Posts by La Capra

19

Any university students?

by happysunshine in

jw
friends

any college/university students here?

where do you go, what are you taking, and hows your experience so far?

don't be shy!

La Capra

I am just now approaching my first midterms in my first year of law school, in Northern California. My first one is one week from tonight.

I got my bachelor's degree in music in 1991 ( I dumped the dubs in 1987 in order to go to school without their pressure) at Sonoma State University. Go Cossacks (its Sea Wolves now).

I got my single subject teaching credential at Dominican College (its run by nuns!) in 1992 and have been teaching high school (math) full time ever since.

Going back to school this fall has been stressful, exciting, and for the first time in my life I feel completely and totally alive and free from the cult I was raised in. I didn't before when I was going through my undergraduate studies because it was all still too fresh. I was seeing everything in front of me from a wounded, threatened and outsider viewpoint.

I will be taking (and passing the first time!) the Bar exam nearly exactly 19 years after I left the cult, which I left at exactly the age of 19. An accidental time frame? No. I promised myself that when I had been out of the cult for as long as I had been in it, I would do something very incredible and powerful to celebrate. I picked passing the bar exam followed by a month on some tropical beach.

Enjoy your time in school. It's not the real world, but a fantastic ride on your way there. Good Luck in your studies.

Shoshana

77

Salvadoran JW house cleaner STOLD my homemade JAM

by Cappuccino OC in

jw
friends

yup, .

i have a cleaning lady because i had surgery on my left arm and i have a cast.

i hired her because i thought i could trust her.

La Capra

Actually, I am pretty sure that what she did would be considered a burglary in any state. Burglary is a felony everywhere and punishable by at least a year in prison. Burglary is the trespassory entering into another's building with the intent to commit a felony or a larceny once inside.

Just because she had a key doesn't mean she is off the hook for entering. She didn't have your permission to enter the house for any purpose in the middle of the night (that makes it even worse...if you were one of those types who kept a loaded gun, she might have been shot). And even if she did have your permission to enter, she didn't have your permission to enter to commit larceny.

Yep, it's larceny, the unconsented taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to steal it. Did she take it ? yes, did she carry it away? yes, did she intend to permanently deprive you of it? It sounds like it.

Burglary is a very serious crime, and one that your local police department will be most interested in hearing about it. If she did this to you, who knows who else she did it to or will do it to in the future if she isn't stopped.

And most of all it is very creepy. The reason burglaries are considered dangerous felonies is that it is extremely dangerous for people to be breaking into other people's homes in the middle of the night to steal stuff.

And as for her character, people who have good character do not steal other people's jam (I got stung with the nettles this summer on my berry picking expedition too this summer-I know exactly how you feel.),

Good character is something people have all the time, not only just the times they are not committing felonies in the homes of people who entrusted them with access. It's all or nothing with character, it's either good or it isn't.

And her guilty conscience confession does not absolve her of her guilt. She had the criminal mind set and she committed the act.

Please e-mail me privately, I can replace the homemade jam, and I'm already in California.

Shoshana

19

? re door to door JWs

by truthsetsfree in

jw
friends

i am not a witness or ex-witness but rather a 35 year old mom engaging in a dialogue with witnesses who are coming to my door.

(i may not change their minds but i'd like to plant seeds of doubt!

) i am trying to figure out what is behind a strategy (?

La Capra

Mrs. C has clearly poached Miss A's return visit.

I remember as a child being dragged around by women going door to door and hearing a Mrs. "C" clone saying to a Mrs. "D" clone, "why don't we go on this return visit I went on with Miss "A" last week. We might be able to place a Truth Book."

I also remember the fallout when Miss A discovered her hot prospect got poached by Mrs."C" and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it because Mrs.C is actually "Sister Presiding Elder's Wife" and Miss "A" is actually "Sister Unbelieving Mate".

Oh the snubbery that ensued....

I NEVER missed anything after I left. Can you tell?

Shoshana

9

Possible answer to layoffs at Bethel

by DevonMcBride in

jw
friends

http://www.packworld.com/new_search.html?xp_pub=packworld&xp_table=2001072301&xp_format=article&xp_record=996056761

labor savings

textbook publisher moves to automation

La Capra

The engineering firm is in Sonoma? That's where I am! I wonder if the local congregations know about this. I'm gonna ask my mom.
Shoshana

44

'Prepare for Banning' A HOAX! READ INSIDE

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

my friend called me last night and said that his mother heard a letter read on monday night at her congregation meeting that said that the rank and file should be prepared to be banned, to go underground, and persecution is coming soon, that halls would be taken, and such.

that these things are definitely coming soon.

could this be the spin that the wt is heading towards.....instead of facing the hard issues, make the issues the boogeyman and shut down the halls, giving the elders ultimate power?

