Posts by LisaRose

109

The Confederate Flag

by Simon in

the latest controversy over the confederate flag just sums up to me the state of dysfunction that exists in american society.. in summary: a white supremacist nutter shoots 9 black people dead in a church.

he's clearly inspired by the messages of others which the confederate flag is often a symbol of.. it seems like a no-brainer to remove it.

not only isn't it removed, it isn't even lowered at all as a mark of respect.. and of course now there are the people who want to defend their right to have it.

LisaRose

Third, while I agree with the majority on racism, the confederate flag has no special meaning other than those who cherish or distort its past

Whatever it's origins, this flag has been adopted by many racist organizations and people, and so has come to symbolize racial intolerance and hate and is offensive to a great many people. While some may chose to use it and they may have that right, there is no reason for any government to use it in any way.

It's just a shame that it took a horrific act to accomplish this.

If it's doing no harm, then it's doing no harm.

But it is doing harm. Imagine a person of color visiting a government building and seeing a symbol of the people who wish to oppress them. Why would that be OK for anyone? The swastika was adopted by the Natzis, so should we be OK with it being used today, just because it originally had a more benign use? Imagine a Jewish person seeing a swastika adorning a government building and tell me that would cause no harm.

39

Jehovah's Witness woman refuses blood, then dies.

by Lee Elder in

another jehovah's witness woman has died while giving birth due to massive blood loss and refusing a blood transfusion.

she leaves nine children behind.

she finally consented to the transfusion but it was too late to save her.

LisaRose

Why was this woman 41 and having a 9th child anyways!!

Why are you judging this poor woman? It's really none of anybody's business why she is pregnant, maybe her husband raped her, and being a JW she didn't feel she have the right to say no. sSe is a victim.

Sheesh.

17

Demons

by Pattytheperfect1 in

this isn't a joke and i don't post here often but i had a conversation with my grandma i found comical and thought i'd share.

my uncle lives far away and my grandma wants to go visit him but says she is afraid of the demons in his rental home.

she is afraid a demon might follow her home.

LisaRose

It used to be a fairly common JW delusion, although you don't hear so much about it anymore. To be fair the bible does speak of spirits inhabiting things or people, which just goes to show how backwards the bible is.

When my daughter was young, back in the eighties, there was a JW legend that Smurf toys were demonized, supposedly one got up and walked out of a kingdom hall. My in laws told this nonsense to my daughter, she freaked out and we had to throw her doll away.

Maybe your uncle has mental issues, or at least memory issues, and that might seem a rational explanation to him. Perhaps he should see a doctor.

26

Charity

by aintenoughwiskey in

jw
friends

we know the wt interpretation of matt 25:40 is support of the anointed.

since most of us here are no longer in that situation, what, if any forms of charity are you involved in?

sorry for the awkward framing of the question, it's not meant to imply atheists, or non-christians are not charitable!

LisaRose

I just did a shift at a charity called Med Share. The take donated medical supplies and sort them out to supply hospitals in disadvantaged areas. Doctors all over the world can order what they need, each shipment is tailored to a particular order. Volunteers take the donations and sort and resort into categories do they can be stocked in the warehouse. The even have a technition who repairs old equipment to make them functional again. A friend of mine told me about the program.

20

Need a good laugh?

by FadeToBlack in

if you could use a good laugh please have a look at page 7 of the july 2015 awake.

my wife leaves the latest issues on my pillow when she gets back from her meetings.

i often scan through them looking for nonsense.

LisaRose

I guess that's what people wear when they are paddling up S--- creek.

39

Wives who complain about their husbands work schedule but refuse to get a job

by hoser in

jw
friends

i listen to one of these all time in our hall.

she brings it up constantly about how they would do this or that but he has to work that saturday.

i think she should get a job and then he could find a lower paying 9 to 5 job..

LisaRose

I hate to see generalizations like this. Are there women who complain that their husband works too much but won't get a job? Of course, but that doesn't mean all women are that way, or even most. Maybe the guy treats her bad and she is lonely and depressed or maybe he is just a doormat. You never really know what is going on in other people's marriages, so why be judgemental?

