hahaha... No, I won't be getting my share of the $700 billion dollar bailout (or is it more now?) But I did have the privilege of watching my retirement savings lose a big chunk of the little that was in there. But on the bright side, I'm required to work another 30 or so more years anyway, so I've got time to build it up and lose it over and over again during the next economic bust! Isn't that great (said sarcasticly).
littletree
JoinedPosts by littletree
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6
No Handouts for me, Buddy!
by littletree ini just wanted to respond to someone on this forum (i think his name was "still-fading") who made the comment in one of the threads that "obama will win... the popular vote, due to fact that the people on the receiving end of hand outs outnumber the people paying into the system".
here is my comment: false, false, false.
i have not voted before, until yesterday, and i'm not normally political.
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6
No Handouts for me, Buddy!
by littletree ini just wanted to respond to someone on this forum (i think his name was "still-fading") who made the comment in one of the threads that "obama will win... the popular vote, due to fact that the people on the receiving end of hand outs outnumber the people paying into the system".
here is my comment: false, false, false.
i have not voted before, until yesterday, and i'm not normally political.
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littletree
I just wanted to respond to someone on this forum (I think his name was "still-fading") who made the comment in one of the threads that "Obama will win... the popular vote, due to fact that the people on the receiving end of hand outs outnumber the people paying into the system". Here is my comment: FALSE, FALSE, FALSE. I have not voted before, until yesterday, and I'm not normally political. But if anyone truly believes that Obama won the US Presidential election yesterday only because of the vote and support of social service recipients and poor people, then they are TRULY misguided. I am not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic party, but I was so impressed with the DIVERSITY of the people who came out to support Obama and Biden- young, old, black, white, hispanic, poor, middle-class, wealthy, gay, straight, big city, small town, you-name-it! I love that about America. I especially love it because I am an African-American woman married to a man who is part German and Irish and part Thai. When we have kids, I want them to be respected by and show respect for people based on their character, not on what they look like or because of their socio-economic status. And I don't want anyone to assume that because of the melanin in their skin that my kids will ever want or need a handout. Diversity should bring out the best in all of us! And as far the the handouts, no one in my hard-working African-American family has ever taken them. My mother is a mechanical engineer, my older sister is a lawyer, my younger sister is a teacher, and I am an IT worker; we all put ourselves through state universities by working and getting student loans (mine is paid-off in full!). There are MORE people like us in this country and world than those who just want a "handout". FOr goodness sakes, have faith in your fellow man!!! Most people work a 9-5 job, even two of them, to support themselves and their families. And for those that HAVE had to receive help from the government because they went through a rough time and may need some help getting back on their feet, they deserve respect also. Each of us are different, but we all want the same things- peace, health, a little wealth, and happiness for ourselves and our families. I just wish that everyone would STOP all of the racism, classism, divisiveness, ignorance, "left" vs. "right" mentality, and hate, and try to put themselves in someone else's shoes for a change. Sorry for getting on my soapbox, but I just can't believe how ignorant and mislead some people are.
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Would like to compliment and commend both candidates on being a class act
by StoneWall ini generally don't have much to say on the polical field.. as i mentioned on a previous thread i thought either candidate would be a much better choice than what we've been thru the last eight years here in u.s.a.. with that said i must say i really appreciated how fast mccain got to the concession speech and didn't wait till hours on end hoping for a recount or a error on ballot counting etc.
he showed total class in my opinion and handled the speech admiringly.. .
now to obama.
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littletree
Stonewall, I don't know you, but thank you for making me feel better. I agree with you 100%, that both candidates are classy guys. I had been feeling discouraged by some of the nasty comments that I saw/see on blogs and even this very site last night, so it's just so wonderful to hear people speak positively in behalf of both candidates.
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Local Radio DJ says Jehovah's Witnesses are worst religion in the world ...
by troubled mind inif you are a person that loves getting presents !!!!!!!
hahaaha
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littletree
My mom- who is still a JW- is probably one of the most generous people in the world, uh.. if the recipient of the gift or act of kindness is one of Jehovah's Witnesses! Growing up, I watched her go into debt more than once to buy clothes, furniture and appliances "for the friends". It makes me sad that none of the people who she's done things for (especially some of the freeloaders in her current congregation) have done anything for her, EVER. She hardly has any true friends, yet she swears by the "love" of the JW. Dang, even out here in the "world", I've been treated to a few free lunches every now and then by coworkers! haha I say, love is as love does.
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Going back, even for a party, was kinda traumatic...
by littletree inmy mom called last week to tell me that i'd been invited to the high school graduation party of two girls from my former congregation.
i went because these weren't just any girls; they'd been more like little sisters to me, best friends, right up until i purposely drifted away from the jws in 2003 {my brief jw bio: i started going to the hall with my re-instated mom when i was about 6 years old; i got baptized at her urging when i was 14, on septermber 1, 1991; i was a bible-loving, whole-hearted witness youth until age 25; then i left after a year of "apostate" reading at 26, attending my last meeting at a district convention on september 1, 2003; i've only been back for 1 memorial, and about 5 other times to visit family members or old "friends" at their various halls.
} so yesterday i attended the party (at a seafood restaurant), bringing my wonderful "worldly" husband of 2 years, and his mom, with me.
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littletree
Thank you all for your understanding and supportive comments and insights. It really helps that there are people like you guys who know what its like to go through this... I feel better today. And yes, I am very happy with my new family (my husband and m-i-l); they remind me every day that JWs are wrong in claiming that they're the only good and decent people. My husband has been very supportive. Thanks again to all of you (WTWizard, Eliveleth, babygirl75, Hope4Others, and Awakened). I hope I can encourage some of you in some way one day.