La Capra

This sounds like the story of my childhood...at anytime, the persecution could begin. Seeing this post made me recall all the horrible nightmares I used to have as a young child. It always happened while I was eating my morning oatmeal in my nightmares

But on the other hand, if they go undercover, and stop publishing those nasty books and magazines, they will have nothing to "place" when they are out annoying their neighbors...and they won't be out annoying their neighbors anymore....

This could be the ulitmate tactic to change their M.O. by going in the closet as one thing and coming out something else. Yeah like that will happen anytime soon.

There will be no banning in the U.S., unless they impose it on themselves. We have the first amendment.

Shoshana

8

Starting studies not a priority

by La Capra in

jw
friends

my best friend got to see something that i would have loved to see.

he manages a gas station and mini-mart, and he is in the enviable position of being on someone's magazine route.

i have been nagging him to bring me the magazines, but he keeps forgetting.

La Capra

My best friend got to see something that I would have loved to see. He manages a gas station and mini-mart, and he is in the enviable position of being on someone's magazine route. I have been nagging him to bring me the magazines, but he keeps forgetting. He'd forget his pants if he didn't need to get his car keys out of the pocket in order to go anywhere, but that's another story entirely.

The point is this: Young Brother Bored-to-Tears actually stopped by while my friend was still working, the first time he'd been there to see the magazine delivery for himself. When the Awake was offered, my friend told him that he didn't read it but he had a good friend who really enjoyed them, so yes, he would take it. My friend said the look on Young Brother Bored-to-Tears 's face and was one of shock and incredulousness. Ah yes, I can relate. I never could believe that anyone actually enjoyed those ridiculous repetitive rags. I would have had the exact same reaction had someone said that to me. My friend did not reveal my apostate status, but was able to observe something that is so difficult to explain to non-ex-JWs......the JW guilt/fear/regret/self-hate for not enjoying all the service, meetings, assemblies and stupid publications...the awful catch-22 of hating it, but doing it more so you would be "blessed" (into enjoying it), and then hating it more because you were doing it more. (I sure hated those meetings-I never studied, and I avoided going out in service like the plague).

But did my friend stop there? Oh no, of course not, he went in for the kill. When he noticed it was the Awake and no Watchtower was being offered, he asked the poor guy if he could get a Watchtower for me too, explaining to Young Brother Bored-to-Tears how "his friend" found it far more spiritual and deep than the Awake. The guy nearly flipped, and not with happiness, but with near horror. He never asked my friend who I was, whether I might want to be contacted by some nice pioneer lady to start a study, or anything. I have concluded that this young man was not a good JW, he didn't try to set up the study! The question is WHY didn't the JW pursue my identity to score a study? Don't they want converts anymore?

Or could it be that Young Brother Bored-to-Tears is trying to drift away and goes out in service alone, and to businesses for the express purpose of not destroying any more lives with conversion? I wonder if he will ever go back to my friend's gas station. I bet not.

Arghh!!! it's time to get back to briefing cases for torts class. All that studying of boring repetitve stuff pays off when it's time to study for law school!

Shoshana

9

Congs Where Dubs Don't Go Door To Door..

by ISP in

jw
friends

yep there are such places.

the entire congregation does not go out door to door as such.

i know of such places in spain where there are congs made up of english speaking dubs who don't go out in the typical ministry.

La Capra

I don't think they go out very much where I live, Suburbia Royale, here in California. The only call I got was in early September, before the terrorist attack, just after I moved in. A late teen "golden boy" and his old-maid big sister (23 or 24, no wedding or even engagement ring yet-how sad).

I did not get a scripture or a "spiritual" thought at all, I got to talk to the young man about abused women-as that was the offer that week. He had no information for me how his religious organization concretely helped these women in need. I asked if his congregation would give an abused member sanctuary, hiding her from her abusive husband if necessary. His answer was "I am sure it would." Old maid sister coughed. I asked if his religion had battered women shelters that they ran for women who needed it-like Catholic Charities did- And not just their members. His answer was "I am sure we do" His old-maid sister coughed again.

I assured him that I would read both magazines and that I hoped to see them soon to answer any questions I had, as I had never taken their magazines at the door before (honest to god truth). I haven't seen them since. I didn't even get a post 9/11 call offering hope and goodwill. I spend a lot of time at home and in my front yard on weekend mornings. I have not seen a group come through my neighborhood since that day.

And this youth abandoned a wonderful return visit who would have taken all his books, magazines, bibles and possibly even let him start a "study" with me. Bummer, because with his limited knowledge of how the organiztion DOES NOTHING in the way of humanitarian aid, I probabaly could have sent him to the elders with all kinds of questions to get answered that would have chipped away at his faith.

