the whole organization be the better for it?
metatron (liberty, equality, fraternity)