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What Was Lousy About Being A JW For You?
by minimus inwas it that you never got holiday candy until the day after?.
that you couldn't be a "normal" kid?.
that you always were feeling restricted, depressed and angry???.
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littletree
Like some others said, the worst parts for me were (1) not having a choice, or being able to read other religious material or visit other churches with friends, (2) being made to believe that all "worldly" people were "bad association" when I knew darn well that the Witnesses- all humans!- are no different, and (3) going in field service. I hated pushing my beliefs on other people.
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Going back, even for a party, was kinda traumatic...
by littletree inmy mom called last week to tell me that i'd been invited to the high school graduation party of two girls from my former congregation.
i went because these weren't just any girls; they'd been more like little sisters to me, best friends, right up until i purposely drifted away from the jws in 2003 {my brief jw bio: i started going to the hall with my re-instated mom when i was about 6 years old; i got baptized at her urging when i was 14, on septermber 1, 1991; i was a bible-loving, whole-hearted witness youth until age 25; then i left after a year of "apostate" reading at 26, attending my last meeting at a district convention on september 1, 2003; i've only been back for 1 memorial, and about 5 other times to visit family members or old "friends" at their various halls.
} so yesterday i attended the party (at a seafood restaurant), bringing my wonderful "worldly" husband of 2 years, and his mom, with me.
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littletree
My mom called last week to tell me that I'd been invited to the high school graduation party of two girls from my former congregation. I went because these weren't just any girls; they'd been more like little sisters to me, best friends, right up until I purposely drifted away from the JWs in 2003 {My brief JW bio: I started going to the Hall with my re-instated mom when I was about 6 years old; I got baptized at her urging when I was 14, on Septermber 1, 1991; I was a Bible-loving, whole-hearted Witness youth until age 25; then I left after a year of "apostate" reading at 26, attending my last meeting at a District Convention on September 1, 2003; I've only been back for 1 memorial, and about 5 other times to visit family members or old "friends" at their various Halls.} So yesterday I attended the party (at a Seafood restaurant), bringing my wonderful "worldly" husband of 2 years, and his mom, with me. Thankfully, as we were late, we had to sit alone at an empty table. I got a lot of ackward stares when we first walked in, and a couple of "come back to Jehovah" speeches on the way out. My mother-in-law told me to just keep my head up, not worry about what they thought. But it was very difficult, and I was on the verge of tears all night. Even though I feel about 97% confident in my decision to never go back, it still amazes me how being around the folks from my congregation make me feel like a guilty, uncertain, self-conscious little girl again. They were my friends, teachers and support-system for 20 years. But I can NEVER go back- because I don't believe that 144,000 people are going to heaven, I don't believe Christ returned invisibly in 1914, I'm not certain that there's going to be an earthly Paradise, I certainly don't believe that the organization of JWs is God's channel (I'm my humble opinion, no group can claim that title), and though I believe in God, I'm not sure if I'm truly Christian. But a part of me feels like I've let those little girls down, particularly not being there for one of them who was raised by her grandparents. She was my heart, and it killed me when I left- not being able to take her to the movies or shopping because I was now "bad association". Especially hearing all the elders and pioneers at the party stand up and give speeches to the graudates about "sticking with Jehovah" and not "going out into the world" (At some points, I think their comments may have been directed at me- the only "inactive" one in the room). I was awake crying much of last night. At work today, I feel like a truck ran over me. I just wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar experience- returning for a JW social event and ending up feeling emotionally drained and confused???
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Let's Donate NOW they need us
by Dogpatch ini am so shocked by the devastation in the south from katrina.
watch the news channel for a few minutes and you can imagine the grief, heartbrake and misery that thousands of people are experiencing as we read this board.
please, if you have any money at all to donate, do it now while it is fresh in your mind.
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littletree
There's no way someone can look at that devastation down there and not be moved to give. I just made my donation to the Red Cross. I'd being reading about the conditions in New Orleans, especially at the Superdome (where evacuees are suffering and even dying, because there's so little food, water, electricity, and sanitation), and it's horribly sad. Even if it's just a little bit, every little bit helps. Donna/littletree
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Living a Lie.
by jeeprube inwell i've finally done it.
i've pulled my head out of the sand.
please permit me to ramble a bit about myself.
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littletree
jeeprube, welcome! like the others, i can tell you that this site is truly comforting... to know that other understand and have been where you are. even when i'm not posting, i'm always reading what others have to say. i too am 28, but have been "inactive" for almost two years now. my family has limited their association with me, but have not cut me off completely because i'm not YET disfellowshipped or dissassociated; but i'm sure that time will come eventually. i hope that your wife comes around one day, or at least becomes more tolerant of your viewpoint. sometimes i miss the friends in my old hall, but nothing compares to the weight off my shoulders now that i've left. it's so nice to finally be able to see the good in "worldly" people, and in myself regardless of any mistakes i might make- to be able to believe and question as freely as i choose. welcome again. littletree
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My adventures to the Kingdom Hall
by ColdRedRain inmy story begins like this.
i was missing 2 important peices of mail.
one was my credit card, the other was a cell phone i'm getting from a friend.
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littletree
I haven't been back to my old Kingdom hall since September 2003, but I did run into some girls who used to go there. I mean, they were like family to me at one time, my "spiritual" little sisters. They were scared to come close to me, and stood there looking at me like I had two heads!!! (I'm not disfellowshipped, but there are rumors going around that I have apostate views). Anyway, I just laughed it off in my head, and thought it was so strange how people change towards you.