Thank you for writing this, Hillary.
I have a few family members I would love to show this too. Unfortunately, because of shunning, I hold little hope of that ever becoming reality.
I paused on your reference to Hitler killing the Jews. Perhaps, without us being able to see it, because it happens too slowly for the naked eye, the Org is imploding. The best and the brightest, unable to close their eyes, leave, or are expelled. Indeed, the Org seem to excel at shooting itself in the foot.
On a more personal note. I have a cousin that I was very close to when I was a child. I spent a lot of time with his family. He was one year younger than me. A fun and very sweet kid. Because of some disagreement between our families, I didn't see him for nearly 10 years. Went we did meet up, I was 18. I had just gotten a new Camaro Z28 and thought I was...well, I was 18 and had a hotrod...I was tres cool!
When I finally got to see this cousin after so many years at a family gathering, of course, being a guy, he wanted a ride in my car. And did I ever take him for a ride! He was still the sweet, bright, funny kid I remembered. We joked and laughed the entire time I zipped around rural areas outside the city he lived in. It was if the 10 years never went by. Of course, we parted with promises of keeping in touch.
Then a short time later, the WTS cracked down on associating with former members, and his mother being PioneerSuperWitness, my family was cut off again. This was 1981.
Until about 18 months ago when his younger sister made contact with me, I had no idea of his whereabouts or what he was doing. I find out after serving at Bethel for many years he is a CO somewhere in the southwest.
I realize it's been over 20 years and people can change. Sometimes for the worst. I ask myself how he can support, and help run, such a organization that can be so devastating to so many people. He's not a rank and rile! He is privy to the behind-the-scenes shenaniganes that the average JW is not aware of. Has he been so assimilated into the Borg that he is more robot than human now? I don't know the answer. I do know that he is the darling of his JW Mother's eye.
Please allow me to apologize for my ramblings. Best and brightest just made me think of him.
Excellent post.
Andee
