Simon said:
I've seen the kind of character assassination by rumour and insinuation that has gone on in the past and it appears there is an attempt to make some kind of coordinated attack on Ray Franz again. I have my own suspicions as to which 'obsessed character' is behind it and can recognise some of the patterns and language. They have managed to turn Silentlambs almost into an 'anti-Ray' group and isolate them from what should be their main supporters.
I was thinking the same thing.
It would be a shame to see even more damage done because of misguided and ill conceived attacks on an old man of 90.
Numerous references have been made to Ray being 90 in these threads. He's 81.
Incidently, I first met Bill Bowen at a small "Richard Rawe" exJW conference in a remote little resort town in the U.S. state of Washington. Barbara was there, and while I had previously had some phone and e-mail correspondence with her, I had not met her personally before this small gathering, and it was a genuine pleasure to finally meet. AlanF and Peter Gregerson were there, whom I had known personally for some years. And Venice IT, her parents, and Mulan were there, and it was a pleasure to meet them as well. I had heard of Venice's dad's experience through Ray. And, Pat Garza was there. So all in all, it has turned out to be quite a memorable little get-together.
A couple months later, I attended the abuse/rape trial of Erica in Ritzville, Washington, also attended by Bill and Barbara. I bought Erica a small toy white lamb on my way to the trial, which everyone thought was so apropo. I shared a motel room with Pat Garza and another exJW lady. I had an opportunity to discuss Pat's story with her at some length at that time.
Attention for Bill's Silent Lambs efforts were escalating at the time. DateLine filming crews were around us each day, even filming us having dinner at the local restaurant. (I think there were maybe two restaurants in town.) Anticipation was extreme with expectation for what effect this show might have on the Watchtower Society for months before the show finally aired . All this was before Bill came out of his corner against Ray on this board, and on my forum, sometime later.
During that time, I did not quite jump on the Silent Lambs bandwagon myself. It had nothing to do with not wanting to support victims of child abuse, or anything against Bill. My reasons were different. I had been a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused children--a national organization of volunteers who, as court-appointed Guardians ad Litem, represent in court children alleged to have been abused. My reluctance at that time before the Bill/Ray episode were that I thought then, and I believe now, that Bill's approach to dealing with the victims of child abuse tends to perpetrate a "victim" mentality that I do not believe is helpful or healing for the victims. I also thought it perpatuated a concept that JW victims were exceptional, rather than addressing the issue of child abuse in the world at large. For that reason, I believe there are much better, healthier and more healing resources for victims of child abuse than solely targeting the Watchtower organization.
Let me be more clear: I think it is important and commendable to go after the Watchtower organization for what they are guilty of--which is coverup. It is right to expose them for their role in sweeping this, and other kinds of hideous crimes, under the proverbial carpet while claiming to be "The Truth". (I have heard of murders being concealed, by people who know. But certainly child abuse is right up there at the top of dispicability.) BUT, I think the issue of going after the Watchtower organization to expose them for gross negligence and protection of perpetrators should be a separate issue from that of efforts to support victims, survivors, helping them to gain a healthy mental acceptance of their self-worth as human beings. It is wrong, imo, to perpetuate the idea that what happened to them was because they were Jehovah's Witnesses. I think it is not healthful to draw them to seek celebrity status in a group for being a victim of child abuse. I do not support the concept that child abuse is solely a JW issue, although I am all for it being exposed in the Organization. The victims do not have to keep being victims. They need to heal and grow beyond the experience, just as people grow beyond many other kinds of tragedy. And they may need professional attention, as well as love and acceptance, to regain their confidence. It is not good to feed them the concept that they are pitiful survivors. The Silent Lambs movement, imo, focuses too much attention on emotionally charging the victims for being victims. Bringing down the Watchtower would not heal them.
~Ros