Or his sister took me for what I was, a serious opposer, explained to the boy that there was no such thing as witness sponsored battered women's shelters and that there was no way the congregation would hide a woman from her husband-ever....then she probably explained to him that I likely knew this. And he had pretty much lied to me when he answered me, and worse I already knew he was lying or had no clue when he answered.

I felt bad for a little while messing with him then I remembered, hey I'm a high school teacher, it's my job to mess with teenagers-make them question what they accept, challenge what they believe and open their eyes to different ideas, cultures, philosophies and people.

2

Back to School

by La Capra in

jw
friends

tomorrow all the kids come back to school.

the first day of school is something i always enjoy to its fullest, meeting all my new charges, wondering about all the things they will accomplish this coming year.

a few days ago i received what is called a "student snapshot" about one of my new students, an incoming freshman.

La Capra

Tomorrow all the kids come back to school. The first day of school is something I always enjoy to its fullest, meeting all my new charges, wondering about all the things they will accomplish this coming year.

A few days ago I received what is called a "student snapshot" about one of my new students, an incoming freshman. As I was reading about how he is AD/HD (attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder), I noticed under his parents' names a name I recognize as a JW who knew my family when I was very young (like 9 or 10). He was a sort of my brothers' manager. He lived several towns away (near where I currently live and work). I met him only a few times. I am sure if this kid's dad is the same man, he will remember us (me), as our family name is very unusual.

If he is the same man, I wonder if he is going to pull the boy out of my class because I am disassociated. That would be detrimental to the child (since when would that factor into the decision making process for JWs?), because I am the only one in my school district that teaches this particular honors class. In my professional life, no one knows my religious history. This situation could change that for me, which could mean that many other JW students I have will possibly try to get another teacher. I don't think that will happen, but if it does, it could get interesting over here.

I'm still excited though, tomorrow's the first day of school!

Shoshana

32

XJWs what do U do with your TIME now

by QUEENIE in

jw
friends

what do you all do with your free time now guys..like hobbies and what not..like you pioneers there is 75 hrs you have to play around with if you know what i mean not to mention meetings and bible studying etc.

please do share !!!

(((((hugs)))) queenie

La Capra

In the fifteen years since I disassociated (my 15 year anniversary comes October 14th), this is what I did...

1) Went to College (Go Cossacks, um Sea Wolves now)
2) Went to Grad School (Go Penguins)
3) Became a high school teacher (Go Jaguars)
4) And I just started Law School this year (we don't have a mascot, but I will be working feverishly to change that)
5) Bought real estate at just the right time and made a killing, then became a Land Lady
6) Got engaged, then bravely called off the wedding at close to the last minute (Woo Hoo)
7) Maintain a very positive, nurturing relationship with my mother (JW) and father (not JW)
8) Feel free to sing and listen to any kind of music I want to without worrying if it is from christendom
9) Read my horoscope everyday (well, I always did that, even before I left)
10) Go to bed early on Tuesdays and Thursdays (unless I'm in Criminal Law or Contracts classes)

Shoshana

37

WERE YOU AFRAID OF THE ELDERS?

by minimus in

jw
friends

lately, i see a trend going on regarding how congregation members view the elders.

more and more, i hear people say "i wouldn't tell anything to the elders if they questioned me.years ago all an elder had to say is "we want to talk with you" and a meeting commenced.

now, there is a view that the elders can't tell me what to do anymore.

La Capra

Just thought I would jump in here.

I was not afraid but my mother sure was. One time I was receiving "loving counsel" for something the elders' kids accused me of doing to throw their dads off their own "worldly behavior". I, of course, was innocent, but because my dad was not an idiot (read "not a JW") and the elders' kids my age would band together (3-4 witness rule here), I was an easy scapegoat, detracting from their own debauchery.

One of the elders tried to explain to me that what I had done was a "textbook example" of bad behavior. Only he couldn't come up with the phrase "textbook example". I knew it was the phrase he was trying to come up with but I wasn't about to give him the words he wanted to use against me.

I was delighted at his inability to be articulate with me and had a difficult time keeping the smirk off my face and giggles out of my throat. As it became apparent I was not even in the county during this "alleged" misbehavior (kissing a worldly boy, in public...I knew better than to do THAT anywhere I might be seen!), and there was no way the accusers could have seen me do anything, let alone macking on the captain of the football team, the elder got more and more flustered in his attempts to "counsel" me.

In my self-appointed exit, I said over my shoulder..."Brother Malto-mouth, what I believe we have here is a TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE of bearing false witness." The other elder there laughed with me, as I marched out of his house and slammed the door. Of course I later got nailed for not being "submissive" enough, but it was too late. I had never respected, feared or looked up those clumsy oafs.

Shoshana