Swan

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Posts by Swan

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  27

  Too wierd to be true... but it is... Elders???

  by Lapuce in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well yesterday i go the visit of two elders of my congregation, my wife told them that i was acting like an apostat as i talked two days before to two mormons, yes i told them that that they were in a cult like the jw's and they couldn't think for themselves like us, boy i got a real sermon from them, my wife told them that i was on anti-depresants and that they made me ack a bit crazy sometimes, well i know one thing, it wont be the last time i will here from them.

  i know 3 years ago i got a talk by the elders but that time it was for buying lotto tickets, again my wife found a ticket in my pocket that i forgot when i put my cholths for washing.

  i got the talk, but no sanctions again.

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  Swan

  Your wife sounds like she can't be trusted. She sounds just like my mother...

  Hmmm...

  DADDY! Is that you? :D

  Edited by - UglyDuckling on 30 July 2002 0:12:10
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  100

  Why are people racist?

  by MrMoe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  something on the song thread that i posted, song by tu pac, got me to thinking about racisim.

  why do people discriminate against people that have different color skin?

  i understand it is a learned response, but my "elder" father is very racist... and this is how i was raised.. i don't get it.

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  Swan

  I work on computers for a living here in the U.S. We are required to collect certain data for the Federal and State governments regarding ethnic background. We are told that this is so that the government can calculate their statistics to make sure certain racial groups don't get left out. Unfortunately, the reality I see is that many groups do get left out. This kind of data is dangerous because it is so easy to misuse it.

  We also see that the government is way behind the times in tracking this information. You can be Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native/Pacific Islander, etc. Choose one. Well, what if your father is black and your mother is half Chinese/half Pacific Islander? What if your mother is White and your father is Hispanic? (Yes, here in America, people are no longer white if their roots are from some Latin countries. Believe it or not, immigrants from Spain and Portugal are considered Hispanic here.)

  For school children it gets to be a really emotionally charged issue. They don't know what to choose for fear of betraying the other parent. Also, children of mixed heritage self identify differently. Each individual situation is unique. So how does our government handle that? They don't. The Federal government has ignored the problem. Now some states are inventing complicated rules, because the federal government has waited so long to resolve these issues. It's a vicious cycle.

  America is a melting pot just as the world is becoming a melting pot. We need to start doing away with all labels, including the ones perpetuated by our governments in tracking this information. We are humans. Period.

  JMHO

  Tammy
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  1

  Big ol can o' worms

  by VioletAnai in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  as a consequence of pell's words:.

  http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/story_32715.asp

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  Swan

  Well that was a real insensitive bonehead thing to say! Maybe for his next job he can get a position on the Governing Body. He certainly seems to have all the right qualifications.
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  30

  Do you love people more now that you're out?

  by writerpen in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking about this the other day.

  since i've left the borg, i find myself loving other humans more.

  like all the little children being abducted, the miners trapped in the mine last week, the victims of car accidents that i pass on the road, a woman crying in the car next to me while waiting for the green light, the homeless that i see every weekend at a local soup kitchen where i volunteer, etc.

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  Swan

  I have to agree with Joannadandy. I think I still feel the same love and compassion I always had for humanity, only now I am a lot less judgmental of people. I just think of them as humans, like I am, with faults, like mine.

  Before I would think, "those poor people, if only they would follow Jehovah's word they wouldn't be in such dire straights! I'll just have to be patient and wait for the New World to end such misery." (Of course, I was thinking that the misery would end when all the miserable people would be destroyed!) I would judge people on their lifestyle, their religious practices, and other things. I always saw it as their own fault. So my love was there, but it was also conditional. It created a lot of conflict in me. I loved humanity and felt such compassion for them, yet I felt that they were being stubborn because they wouldn't accept the truth. They were followers of Satan. It became hard to differentiate between loving the sinner and hating the sin.

  Now I think, "those poor people, what small way can I help to make things better for them, to make this world a better place for them." And I find that I can often help out in small charitable ways whenever I can. It is never a lot, but it is always given freely. No conflict now. That's the difference.

  Tammy :)
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  20

  Seeking your opinions on contacting relatives

  by Swan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's been eight years since i have spoken to any of my relatives.

  some (cousins, nieces, nephews) were young children at the time; now some are 18 and older.

  they are not allowed to speak to me, but of course those rules don't apply in the reverse.

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  Swan

  Wow! So many responses. I don't know where to start.

  DakotaRed, Dizzy Cat, Francois, LittleToe, Star, Bad Seed, PeaceLoveHarmony, Hmmm

  Thanks for the good advice. I think most here are in favor of making contact in some way, but to do it with love and patience. I can appreciate that.

