Danny said: "You think your taking the high ground on this one, don't you? Well I beg to differ."
Differ away; oh thats right, you did!
"Just because two people shake hands over a matter, does not in the least suggest the issues are resolved. [Seems to me that it is resolved. IMO, gracious folks would accept the outcome agreed upon by the two combatants] To tell you the truth, I cannot even imagine any other outcome, other than , where Ray Franz is one of the combatants. I think his demeanor, just from his writings alone, display a tone of reconciliation. Not to mention Amazing words as regards his conversation with Ray." Agreed, and that is the point! Ray has set a good example of reconciliation. It is unfortunate that those who seem to be upset by this issue apparently are not as open to forgiveness and forgetting as Ray seems to be.
"So for you to come in here and bold face tell everyone to shut up about it, is imo counter productive. [Those are your words, not mine]. It is issues like these, that made jw life almost unbearable. People tip toeing around each other's foibles, backbiting and rumor mongering. There is far more damage done, by letting this type of behaviour pass. Smoldering resentment equals withdrawn support."
IMHO, what you refer to as "unbearable" about JW life is what you are dragging up here. JWs are noted for criticism, backbiting and rumor mongering, just as you suggest. That is exactly what I am objecting to in this and similar threads.
A refreshing attribute that I note among many "worldly" people is a graciousness that is lacking among JWs. The more educated, the less likely to criticize and besmirch others. I have come to admire folks who hesitate to be critical of others lest they sink to the same depths in which they accuse others of wallowing.
You cannot legislate reactions. [Correct, never said I could] I don't care one iota what the cause is, how important you or anyone else thinks it is, there is no excuse for dragging someones name through the mud based on hearsay and inuendo. [ Agreed again] Bill did just that in the case of Ray Franz, he is suffering for doing so, and rightly so. [What is not right is for the Silentlambs to suffer because we are unwilling to accept the "peace" agreed to by the participants, Bill and Ray]
Too Much Beer said: "Dearest Sam, just don't forget where it came from...if you decide to bring a big stick to a fight be prepared to use it or eat it...one of those life lessons one learns when you are out of the borg long enough."
Surely, you are not threatening me, are you Valis? I do not care to get into a pissing contest with you over who has been an ex-JW longer, or who has learned the most since leaving the borg.
I will not further this harangue by posting again to this thread. Victims of abuse, be it physical, sexual, the blood doctrine or the oppressive JW life in general deserve our full support. I wish we could concentrate our energies on those issues, letting these rather minor matters die a quick death.
