I can honestly say I went to the DC on Fri and didn't clap once. And didn't care if anyone noticed either (unlike the past where I would have been worried my husband would poke me in the ribs for not clapping at every pause)
3 cheers for no clapping
as i was growing up,i noticed the dubs at assemblys would clap at the slightest provocation.it looked like a beach full of seals.as soon as a few started,the rest would join in.for some it looked like they just woke up and figured they should start clapping so no one would know they fell asleep.most just looked like seals clapping for a fish.kids notice funny things.did any of you notice dub mass behaviour you found funny...outlaw .
edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:51:40edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:59:1.
I can honestly say I went to the DC on Fri and didn't clap once. And didn't care if anyone noticed either (unlike the past where I would have been worried my husband would poke me in the ribs for not clapping at every pause)
3 cheers for no clapping
i don't have a clue how a computer works.
i just turn it on and point and click and i am able to do what i need to do, unless of course something goes wrong, or in the worst case scenario if my little machine experiences the dreaded blue-screen crash, then i am really in a mess.
that is the way the financial system is for most people.
<<throwing my hands in the air>> why do I bother?
ok, i'm new to this site.
i'm currently questioning a lot of things.
i do not want to be "preached at" by either side; that'll just make me leave.
First Welcome
Second you would not believe how similar our stories are.
Third Yes there is so much information here and in the other links posted that you may need to go slow. It can be a little overwhelming to read so many documented facts that we were never told while we were "in" You will find yourself flooded with a lot of feelings. Most of us here have been through it and are willing to listen as you explore.
And Fourth no one here really likes preaching so don't worry about it. We usually jump on any one who tries it.
Lee
i have spoken to some jehovahs witnesses who are not aware that i no longer believe in the religion.
there was shock and unhappiness about the panorama program, and concern about what they would have to face in the door-to-door ministry.
those that have been out report no real problems.
JMO
Considering what we know about the JW beleif that all information that seesm to slander them is from Satan I suspect they will close ranks. To the public all reports of abuse are just from disgruntled apostates and Satan. If that becomes the consensus then they will quietly go back into denial and believe they are safe. Do do other wise would cause too much emotional stress and perhaps cause them to think the unthinkable - the org does not have God's blessing.
Even though the policy exists it is inadequate to protect children. It is still not mandatory to report to the legal and/or social authorites. Even if the elders do tell families they can choose to go to the authorities there will probably be the added warning not to bring shame on Jehovah's org. Given that warning many will not go to the authorities because they will have no idea how to report this without saying they are JWs. I know that is what stopped me from going for therapy when I was older. Even those who go for help will find it so difficult to try to get help/justice without saying they are JW that many will give up and "wait on Jehovah".
People will still be forced to choose between the org and their children.
More attention to the problem is needed. More pressure on the members to inform them of their rights and the long term consequences of not dealing with this appropriately is needed. They need to get to the point where they believe not reporting is a greater shame on the org than immediate reporting. Once this one thing changes pedophiles will no longer be safe to stay in the org. Only then will the children really be safe.
JMO Lee
well, it finally happened...me and my wife decided to go our separate ways.
i left on sunday.
it just wasnt a healthy relationship.
Making the decision is hard but it is a first step forward to building the life you want. Hang in there and take care of yourself
born in toronto, canada in 1952, i lived with my parents and three younger brothers until i was ten years old.
there was a lot of violence in our home.
my father was an abusive, rageful man who took out all his frustrations on his family.
After reading the question WHY DID YOU START POSTING or something to that effect I thought I would come in and look at my first posts here.
You people are awesome. Some who posted in here are gone. Many are still here offering love and support to all who come in here.
What a great place to be
i realize not everyone here was sexually abused while they were children in the wts.
but i read them.
take your time and don't read them all at once.
Thank you Capp
Waiting Exactly. Each time we tell our story it loses more power over us and we gain more power or it. It allows us to process what happened and see it from an adult perspective. it allows us to see we have power now even though we had none when we were little.