  Plum,

  Good suggestions. I will phrase it something like that, but I will have to use email. It would be awkward by phone and might get intercepted by their parents (even though they are over 18, I think they still live at home). An email is more private and easier to conceal if they want.

  Scootergirl,

  What a nice sister you are! Don't pay any attention to Mom's remarks. You aren't a bad pull. Your sister's 23 and can make up her own mind. Mom is just upset she didn't pull on sis enough, or that maybe she pulled too hard!

  Fire,

  I went into more detail about your situation in another thread. I'm glad I could help you keep things in perspective during this emotional time.

  Ozzie,

  Great point. It's not our job to shun them. My brother once asked me to not contact his children, and I respected his wishes, but as in Scootergirl's case, some are over 18 now (adult by U.S. law, even though the WTBTS baptizes them much younger). At least this way they have options. They can contact me if they want.

  -----------

  Ok, then, let me ask you this. If you were to initiate contact, would you then limit your contact with this board so as not to frighten off those who are worried about "those apostates!" (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) ;) and the stigma of associating with them? Don't get me wrong; you are all lovely people, but there is a stigma that the WTBTS perpetuates to scare the faithful. Is this stigma something that others have overcome in making contact with JW relatives? If so, how?

  Tammy :)
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  20

  Update: My Uncle's funeral

  by Fire Dragon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well my friends....my real friends...the funeral is over.

  i can count 5 witnesses...only 5, that offered any sort of comfort to me.

  those are the ones that i know really love(d) me.

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  Swan

  Dear Fire,

  I think your aunt is a terrific person. With your uncle's death and all of that to go through, then to have your parents act the way they did, and to come out to your car and take your side in the whole matter; well, that shows love.

  As for your parents showing love, did they really have to make such a scene? No. They were following the old JW rule of using funerals as a chance to witness. They don't think of them as a way for the survivors to grieve and find comfort. Too bad their twisted priorities got in the way of the real purpose of being there. I'm sure your aunt appreciates your support.

  Tammy
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  20

  Seeking your opinions on contacting relatives

  by Swan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's been eight years since i have spoken to any of my relatives.

  some (cousins, nieces, nephews) were young children at the time; now some are 18 and older.

  they are not allowed to speak to me, but of course those rules don't apply in the reverse.

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  Swan

  It's been eight years since I have spoken to any of my relatives. Some (cousins, nieces, nephews) were young children at the time; now some are 18 and older. They are not allowed to speak to me, but of course those rules don't apply in the reverse. I have come across the email addresses of several of them. I am tempted to contact them each personally and make sure they have my address and phone number. I told them in the past that if they wanted to leave, I would be there for them to give my support.

  What would you do in similar circumstances? Do you respect their wishes (or is it the WTBTS' wishes?) and keep your distance until they contact you? Do you contact them and at least make sure they have your address and phone number to communicate with when they are ready in the future? Do you send them a note occasionally to tell them you are thinking of them, tell them how things are going for you, and include contact info at the bottom?

  I would really value your feedback at this time.

  Thanks!

  Tammy
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  9

  Pacific NW Apostate Fest

  by songmistress in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i understand that there is to be an apostate fest here in seattle next weekend.

  does anyone have info on that?.

  there is supposed to be one in eagle creek oregon sometime in sept. i think also.. i would love an opportunity to put names to faces and have "fellowship" :d with like minds.. thanks in advance.. blessings.

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  Swan

  I don't think I can attend next weekend, but I would be interested in the one in Eagle Creek in September. Are there any details on that yet?
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  17

  JW urban legends

  by berten in

  1. social
  2. humour

  in my time as jw there was at least one urban legend that was very popular.

  amongst jaydubs.this was about the dog named "jehovah" by it's jw-hating owner.

  so that when he got visited by them once again,he could shout "jehovah,attack!"..

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  Swan

  My mother told me a story about a little girl named Charlotte in our congregation who was playing in her room and talking up a storm. When she came out she told her mother, "I talked to Satan." Well the mother called in a bunch of sisters and they had a witch hunt. They went through the whole house and finally found an old religious picture in the back of a closet. They took it outside and set fire to it, but it wouldn't burn. So they called on one of the brothers, who doused it with gasoline. The set fire to it again and this time the gasoline made the fire last longer, but it still wouldn't burn at first. Finally it burned and the little girl hasn't talked to Satan since. (Since I was a child, I thought this was a true story!)
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  8

  Anyone from or in Alaska???

  by terafera2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm in anchorage now and it would be cool if any of you are from this area.

  i used to live in fairbanks and have wondered about alot of jw's who seemed to live on the 'fence'.

  if you are out, let me know!

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  Swan

  I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, but then we moved in 1967 when I was about 8 or 9. Born in the JWs. Left them over 8 years ago. My husband and I live in the lower 48 now.