arrests in oakland protests rise to more than 400more than 400 anti-wall street protesters were arrested in oakland during a night of skirmishes in which police fired tear gas and bean bag projectiles, the city said on sunday, marking one of the biggest mass arrests since nationwide economic protests began last year.. earlier on sunday, authorities had said that the arrest figure was between 200 and 300. but the oakland emergency operations center said in a statement that revised that up to more than 400, and said that oakland police were expected to announce a more precise number later on sunday.. .
riot police on saturday night fought running skirmishes with protesters, injuring three officers and at least one demonstrator.. .
the scuffles erupted in the afternoon as activists sought to take over a shuttered downtown convention center, sparking cat-and-mouse battles that lasted well into the night in a city that has seen tensions between police and protesters boil over repeatedly.. .
This is typical conservative reporting.
"You're very full of crap. Martin Luther King never advocated or practiced violence."
This is true.....but it did not stop some of those that supported him from practicing violence
The same is true of the occupy movement. The conservative media reports like to focus on SOME (the minority) of the knuckle-headed Occupy protesters while ignoring the fact that the vast majority are doing their protest peacefully.
been lurking for a bit, and feel safe enough now to tell my story (condensed).. i'm a third-generation born-in, but my parents were inactive for most of my upbringing.
this means i got the worst of both worlds--no worldly friends (home schooled all but grades 2-3), no witness friends (since we never went to the hall except for memorial), and a generally isolated upbringing in a tiny, tiny town.
needless to say, my emotional, social, and personal growth were stunted.
Welcome! We look forward to hearing more
i dont want to stir up conspiracy theories.
is there any strong evidence out there that would suggest that bethel monitors this site?.
No because the whole reason for the elder viewing such a site is to see if there is anyone he can "nail". If he "nails" a person then he has "protected" the flock from the unnecessary influence of an apostate. Theocratic warefare.
my firend (who is an elder) recently sent the email below trying to get me to come back.
he freely admits the faults of the wt and even goes on to say that even if they did not have gods holy spirit, he felt they would still have gods blessing as the one true religion.
i thought i would get your thoughts on this as it really is (sadly) delusional.
"All this proves that as humans, when it comes to spiritual things, we can speculate and guess and anticipate all we want, but usually we do not fully understand until after the fact. "
OK. Fine. But then the GB has absolutely no right to demand that you, me or anyone else follow their teachings.....with the threat of disfellowshipping in store for any that dare disagree
"Also, answers do come slowly, progressively. All the things mentioned above were eventually understood by the apostles, but only as time passed and Jehovah's purpose worked out. "
Again....okey dokey. Jesus did make it clear that he would have to inform his disciples about some things progressively (i.e. John 16:12). But show me an example from the bible where truth was released.....and then changed.....and then changed.....and then changed.....and then changed. I recall the matter of circumcision being up in limbo for a while. For many years actually. But one thing remained constant. There was ONE change and that was it. First.....they thought all men needed to be circumcised. THen they debated it. Then it was determined that they do NOT need to be circumsised. END OF STORY. And THAT is the difference between the 1st century Christians and the GB of today. The GB changes the same thing over and over again. With the "generation" topice.....first it was 1) those that were adults and saw the events of 1914. Then it was 2) those that were perhaps 15 years old. Then it was 3) those that were alive in 1914. Then it was 4) (in 1995) an unlimited time period. Now it is 5) an overlapping generation of those that saw the events of 1914 with those that will see the "end".
This is like the 1st century Christians saying 1) All must be circumcised. 2) No....wait.....all must NOT be. 3) No....wait....All over the age of 21 need to be. 4) No....wait......just the Gentiles that are over the age of 21 need to be. 5) No wait....it us purely up to each person
If you want to believe that God releases "progressive" light then fine......but there is no excuse for waffling so much on one subject. There is NO scriptural precedence for that.
my spouse and i had supper with some long time friends this evening.
we got onto the subject of baptisim, and out of the four of us, we all got baptized for some other reason than love of jehovah.
i find this to be really sad.
I got baptized because of peer pressure. I moved to a new congregation when I was 16 years old. I kid you not....there wasn't a person over the age of 10 that wasn't baptized (because ya know.....10 is the perfect age to make life long decisions/committments). You wouldn't believe how many times I heard the question "your're not baptized"? From that point on....my 16 year old mind starting focusing on what I needed to do to get dunked.
just wondering if it's possible for a non-religious person like me to be friends with a devout jehovah's witness.
as i understand they don't like to mix with us lower life forms.
any thoughts?.
Back when I was a a devout witness.....I would befriend those that were inactive. Of course....my goal was to help them see that I had "the truth". Even if I thought there was little hope of converting the person....I would still make sure to include them in some of my recreational activities. Believe it or not.....there are SOME witnesses that really are nice people and may enjoy your company. That was the case for me. I didn't care whether or not such association was "approved". I felt like I could make my own decision so long as such associates were not "bad" people. I suppose it is "independent" thinking like that....that led me to investigate the truth about this religion and caused me to fade away.
The GB is right! Critical thinking and independent thinking are BAD! (for them)
as i'm sure we all know by now, the july 15, 2011 watchtower branded "apostates" as "mentally diseased" (p. 16, para.
but never fear, because--also according to the wtbts--jehovah will take that into account at armageddon.
the wt says so, so it must be true!
Good call, Double O.....good call!
i am well aware that several before me have taken the time to post ridiculous quotes from this book that jesus supposedly approved.
i have a list of quite a few of them.
but i am in the process of painstakingly reading that whole damn book and i feel it is necessary to post more gems if i happen to come across them.....and don't remember them being posted before.
"That's great news for all the "mentally diseased" apostates! Jehovah's gonna' give 'em a pass at Armageddon due to mental defect! How happifying!"
Great point 00DAD!
speaking of ct russell - "and for 25 years had such distressing hemorrhoids that it was impossible for him to rest in the easiest chair" - the finished mystery - 1917 - page 57. wow.
remember folks.
god directed this and jesus approved it.
Speaking of CT Russell - "And for 25 years had such distressing hemorrhoids that it was impossible for him to rest in the easiest chair" - The Finished Mystery - 1917 - page 57
Wow. I didn't know that one was in there. Remember folks. God directed this and Jesus approved it.
i am well aware that several before me have taken the time to post ridiculous quotes from this book that jesus supposedly approved.
i have a list of quite a few of them.
but i am in the process of painstakingly reading that whole damn book and i feel it is necessary to post more gems if i happen to come across them.....and don't remember them being posted before.
Dammit. That last quote was supposed to have been inserted ABOVE the 1981 Watchtower "tacking in the wind" quote.
