Posts by TerryWalstrom

30

What started me on the path to waking up about the lies the WT teaches?

by oppostate in

it was a simple question: isn't jesus my "mediator" if i put faith in him like the scriptures say?

the research to that answer, from the w79 4/1 p. 31, was mind blowing.

how dare they deny me a belief firmly stated in the scriptures?

INTERVIEW: with an Elder

by TerryWalstrom in

elder: "i'm not sure i know what you mean by 'diversity.'.

elder: "well, it's not quite like that.

elder: "um.

TerryWalstrom

I think all I accomplished (if anything) was to be an agent provocateur to the extent I might goad him into saying something incriminating.

Now, why would I?

Cognitive Dissonance allows a person to hold dissonant views simultaneously without fully reckoning with the implications. In other words, depending on which mindset the person is presently adopting, they might argue one way and subsequently argue the opposite without seeing self-contradiction as an issue!

The hard part is getting somebody to suddenly see they are on both sides and then have to grapple with what's going on.

Example:

In talking to an old JW friend of mine, I got him to state in absolute terms what he thought DF-ing policy was in the Kingdom Hall. He stated, "Nobody will be disfellowshipped if they demonstrate repentance."

Five minutes later, I brought up a case where a Brother was DF'd just for spending the night under the same roof with an unmarried girl. The Brother claimed he slept on the couch and nothing happened. The judicial committee told him it was EQUALLY BAD because it brought reproach. So, the brother begged forgiveness and cried. He was DF'd anyway!

I asked point blank--"What about that rule you stated about nobody being disfellowshipped if they are repentant?"

He sort of blinked like I'd slapped him with a dead fish.

He lamely responded, "Well, that's different."

But I could see he was rattled.

40

INTERVIEW: with an Elder

by TerryWalstrom in

elder: "i'm not sure i know what you mean by 'diversity.'.

elder: "well, it's not quite like that.

elder: "um.

TerryWalstrom

Thinking back over my encounter, I just realized something which should have stood out right away. He was carrying the NWT but NEVER OPENED IT to read a scripture!

Has the method of their madness changed?

JW's never stop flipping the onion skin pages--except this time. I'm sure my choice of topic had a little bit to do with it.

I definitely wanted to steer clear of doctrines and stay with practical everyday issues if I could. Maybe that's what it was.

It still strikes me as unusual.

40

INTERVIEW: with an Elder

by TerryWalstrom in

elder: "i'm not sure i know what you mean by 'diversity.'.

elder: "well, it's not quite like that.

elder: "um.

TerryWalstrom

I posted this yesterday on Facebook right after it happened.

SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES AGO. . .

Every day, I go to the local Starbucks and sit in a hall vestibule just outside the store so I can write and work on the book I'm trying to finish.

Everybody who goes to Starbucks knows me and that I'm a writer. So, today a fellow in a suit overhears two other people talking to me about my writing and I say out loud that I'm writing about religion and how people have different ideas about truth.

The man in the suit strolls over to me and we end up chatting about some awfully familiar territory! Suddenly, I noticed he's carrying the SILVER SWORD under his arm! He's a J-Dub! Ha!! He's wanting to count time out in service using me!
I went into stealth mode.

I asked him about his religious ideas and he gave me the usual response. Then, I suggested he sit down for a brief interview! I said it might be included in my book. It finally came out that he is an Elder in the local congregation. He asked that I not put his name in the book and I said I wouldn't. (I suppose he was covering his ass in case he said anything which could be construed as damaging.)

After pretending he didn't have time--I could see he was flattered and really DID want to be interviewed by a writer for a book!

What follows is my attempt to be neutral, scholarly and professional. I began with as safe and uncontroversial a topic as I could think of.
_________________________________

Question: "How do Jehovah's Witnesses manage diversity within their congregations?"

Elder: "I'm not sure I know what you mean by 'diversity.'

Question: "Individual opinions, tastes, dispositions are part of all societies are they not? How does your clergy or leadership manage basic human diversity?"

Elder: "There really isn't any diversity of opinion. All Jehovah's Witnesses agree with all other Jehovah's Witnesses. There is a harmony of belief and practice."

Question: "Is that because diversity is not allowed?"

Elder: "Well, it's not quite like that. We're not a totalitarian regime; it's just that Jehovah's Spirit brings about harmony which might ordinarily spring up because of human imperfection. All of which is because of the correct application of God's word, the Bible."

Question: "How is this any different from any other religious group--most of which are plagued by sectarian squabbles? There are over 40,000 Christian denominations disagreeing fundamentally enough to call their church by different names?"

