Posts by franklin J

20

Expressing My Thanks For Simon's Board.

by Guest 77 in

jw
friends

i 've been on this board for some time now, and i would like to express my thanks to simon for putting up with plenty of diversified personalties.

also, many thanks to all the moderators.. what the coming year has in store for this forum, well, only time will tell.

hopefully, as it has been going of late, it will 'mature' to another level.

franklin J

thank you Simon and company,

I am reletively new and I enjoy surfing the board everyday; the interaction, different perspectives and the international friendships.

Frank

21

Do jws realise the amount of control the watctower has over them?

by Gadget in

i was talking to my ex-girlfriend today, and we got on about the witnesses.

she refuted how much control the watchtower has over each witness, saying that the watchtower is only a guide as to what to do, everybody has to make their own mind up.

is this a general view of witnesses?

franklin J

no, they have no idea.

And when I was a good witness, I would never even have contemplated that possibility.

8

DUMBO property and the secret of the Margaret Hotel

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

i just received this letter from a former bethel worker who saw my post on the dumbo property plans of the watchtower.

don't tell me they aren't doing this dumbo project just the same as the margaret hotel and who knows how many others?

letter dated 12/18/03 from anonymous .

this is very interesting reading...however, I cannot imagine why the WTBTS would want to be so secretive. If the Building they are planning is within all zoning and building codes, "as of right". There is no danger from it not being accomplished. If it is "as of right" even the community opposition cannot stop it. Why the secrecy?

The only thing that comes to mind is for the purchase of any neighboring properties. Any seller would assume that if WT wants to purchase, they would jack up the price. However, if WT feigns " no interest" , the property owner would be forced to sell to any other interested party, and at a lesser price due to the overwelming influence of WT in the neighborhood. Wt sets up a dummy corporation to place a low bid. This is a common tactic in the NYC real estate market.

I am an architect who has worked with many heavy hitter New York City developers, and I can tell you that New York City and its zoing is literally for sale to those who have the money and connections to override any current zoning. A corporation with the economic clout of Watchtower could more or less "buy" whatever approvals they would need to acquire ( if the project is not "as of right" to the site) to do what every they had it in mind to do.

I do not understand the clandestine "espionage" angle...not telling your wife? What are they trying to hide, and what could they possibly be trying to prove by this action?

10

The turkeys ready.....

by morty in

jw
friends

i just hope i am..... you see,i have been sick for days now, and so have been the kids with this damn chest cold...... they have been home from school and i have been laying on the couch for 3 days now....the house looks like a tornadoe went through it, and the butcher just called to confirm my 25lb turkey is ready to be picked up on tuesday for x-mas dinner... i am having 23 here to cook for, and i am not in the mood right now for it...so much work ahead of me right now.... anyways, where do you go for christmas dinner?

do you cook it, or does someone else do it in your family?.

i have aways done the christmas dinner at my house, but this year i am not feeling up to it at all...... do you think it would be rude for me to ask everyone in the family to bring something to the dinner?

franklin J

Michelle,

by all means do ask them to help you. From what I can see it is a holiday tradition. It gives your guests the oppurtunity to show off their cooking and baking skills and their holiday china and serving dishes. Everyone has a holiday special dish they are proud to prepare. And everyone shares in the meal. ( My Catholic wife filled me in on all the correct holiday etiquette).

And request of your husband and boys to help prepare the house, with cleaning and xmas decorations.( I also get this EVERY year from the Catholic wife)

Frank

31

Thinking of the kids at Christmas

by Angharad in

jw
friends

our two kids were so excited this morning going to school.

this afternoon was the christmas party.

so they were all set with party clothes in a bag to change into and their assigned food/drink they had to bring.

franklin J

Princess,

You are right. I have much to be thankful for, and despite that early turbulence, there is much joy in my life.

Thank you for the jolt. A positive attitude CAN be infectious!

regards,

Frank

31

Thinking of the kids at Christmas

by Angharad in

jw
friends

our two kids were so excited this morning going to school.

this afternoon was the christmas party.

so they were all set with party clothes in a bag to change into and their assigned food/drink they had to bring.

franklin J

yes, I remember all too well being the only kid in the class to have to go to the library during a Christmas party and having to excuse myself in a class grab bag of contributed presents . The pain and humiliation stays with a child of having to be different. I have overlooked and forgiven much in the turbulent wake of my JW childhood, but I cannot forgive the anguish of having to be "different" in school, among my peers..

And now, at 47 years old, with my own 3 wonderful children ( who will never know that pain) I still think back 40 years ago and--the sting is still there! 2 years of therapy and deprogramming could not clear it away. Despite whatever success I have achieved over the passed 20 years ( my 3 kids being my proudest --achievment? accomplishment?...my wife helped) I suppose I am still that small boy still uncomfortably explaining to the teacher that it is against my religion....and knowing that I would then have to face the class as the " one who could not go to the christmas party".

Special K---I related to your effort to help those little charges who came to you in Library to sit out the Xmas concert. You have brought happiness and comfort to those little souls, I am sure. The elementary school child trapped in my psyche thanks you! ( weird, I know!) I hope this holiday brings you much joy!

Frank

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