Posts by La Capra

71

Should I go sit at the kh next thurs when they announce my DF

by cindykp in

jw
friends

i could get there early, and save you all some seats!

at least i would have someone to talk to after the meeting

La Capra

I have not been to a Kingdom Hall since August of 1987. My life plan was never to go again-not even for my mother's memorial service. But-I would happily attend any disfellowshipping or disassociation (or soon to be "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses") announcement, to support and congratulate the newly liberated (margaritas immediately following!).

Of all the actions we take to discourage others from making (or continuing to make) some of the mistakes we have made, I think this could be one of the more compelling. At a point where the individual is supposed to be at his lowest, most desperate, getting cut off from his love and community, the message that this person is not being cast out into nothingness would, in the least, aid the person leaving. At its best, some of the younger, unbaptized ones, might see that there is a whole universe of support outside the Kingdom Hall.

I'll go anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area to lend my support and congratulations.

Shoshana

45

The Supremes Abolish 4th Amendment

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

just a couple of days ago, the us supreme court ruled in a case that has demolished the 4th amendment which states:.

amendment iv: the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

previously, you were secure in your person, including your cloths, car, house, etc.

La Capra

Ah, c'mon Jim, you gonna make me do this.....

Police can detain and ultimately search (exception to the warrant requriement-exigent circmstance, the dope was about to drive away...) if there is reasonable suspicion to believe there is criminal activity afoot (articulable facts). There was no search inside the car until after articulable facts arose. The dog sniffed an odor outside the car. Once the dog indicated drugs, there is your articulable fact. There has long been a "plain-sniff" exception (as well as plain-view exception) to the warrant requirement as well-even though this doesn't quite apply, since the dog was sniffing outside, where it had every legal right to be.

We criminal defense law clerks discussed this at break in Con Law tonight. This is not a new infringement on the Fourth Amendment being carved out. Now get that cop for making an unecessary stop in the first place, and then we can talk Fourth Amendment violations.

Shoshana

23

Note-Taking at Meetings: What's the Point?

by Room 215 in

the last time i was at a meeting, i was struck by how many jws -- mostly women and pre-teenage kids were assiduously taking notes.

i mean, what is the point?

do they really believe the guy on the platform is saying anything that can't be found -- and reiterated -- dozens if not hundreds of times in their printed material?

La Capra

I developed a theory around the age of 11 (when it completely hit me that there was a glass ceiling at about 3 1/2 feet for the female types in the WTBTS) that the note taking was posing, rather than meaningful. None of the men took notes....why? Because they held the power, and didn't need to jockey as much for position. The women had no power so they did the one thing they could in front everyone to show how important they were, they took notes. The only women who held actual power (not position, like pioneers, who got dumped on more than listened to) were the elders' wives. And lo and behold, they rarely, if ever, took notes. I did a case study on two couples, when I was in my teens. When the husbands first started to reach for "privileges," the wives started to answer more and take notes. When the husbands were appointed MS, the wives took notes furiously. When the husbands became elders, the wives toned down the notes, and within a few months quit taking notes altogether. But the wives sure lorded their position over everyone else. I felt really bad for one of the couples, because when they first started coming around, they were a really nice, down to earth couple, with a couple of wild little kids. The kids turned into robots and the wife eventually slipped into a very sad and meloncholy state.

Don't know why I remembered tracking those two couples, but, like everyone else, I was bored at meetings and needed something to do. I followed the power shifts.

Shoshana

45

Special announcment 20 march fore JW ?

by happy man in

someone informed me today that in two months time there will be a "special announcement" to all congregations.

everyone must be present at the kingdom hall for it.

my elders already know what it is, but won't tell me.

La Capra

They pull this every year at Memorial time. I can only remember the gist...about how bible studies are available to anyone, or the date of the "special talk," or is it the invitation to the Memorial.... or something like that. Every year, everyone got excited-as though the date of Armageddon was going to be announced. Surely most of them have figured out the pattern...just like summer follows spring.

Shoshana (who is happy that the little jiggy-jog between Christian lunar calendar and Jewish Lunar calendar puts Passover a month later than Easter, and after her final exams...)

39

Hi -I'm Jewish

by moshe in

jw
friends

i'm an ex-jw - i converted to judaism .

i just wondered if any ex-jw's like me are now jewish or have questions about judaism.. shalom,.

moshe

La Capra

I was raised a JW, but am now, very happily Jewish. For me, it was one of those things that was simply "meant to be." After making the decision, and converting, my family research showed that three of my four grandparents were Jewish, none of us from my generation knew. My parents didn't even know...or didn't want to acknowledge it.

I belong to a reform synagogue, I find the ritual, and weekly holiday the exact things this soul needs. (Along with good food-but wait, isn't that the ritual!!!)

Shoshana

15

Jehovah the God Of Tupperware

by PopeOfEruke in

saw an interesting show on tv a few weeks ago: the history of the tupperware firm.

amazing program.

anyway it struck me that i could have been watching a tv show on the history of the watchtower.

La Capra

Unfortunately for Tupperware, they never fgured out how to avoid taxes. Something tells me the "donation arrangement" wouldn't fly with the Tupperware gods....Burppp

Shoshana

(edited to add a necessary negative, lest the entire post make no sense...)

29

Need your help! Wedding music ideas!

by maybesbabies in

ok all, my lovey and i are planning for the first song of our wedding to come after our vows are spoken, the ceremony ends, and he and i are going back down the aisle and into the house.

we want everyone to follow us in order from the first row back, and we'll go in and cut the cake.

thing is, we want a song to start as we head back down the aisle.

La Capra

If I've been out til quarter to four, would you lock the door? Will you still need me, Will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four...

(I used to be in a band that played weddings...I thought the couple that asked for this as their recessional was the cleverest of all. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it, it has a touch of humor, but an endearing quality that speaks to the magnitude of the occasion.)

Shoshana

28

What do yall do when you have a bad day?

by missy04 in

jw
friends

.

what makes you feel better when you have a totally sucky day??.

~sarah

La Capra

For an over the top bad day, a couple of bags of ammo at the shooting range never fails to perk me up (especially when I imagine the source of my bad day hanging from the clip).

If that's not possible, I call all my friends and let them make fun of me for taking myself so seriously.

If I'm having a bad day, my students never fail at cheering me up and making me laugh my butt off (once one of them made me laugh so hard, I fell off my stool).

Shoshana

8

Anyone been in an accident before ?

by Xandria in

.

if so what was your experience with settlement of medical ?.

.

La Capra

This thread makes me eager to pass the bar... November of 2006 can't come soon enough.

Shoshana

46

New Provision to Assist Us to Abstain From Blood - Dec KM

by truthseeker in

if you wondered whether the society would print blood cards this year, they won't.

blood cards are out.. consider the box found on the december km, entitled "new provision to assist us to abstain from blood".

the governing body has approved combining the essential elements of the durable power of attorney (dpa) document and the advance.

La Capra

Durable power of attorney is a very serious power to give to someone else. The only time it is enforceable is when you are incapacitated. Once you are incapacited, it is irrevocable. WTBTS has figured out another way to be free from liability in these matters, as corporations just don't hold DPA over other's individual health care decisions. This really sucks for the people who take on this power, because they are now liable for their decisions. If they knew they could be sued (and have to pay for a defense), do you think they would still agree to be someone else's DPA? This is a HUGE move to make WTBTS judgment proof for the unconscionable policies, but still keep their control over the R&F.

I will have to tell my father about these, so that he can tell my mom not to become anyone else's DPA in the congregation.

Shoshana