Elder: "We don't have churches. We have small congregations and they are all in agreement on all policies. All Kingdom Halls around the world are in 100% agreement with all the other ones."

Question: "But how would you know that without internal opportunity for airing disagreement? Wouldn't Elders, such as yourself, step in and isolate any diverse opinion under the auspice of 'protecting the congregation' from heresy, apostasy, or divisions?"

Elder: "I see where you are headed. But--no, it's not like that at all."

Question: "I'm asking simply: 'How is it possible to know what your members are thinking, inasmuch as speaking dissidently or dissonantly is condemned outright as unspiritual and devilish?'"

Elder: "Any JW who has worries, doubts, questions is free to approach any of the older men in the congregation. That's what elders are there for."

Question: "How likely is it that a member would place themselves under suspicion of disloyalty--in effect making themselves a marked target of suspicion?"

Elder: "Well--if you say it like that--it . . . First let me say . . ."

Question: "Isn't loyalty to the Governing Body an absolute requirement in order to be considered a member in good standing?"

Elder: "I was going to say . . .well--no, I mean we don't have loyalty to weak, sinful, imperfect human beings. It is loyalty to God's perfect earthly arrangement."

Question: "Can you unpack that in plain English?"

Elder: "JW's are part of a government guided by heavenly appointed representatives. As an Elder, I have a responsibility to Jehovah. I must oversee, shepherd, and counsel. In some cases, I must preside judicially.
We can't let predatory wolves creep in under the banner of 'diversity.'"

Question: "My way or the highway? So to speak."

Elder: "Ha ha ha ha. That would be Jehovah's statement; not mine."

Question: "You're comfortable with speaking for Almighty God?"

Elder: "It's a commission Jesus made clear. We are compelled to do that very thing. It's the core of evangelizing."

Question: "Jesus hung out with a highly diverse group, totally at odds with the leaders of Judaism such as the Pharisees. If I recall correctly that would be prostitutes, thieves, tax collectors, fishermen---"

Elder: "Oh no! Not thieves! Jesus didn't--"

Question: "He chose Judas, didn't he? Judas was stealing from the collection box!."

Elder: "Huh. . . oh, um. . .. well--okay. That's a technicality, But okay."

Question: "My point being, diversity was not a problem for the founder of Christianity. Jesus didn't excommunicate anybody--did he?"

Elder: "That wasn't his mission. He was a teacher and a healer and the anointed King-to-be of his heavenly Father's kingdom."

Question: "What about the diversity question?"

Elder: "What about it?"

Question: "Do you try to be like Jesus in accepting prostitutes, thieves, and other social outcasts? Homosexuals, transgenders, etc?"

Elder: "That's kind of. . . well--it's almost a trick question. The important thing isn't human diversity--it is putting off the flesh and putting on the spirit. It is the aspect of getting people to be a New kind of person--not staying the way they are."

Question: "Well, correct me if I'm wrong on this. Aren't you really mixing up spirit-anointed Christians with the so-called 'other sheep'? You don't teach the Bible is FOR regular people--diverse people. You teach the Bible is for anointed persons chosen to become the Bride of Christ--right?"

Elder: "Um. . . what, now? Oh! Okay. Okay. I'm with you now. I see what you mean. Yes. Um. . . let me clarify my meaning . . ."

Question: "Please do. Take your time."

Elder: "Jesus' ministry was for Jews. The Apostle Paul's ministry was for people of all nations. There is your diversity."

Question: "What about Jehovah's Witnesses? Do you accept and celebrate human diversity for 'other sheep', Gentiles, homosexuals, transgenders, thieves, prostitutes, etc?"

Elder: "Yes. IF THEY CHANGE and learn the Truth, become baptized and lead a clean life Witnessing about Jehovah's kingdom"

Question: "So, you personally know non-practising homosexuals in your congregation?"

Elder: "What? Well. . . I didn't say I personally did, but--generally speaking we get all kinds of people who repent, reform, live by the rules so-to-speak."

Question: "Pedophiles?"

Elder: "I'm not sure I know what you mean?"

Question: "Do you know personally of any pedophiles in your congregation?"

Elder: "That's. . . I. . . it's not for me to say--I mean to speak publicly about private matters of confession. I'm sure you know, priests can never divulge what comes out in confession."

Question: "Okay. So--Jehovah's Witnesses and Catholic priests are like-minded in their silence on pedophiles, then?"