I've been in both situations, I was the steady paycheck in my first marriage, as my ex couldn't keep a job, I lost count but I know it was well over 25 jobs in 28 years. He never lifted a finger around the house either, even when he wasn't working, and was a total baby whiner. I didn't mind working, but some appreciation would have been nice. I finally developed a backbone and left. I realise now I had no one to blame but myself for that situation, people cannot take advantage of you unless you let them, so if the husband of the OP really hated the situation that much he could leave.

I am now in the reverse situation, due to health issues, full time work is not possible for me anymore. I have a small business and do volunteer work when I am able. My husband works long hours, but I have never complained about it. I show my appreciation by making sure he has a nice home cooked meal when he gets home, even on days when I am in a lot of pain. After ten years as a single dad my husband really appreciates that and never forgets to thank me.

47

Songs celebrating leaving the faith? Not being a puppet, mind controlled, living life, etc etc

by aley63 in

i am looking for some songs that are in ref to celebrating leaving, seeing the light, realizing what you were told wasnt right, being happy w your life, etc etc.

all those emotions about being controlled and repressed, being told what you can feel or think or how to live, blindly following the "brotherhood ".

LisaRose

Fight Song.

Like a small boat

On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion

And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on

14

Observations About Today's WT Indoctrination

by OneFingerSalute in

this mornings wt was pretty amazing in it's totally asinine application of the term "relationship".. it started right off the bat asserting that jehovah is only interested in a relationship with "you" after "you" put forth the effort to get close to him.

par 14 said to be specific in prayer so you could see "subtle" answers.

par 15 then directly contradicted par.

LisaRose

I think that prayer does work for some people for a few reasons.

1) Prayer is a way to stop worrying, because you feel you have put it in God's hands. Someone once said that it's not what happens to you that determines your happiness, but how you feel about what happens to you.

2) Prayer is a form of meditation which causes your brain to release serotonin, a feel good hormone produced by the body. If you believe in God and get that feeling by prayer, it naturally validates your belief.

3) Prayer is a way to calm the mind, which then allows the subconscious to come up with a solution to the problems that bother you.

I believe some people are just naturally more prone to get in a meditative state by prayer and get those warm and fuzzy feelings, while others are more naturally sceptical and logical and not get that effect from prayer and so more likely to be non believers. Of course it's not absolute, but I imagine it is a range from strong believer to strong non believer, while also being impacted by upbringing, religion and other factors.

That is why religion is so universal, it does work in a very concrete way for some people, and those people are not going to give up what is for them a very positive thing. I never got much of that from prayer, so it always seemed odd to me when people said that Jehovah helped them, or answered their prayers. I felt there must be something wrong with me, because he certainly never did anything for me, lol.

17

My field service group leader wants to meet me

by Powermetal4ever in

jw
friends

he kind of invited me to a barbecue or something, and asked if my parents wanted to come along as well.

it felt really awkard, i mean i am 20++.

i was sceptic, so he told me he would send me a sms about an other fitting day instead.i probably didnt look too happy about that either, so he told me that maybe he could invite some other in the group.

LisaRose

Practice a few stock phrases that you can use as appropriate.

Oh wow, I wish I could, but thanks for the invite anyway....(don't elaborate). Smile!

It's just not a good time for me right now, but thanks for the invite. Produce a (very slightly) apologetic smile.

I wish I could, but I have another commitment (must see TV) but I will get back with about a better time, apologetic smile.

The main thing to remember is you owe these people nothing,. They don't give a rat's a$$ about you, they are just being guilted into going after the missing, so don't feel guilty yourself and you will break the vicious cycle in play here. The minute they break you down into an explanation they own you, because then they can judge if your explanation is worthy. Don't give them that power.

I am an introvert, it took me thirty years to learn to do this, until then people freely took advantage of me, so learn from my mistake, it will be very useful later in life.

14

Compensation after 30 years

by umbertoecho in

i have waited for so long to see some sort of justice given to my daughters.

it is far too late for me.

i have the same story as so many do on this site, so i won't bore you.

LisaRose

Of course money doesn't take away the hurt, but sometimes that is the only recourse we have to get some level of justice for a great wrong. There is no shame in standing up for yourself or your children and fighting for that.

I have seen some here defend Candace Conti by saying she was more interested in getting the Watchtower to change its shameful practices than getting a large settlement, and I believe it to be the case as well, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to seek or get just compensation. It's all about the money with this organization, they will only change their ways when it becomes unprofitable not to do so.

Good for you for fighting for yourself and your daughters.