Posts by fairchild

152

One more challenge...

by misspeaches in

sorry guys - i know i keep posting these but they are so addictive... .

this one is my favourite so far!

http://www.albartus.com/motas/

fairchild

You are going to end up killing me, misspeaches. *hurries to check it out*

48

How long have you been on the Internet? and ..

by Brummie in

jw
friends

which is the 1st exjw site you posted on?.

i didnt get on until 1999 and posted on randys wt world and h20 occasionally.

also larry ingmans chat.... any of you used to post or chat there?

I've used the internet since 1992, but only for e-mails. Got my own computer and access to more than just e-mailing since 1996. JWD is the only ex JW site I post at. I do post at a few poetry sites and have my own website as well (poetry). I mainly use the rhyming dictionary and thesaurus on the internet, and usually put a few posts down on JWD during a break while I'm writing.

196

Move on...

by mrsjones5 in

as i was taking my shower this morning i was musing about certain posts i had read the day before.

the one about the tampons just tickled me to no end.

crazy stuff people will do to enforce whatever crazy ideas they have about human sexuality.

fairchild

In this country white people have told black people that if we dont like the way we are treated here we can go back to Africa. I admit it when CW said that in my post it pushed my button.

Let's combine the two subjects in this thread: "racism" and "moving on". The family on my mom's side consisted of gypsies who settled down in the Netherlands in the late 1800's. Needless to say that some family members lost their lives in the concentration camps during the holocaust. My parents were merely children during the war, but my grandparents endured a huge amount of suffering. Although I didn't grow up with my family, when I was in my teens, I was told repeatedly that I could date anyone I darn well pleased, but not a German. (hmm.. the first guy I ever dated was German, oops). Obviously, WW II was not forgotten and moving on was a slow process, considering the wounds and the losses which still weighed down heavily upon their hearts. Of course, the Germans my age, who weren't even born when WW II raged with all its destruction, could by no means be held accountable for what had happened. On the other hand, we do have to leave some room for understanding the horrible depths of pain some people went through. Should a dog attack you and scar you for life, there's a fair chance that you'll be afraid of all dogs for the rest of your life. Growing up, partially in the Netherlands and partially in Belgium, the bunkers, war museums, movies, etc.. were a constant reminder of the gruesome past. Do I hate Germans? No, by no means, but my parents and my grandparents do. I always felt bad about such racism which reigned over post war Europe. The seventies made room for the eighties, and many Turkish and African people started to immigrate to the Western European countries. They were never treated equally. The words "They are coming here and they are taking OUR jobs" were heard all over. A crime, committed by let's say a native of Belgium would make fifth page in a newspaper. The same kind of crime committed by a Turk would make first, or at least second page. Again, I felt bad about such things. Little did I know that I would taste a piece of that very same pie later on in life. Once out of college, I hit the road with my magic and juggling show and went all over Europe as well as Africa. I was mostly treated like a queen, wherever I went. The hospitality in Africa was truly amazing. I remember sharing a meal with people I knew for a fact couldn't afford to have a real meal, but they had bought groceries and cooked to honor me as a guest in their house. It made me think of how their families were being treated in far away countries and I felt an enormous sadness come into my heart. I helped where i could and hope to God that I made a difference at least to a few people somewhere along my traveled roads. The nineties took me to America. I settled on a few acres of land in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains, which I now call my home. 13 years later, I am still called "the foreigner" in town. About 6 years ago, people tried to break into my place in the middle of the night, yelling that they would kill me if I didn't get my ass back to where I came from. There are a lot of racists around here. Oh pardon me, there are a lot of racists everywhere. In summertime, I sell vegetables in a little booth in my driveway. The booth has been completely destroyed twice. I keep to myself and am definitely not a trouble maker, but being a "foreigner" apparently is trouble enough to some people.

Yes, I can completely understand why offence was taken by the words "go back to where you came from". I have heard them too many times. I know that they were not meant to be hurtful in this case, I really do. But I can fully understand how such words can hurt, no matter in what way they were meant. Bottom line is, if you don't stay where your roots are, you are going to get hurt, no matter what. I don't think anyone can understand this, unless they are in such situation.

I have been known to bitch about the American health insurance system (or lack thereof), and I have been told indeed, that if I don't like it, I'm free to go back where I came from. However, isn't it funny that, when natural citizens of a country criticize an aspect of that country, it is okay, but when "foreigners" do the same thing, it is not okay? I strongly believe that as a foreigner, I need to respect the rules, regulations and the whole system the country operates on, but on the other hand, I should also be allowed to have an opinion, just like everyone else.

I am Dutch, I am white, and I have been living in the USA since 1992. In my honest and humble opinion, we are all human beings, living under God's sun. Regardless of origin, skin color, religion, preferences and what not, we are all human beings with a right to be happy and to make a living for ourselves. We should be able to do this in our own way, at our own pace and in a place we can call our home, in a place where we can feel welcome and safe. Yes, we should be, but sadly, the reality is different.

This being said, I would like to ask, please find a place in your heart for everyone, regardless of what color their skin looks like or where they come from. Being a victim of racism is not much fun.

19

Post your Screen Names here!

by tsunami_rid3r in

jw
friends

aim- tsunami rid3r

fairchild

AOL IM GladePrincess

104

mmnnnnn ... who makes you just "melt"

by Simon in

.

for an oldie i'd pick audrey hepburn singing moon river ... mmnnnn, i never get tired of that.. currently i'm listening to norah jones an aweful lot.

she is very easy on the ears and is my "audible-heaven" right now.. so who's voice makes you 'melt' ?

fairchild

Renata Scotto. I can listen to her all day long, every day. beautiful soprano voice.

34

My Mom is so upset she is skipping meetings!

by Quotes in

jw
friends

i just got off the phone with my mom.

my mom has been a jw since converting in her teens or early 20s; she is now at the age of "senior discount".

a lifetime in the religion, by choice.

fairchild

I too am hoping others here can confirm the "Learning Center" thing.

Anyone?

Anyone??

Anyone???

I haven't heard anything about that. But my comment will bring this bttt, as I'm pretty interested in hearing more opinions.

I'm glad that your mom is starting to ask herself some questions about the WTBTS. She might be on her way out.. some good advice has been given to you, take it easy on her for a few weeks now. I wish her good luck in her journey for real truth.

2

Ready for an adventure?

by misspeaches in

i've run out of rooms to baffle you with but here is an adventure which is currently tickling my fancy... hope you enjoy!

.

http://www.lasthalfofdarkness.com/

fairchild

I don't dare clicking on that link, knowing I have to get to work in the morning.....

35

Tears

by Krystal in

jw
friends

i am 20 years old and i left the organization when i was 17. there are of course many gorey details which i will not get into right now... but i just wanted to say how happy i am to have found this fourm.

as many of you remember, we were always instructed not to read anything about jehovah's witnesses that wasn't written by the organization.

well, that instruction stuck, and this is the first time i three years that i have dared to even look.. needless to say, i found some very disturbing information.