Elder: "I really don't think it's profitable to continue this line of questioning. I have to go now. If you have any other questions. . . you can go online to our website. It's (says name of website) and it has Frequently Asked Questions." (Gets up and departs.

7

IMPORTANT TOOLS for parents who are Ex-J-Dubs

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

nobody is better at explaining deep subjects and making learning exciting and fun than isaac asimov.. keep this list (and links) for use in getting your school age kids accurately informed about science and developing a keen and rational mind.. isaac asimov's "science fact" masterpieces :.

how we found out about microwaves - isaac asimov.

how we found out beginning of life - isaac asimov.

TerryWalstrom

Nobody is better at explaining deep subjects and making learning exciting and fun than ISAAC ASIMOV.

Keep this list (and links) for use in getting your school age kids accurately informed about science and developing a keen and rational mind.

Isaac Asimov's "Science Fact" Masterpieces :

How we found out about MICROWAVES - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out BEGINNING OF LIFE - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about OUR BRAIN - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about OUR UNIVERSE - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about OUR HUMAN ROOTS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about THE EARTH IS ROUND - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about THE EARTH IS ROUND - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about NUCLEAR POWER - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about ANTARCTICA - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about ANTARCTICA - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about ATOMS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about ATOMS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about BLACK HOLES - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about BLACK HOLES - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about COMETS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about COMETS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about DEEP SEA - ISAAC ASIMOV (40 k html)
How we found out about DINOSAURS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about DINOSAURS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about EARTHQUAKES - Isaac Assimov
How we found out about EARTHQUAKES - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about ELECTRICITY - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about ELECTRICITY - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about ENERGY - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about ENERGY - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about GERMS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about GERMS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about NUMBERS - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about NUMBERS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about OIL - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about OIL - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about OUTER SPACE - ISAAC ASIMOV
How we found out about OUTER SPACE - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about SOLAR POWER - ISAAC ASIMOV (40 KB html)
How we found out about SOLAR POWER - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about VITAMINS - Isac Asimov
How we found out about VITAMINS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about BRAIN - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about SUPERCONDUCTIVITY - ISAAC ASIMOV WithIllustrations
How we found out about ATMOSPHERE - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about VOLCANOES - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about SUNSHINE - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about PLUTO - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about LASERS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about COMPUTERS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about DNA - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about PHOTOSYNTHESIS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about NEPTUNE - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about BEGINNING OF LIFE - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about ROBOTS - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about BLOOD - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about GENES - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out about COAL - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
How we found out SPEED OF LIGHT - ISAAC ASIMOV WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
EARTH IS ROUND - PLAY - ISAAC ASIMOV ENGLISH PLAY BY S. CHAKRAVARTI
UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS - MOTION, SOUND AND HEAT - ISAAC ASIMOV
UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS - LIGHT, MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY - ISAAC ASIMOV
UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS - ELECTRON, PROTON AND NEUTRON - ISAAC ASIMOV
BOOK OF SCIENCE AND NATURE QUOTES- ISAAC ASIMOV
__________________________________
CLICK ON THE TITLE and a PDF COPY of Asimov's book will appear.
Note: all the above are out-of-print

35

What Would Happen if the Watchtower Loses Their TAX EXEMPT STATUS?

by John Aquila in

would it really affect them?

how would it affect volunteers at any construction project since that work would now be taxable.

any materials they buy would be taxable.

TerryWalstrom

____________________________

y BEN SHAPIRO2 Jul 2015

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision mandating that states reward same-sex marriages throughout the nation, churches across the country prepare for the inevitable assault on their tax-exempt statuses.

“Beliefs” columnist for The New York Times, Mark Oppenheimer, wrote at Time.com that churches should have their tax-exempt statuses ripped away for opposing same-sex marriage. Felix Salmon at Fusion wrote the same thing:

[T]he US government subsidizes churches to the tune of many billions of dollars per year by giving them tax-exempt status. … The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, but that’s free as in love, not free as in beer. Taxation is a purely secular affair, and by default it applies to everyone equally, whether they’re a religious institution or not.

The left wishes for a nation where same-sex couples are given tax benefits for participation in a homosexual lifestyle, but where churches are punished for rejecting that lifestyle.

And it won’t stop with churches. The Christian Science Monitor asks whether conservative religious colleges will lose their tax-exempt statuses. Professor Michael Olivas of the Institute for Higher Education Law & Governance at the University of Houston said, “I don’t think that a number of these religious schools can reasonably hope to adhere to principles that are clearly in violation of public policy, a la Bob Jones.” As I wrote years ago, the Bob Jones University case, in which the IRS removed non-profit status from the university over its rules on interracial dating, will now be used as precedent by the IRS to go after non-profit institutions over same-sex marriage.

