Hey all! I have about 9 million emails and phone messages today..so that's interesting. Aside from having the intial reaction of how HORRIBLE I look on telly (which I always have) and my partner swatting me for saying it I was amused to see they only used one quote from what was a long interview. What I did do as well was give suggestions as to content, such as bringing in the admission that this problem is of course not JW specific, and talking about it in a calm manner, with as little hyperbole as possible. I was really happy with how it worked out actually. I thought Wyndgate made himself and the Society by extension look like a bunch of unfeeling hypocrites. Which they are. And I thought Graeme was really good when he made the point of saying that the offer of help involved more 'bible studies' instead of paid for counselling. My heart goes out to those people who were in the show who hav been so badly affected by the abuse foisted on them by the two men involved. Its the tip of the iceberg. Particularly telling was the admission that the one perpetrator was reinstated after only nine months because he was repentent and is now in a congregation in Queensland. I'd like to be at their next theocratic ministry school. Someone should denounce him for what he is, word will get around, Witnesses do watch these programs covertly.
I was asked by Nine if I thought these allegations would "bring down" the Society. I said no it would not. That the majority of the rank and file would see it as persecution by Satan's agents (in this case the media) and would put it resolutely out of their minds. My mother has done this for years. I have mentioned before her reaction to my telling her that my best friend was being abused by her father, she hit me and then called me a liar. This man was subsequently DF'd for getting a 17 year old pregnant. There are many JW's who are in fact sincere and would be horrified to know the extent of what was and is going on and what the Society's reaction to the problem has been. If the Society would deal with these issues in a transparent manner, admit their is a problem and take steps to truly protect the congregations it would go along way to salvaging their reputation.
My institution was a bit concerned that by my participation I would make myself a 'target' for zealots. That has never worried me. I am not totally comfortable with being on telly, I mean who is? Talk about an artificial environment!!! (grin). But I do believe in the importance of working for clarity and understanding. This site, my PhD and being willing to speak out all work for those ends. I do believe that people have a right to their beliefs and that includes of course Jehovah's Witnesses. But I do not believe in protecting a belief system that allows the most vulnerable of its members to be taken advantage of in ways that can destroy their lives and that of their families. Children and women have always been the most vulnerable members of the Witnesses and I will continue to be involved in a calm, reasoned fashion to bring these issues to light.
Cheers!
MH