Posts by mamochan13

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

Thanks for sharing your experience, on the rocks. It adds important perspective to this discussion. I also read about the latest bus rape in India this morning, along with a few other rape/murders of young girls. I've read about the issue of female infanticide/abortion - a trend that has been going on since at least 2001.

Clearly the social problems and attitudes towards women are a huge issue with no easy solutions in sight. But at least the dialogue has started. It's extremely important that the problem be discussed openly, with all sides being looked at - no excuses, simply an exercise to understand and hopefully initiate change.

152

How Long has it Been since you Last Attended Meetings and What Caused...

by flipper in

jw
friends

..... you to stop attending ?

injustices ?

disagree with the teachings ?

mamochan13

I don't recall the last meeting I attended as a JW. I was born in, and meetings defined my life. After I was DF'd and reinstated, I kept attending, but my heart was no longer in it. The turning point was Memorial, 1996 when I didn't attend. To not attend the Memorial was pretty much considered the worst action of all. My family went ballistic. I made the mistake of letting my children (aged 11-17) attend, which prompted my family to try and force them back into the religion.

The consequences were pretty ugly, profound and long-term. Fortunately my children saw through the hypocrisy and stuck by me.

I"ve only been in a hall twice since then. Once when my aunt died, and last year when my mom died. Made me ill to listen to the JW crap about how the most important thing in her life was her religion, and how they turned her funeral into a JW propaganda session. One of my daughters went and stayed in the bathroom the whole time, unable to even listen to it.

147

Weird "new world" artwork from the 2013 calendar

by cedars in

jw
friends

my mother-in-law has a strange obsession with calendars, and orders the society's calendar each year.

this year's calendar is especially weird.

it features images depicting future events - in particular, the society's vision of the new world order.. i've taken the opportunity to scan some of the images for you all to check out.. please note - there are captions for each of the images, but i don't have the english language version of the calendar so i'd rather just quote the scripture used so as not to reveal which country i'm in.. .

mamochan13

Jan/Feb - Jesus is just too creepy. Looks like he's gloating. Not so much HO HO HO but BWAHHAAAHAAAHAA

Mar/Apr - my first thought was that the kids could breathe underwater. No need for snorkels. And of course, women in dresses is the most appropriate beach attire.

May/Jun - They are going to keep all the cultural clothing styles and ethnic materials, but when it comes to building houses - forget traditional Japanese homes. It's A-frame all the way.

Jul/Aug -AGree with Blondie. What is it about all the fruit in these pictures?? ANd sailboats? WFT? Cedars' comment nails it.

Sep/Oct - what more can you say about the horror of having to still attend meetings in paradise?

Nov/Dec - I thouight those blurry things behind the men might be the women. But even accounting for the notion of no gender - it's still awful creepy to think that female anointed will be in heaven with beards.

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

fulltimestudent - your point about "court of law" and the ideas posted about punishment (i.e. death penalty) got me thinking. I agree that courts do take into account mitigating circumstances when passing sentence for a crime. I think the intention is to help determine whether there might be any possibility of rehabilitation. There are people who commit heinous acts but do show regret later and attempt to make amends. They clean up their lives and go on to become productive citizens. Others are beyond rehabilitation.

As stillthinking points out, harsh penalties are not necessarily the solution. Hanging these men might satisfy justice, but it won't solve the problem or prevent it from happening again.

I will reiterate that poverty has nothing to do with it. Rich men rape and murder, too. Extreme poverty does not create an attitude that women are chattels. What it might do is create a sense that life has little value, period.

Edited to add: thinking about the recent Shafia case in Montreal, where a wealthy father (from Afghanistan originally) murdered his three daughters and first wife with the help of his son and current wife, all because they had brought shame on the family. It almost makes me think that in certain wealthy countries women can become even more like chattels. As has already been pointed out - fundamental religion seems to keep rearing its ugly head.

13

Talesin - R U Still Here?

by truthlover in

havent seen you post recently - enjoy them are you not well?.

anybody know.

.

mamochan13

good to hear from you, Tal, and glad you are feeling positive and moving up and forward.

12

Congo Merger Elder Meeting Flashback: SUPER True-Believer Cong. Secretary

by Open mind in

jw
friends

this thead is a little bit long and it's not earth-shaking.

it just gives a glimpse into the inner-workings of elder meetings.. .

several years ago i was serving as an elder and the c.o.

mamochan13

For most of my growing up years we had the service meeting on Friday nights - which really sucked because that was the best tv night.We also had Sunday meeting in the late afternoon - which completely wrecked the day for anything else. The elders would not consider a morning meeting because that's what christendom did.

There was no other cong. in the hall, we could have had the meetings any time, but the elders were stuck to those times. I don't recall it ever being put to the cong. for a vote or an opinion or anything.

72

My Husband Said "Victims Of Pedophiles Come Forward Soon, Not Fifteen Or Thirty Years Later!" Right?

by AuntConnie in

my husband had gotten into a fight with a couple of victims of different pedophiles, he said in all his years of elderhood, "men and women who were sexually assualted came forward when they were old enough, they did not wait for decades to report they were abused.

you must have some kind of false memory or you are just trying to bring shame to the congregations.

" what is the truth of this?.

mamochan13

Aunt Connie - taking you at your questionable word - your husband is not a profesional and he hasn't a clue. No elder with a 5th grade education should be giving adivce to a victim of a pedophile/rape/sexual abuse/whatever.

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

Still Thinking - that's just sick.

I'm not surprised that some Indian media is suggesting that better prayers to god might have helped. Same old christian bullshit. Pray and god/jesus will fix everything. Lack faith and you are screwed.

I guess the psychologist/scientist in me wants to understand the functioning of a mind that would do something so horrible.

26

reinstatement tries

by Honeybucket in

jw
friends

i am looking for the reinstatement guidelines for someone who has been actively trying to get reinstated for 2 years and have put in a reinstatement letter 3x in those two years but was denied everytime.

are the elders just making an example of them, have they permenately been kicked out, or maybe these people dont want to come back and this story is part of their fade.. .

has anyone ever heard of people not getting reinstated.

mamochan13

well said, Aunt Connie. The elders shredded every one of my letters, and I was forced to play the two congregation game -

Elder body #2 "we aren't responsible cuz she moved, so ask elder body #1".

Elder body #1 "sorry, she's moved and not in our territory."

Elder body #2 "no, you have to do it. WE don't know anything about how horrible she was while she was in your congregation."

Elder body #1 "we really want nothing to do with this. She disrespected us, but she lives in your territory and we have no jurisdiction. Leave us alone. We're busy."

Elder body #2 "well, we are on vacation, talk to us later"

On and on and on.

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

BOTR - there are plenty of people who have money, opportunity, and privilege who rape and murder. There is no real rationale that can actually lead to understanding, I suppose. But we keep trying to get insight. ANd that's my argument - we need all the evidence, whether we like to hear it or not.