I t helps us move out of the victim mode and into the survivor mode
i realize not everyone here was sexually abused while they were children in the wts.
but i read them.
take your time and don't read them all at once.
I realize not everyone here was sexually abused while they were children in the WTS. But many of us were victims.
Many of us were victims of other kinds of abuse, physical, emotional and definitely spiritual abuses.
In light of the wonderful work that People like Barb Anderson and Bill Bowen have done they have created an atmosphere where it is finally safe for us to tell our stories. We do this for a variety of reasons.
We tell our stories because they are our stories. We were silenced for so long and it needs to come out. It really helps to
We want to protect other children. Silence only makes more victims. The one thing that an abuser wants from his victims is silence. They threaten us with all kinds of terrible things. They blame us. They make us feel like we are reposible. They tell us we are dirty and deserved it. They tell us (through their behavior) that we are worth nothing.
The only thing that an abuser wants from any one who finds out is silence. When other family members or elders give him what he wants - that precious silence - he is empowered to continue abusing us. He is empowered to find more victims. He thinks he has it made. Many of them actually believe they are not hurting anyone. And mnay of them think no cares about children'
But we do. We have no desire to see one more child hurt. So we speak out now that it is safe. We speak out now that we know somebody is listening.
Some one just told me it is too painful to read our stories. Yes it is painful to read. I ache for each story I have read. Sometimes I need to take time before reading another story. I can understand their pain in a way that only other victim's can understand. But I read them. It hurts but I read them.
I know how much it takes for a victim to tell his or her story. When I tell my story for a new groupof people I shake. My body reacts to the telling. It releases a lot of fear but it stirs up a lot of fear too. What if they don't believe me? What if no one responds? What if they think it wasn't that bad? It isn't easy to tell our stories. It means we relive it in the telling. Few of us can even begin to tell you how bad it really was. I try to do that with my poetry. The feelings are raw. But it takes a lot to do that. I doubt there is one victim here who has told her story and not suffered that night because of the memories. it isn't easy.
We want one thing from you.
Read them. Take your time and don't read them all at once. But please honor the effort and the pain it takes for us to tell our stories. You don't need to say a lot. A hug is good. Just a sad face will do. Sometimes that can be the most piognant. Let us know you were there. Let us know you will not stand by quietly and pretend you didn't see it.
There are so many of us here. Some tell their stories for the first time here in thses pages. Even if you cannot express any words just let them know you took the time to share their pain.
We lived it. We only ask that you read it and share for a few minutes.
Thank you.
http://www.kohlproductions.com/walkingwounded/i_hardiman.htm
well after 2 years i finally got the courage to watch myself.
this has taken a lot for me to sit down and watch this.
My source Mouthy/Grace has informed me that you can order copies of the video series from the email address above. Andrew is on vacation at the moment but will fill all orders when he returns.
Lee
i don't have a clue how a computer works.
i just turn it on and point and click and i am able to do what i need to do, unless of course something goes wrong, or in the worst case scenario if my little machine experiences the dreaded blue-screen crash, then i am really in a mess.
that is the way the financial system is for most people.
Well YOU KNOW they are bad. We suffered. I'm not talking about the slap on the bottom. I was sodomized and raped as a little kid and the elders knew and did nothing. I was sodomized and raped as a wife by my elder husband and the elders knew and threw me out to keep me quiet. He meanwhile married another sister with the elders blessing and di the exact same to her. She left him too and was thrown out to keep her quiet. This same elder beat his kids. And no I'm not talking about the slap on the bottom/ He would kick out two little girls with his hard meeting shoes on. He would pinch them in the meetings and they had marks all over them by night time. And now... he is living IN THE KINGDOM HALL APARTMENT. How can you support an organization that allows this and not be angry?
My aunt committed suicide because the elders did nothing when the man who was abusing me - got her too. And the elders knew and did nothing. And after he got me and her he moved on to my 5 year old sister. All JWs need to read these stories because how else will you really know just how bad things really are?
Silence of anybody who knows these things makes them partly to blame for the continuance of these things. Silence is the only thing that an abuser wants. The victims want you to stand up like Bill Bowen and say
ENOUGH