"You are to remain seated when God Save The Queen or Oh Canada is played, do not bow your head or say Amen after the Lord's prayer, and keep your eyes open. Come straight home for lunch and after school. All worldly people are ruled by Satan.
Boy did I hear this repeatedly except it was the South African national anthem. My Mother also wrote a note to the schools I attended explaining why I was not to participate in either of these as well singing hyms at morning assembly. When I stopped being a Witness at 14yrs old the first thing I did was join the military cadets program which was of course against JW policy but compulsory for non religious objectors. I was so proud and happy the first time I put on my brown uniform which I had stayed up all night ironing razor sharp seams into. By the time I finished high school I was a cadet sergeant and vice-captain of the cadet shooting team. Hell yeah!
"Bad associations spoil useful habits."
Also repeated ad nauseum. The last time I heard someone say that I told him to fuck off.
My mom's favorite: "Jehovah knows and cares about everything, even when a sparrow falls."
Well a sparrow must have been more important to him than me begging him to answer my prayers when I was a kid trying to make sense of my sister being disfellowshipped and the rampant racism in the Kingdom Halls - I never got a word in return from the sadistic bastard. I sincerely detest the old cow.