The crusade against religious churches and schools amounts to bigotry against religious believers – a bigotry clearly expressed by University of Virginia law Professor Douglas Laycock, who told The Washington Post, “The gay rights side keeps escalating its demands and public opinion keeps shifting in their favor. … Conservative believers are their own worst enemies and lead people to think they are hateful morons, so they’re not getting much sympathy.”

And this is the point: when public consternation governs the regulations on churches, we have violated the purpose of the First Amendment. There is no First Amendment right to tax exempt status, but as the Supreme Court wrote in Walz v. Tax Commission of City of New York (1970), the leading case on tax exemptions for religious institutions:

Grants of exemption historically reflect the concern of authors of constitutions and statutes as to the latent dangers inherent in the imposition of property taxes; exemption constitutes a reasonable and balanced attempt to guard against those dangers. … Elimination of exemption would tend to expand the involvement of government by giving rise to tax valuation of church property, tax liens, tax foreclosures, and the direct confrontations and conflicts that follow in the train of those legal processes. … The grant of a tax exemption is not sponsorship, since the government does not transfer part of its revenue to churches, but simply abstains from demanding that the church support the state.

The Court summed up that tax exemption for religious institutions “covers our entire national existence and indeed predates it.”

This, historically speaking, is true. As religious regulation expert Richard Couser wrote, “The notion of exempting churches from taxation did not begin in the United States. Medieval Europe, the Roman Empire under Constantine, and even Egypt in Joseph’s time exempted church property from taxation.” Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, explained, “The unassailable fact remains that, for as long as anyone can remember, churches have always been tax-exempt or enjoyed favorable tax treatment.”

In the United States, tax exemption served the purpose of not excessively entangling the government with religious institutions, given that most civilized countries of Europe had established state churches sponsored by the government itself. The Founders – and most legislators and regulators throughout the history of the United States – understood that using the government to discriminate against particular churches would act as an abridgement of religious freedom. And the Founders would have been appalled by the federal regulations currently in place that crack down on pastors’ ability to speak politically from the pulpit.

Such regulations began in 1934 with a congressional amendment to the tax code, as Stanley points out. That amendment attempted to reject tax exemption for a church if a “substantial part of … [its] activities … is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation.” That amendment came after one legislator got upset with a church for campaigning against him based on veteran benefits. In 1954, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson sponsored the Johnson Amendment, which labeled tax-exempt organizations those that did not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” He sponsored the legislation because a rival secular non-profit opposed his candidacy. Now the IRS has expanded the regulations to include a bevy of possible violations in order to quash religious speech.

In short, politicians, given power over churches, would move to destroy those who oppose them. That is why tax exemption is an important aspect of protection for churches: the government’s attempts to smack down particular churches smacks of First Amendment-violating viewpoint discrimination. Either all churches should receive tax exempt status – which they should to prevent government specifically targeting religion, since the “power to tax involves the power to destroy,” as Chief Justice John Marshall put it in 1819 – or they should not. But the idea that government will selectively benefit those churches it approves makes religion an arm of the state, precisely the situation the First Amendment was designed to prevent.

35

What Would Happen if the Watchtower Loses Their TAX EXEMPT STATUS?

by John Aquila in

would it really affect them?

how would it affect volunteers at any construction project since that work would now be taxable.

any materials they buy would be taxable.

TerryWalstrom

'Going Clear' Director Calls for End to Scientology Tax-Exempt Status !!

35

What Would Happen if the Watchtower Loses Their TAX EXEMPT STATUS?

by John Aquila in

would it really affect them?

how would it affect volunteers at any construction project since that work would now be taxable.

any materials they buy would be taxable.

TerryWalstrom

The Internal Revenue Service is the sole determiner of which 'religious' organization rises (or lowers) to their arbitrary, capricious and whimsical standards.

Let me answer your query directly. If the IRS refuses to disallow SCIENTOLOGY as a tax exempt religion, they sure aren't going to touch the Watchtower.

Of course, there were a whole battleground of lawsuits against the IRS by Scientology behind this which I won't go into here and now--but, the individual agents who work there know what power can be wielded by a crazy group of cultists. They're still licking their wounds.

The Watchtower and its multiple corporations would have their little white belly turned upward and exposed to ravenous predators should they lose exempt status. But--look at all those insane Pentecostal TV preachers who were investigated awhile back; none of them lost exemption. It's all smoke and mirrors.

109

The Confederate Flag

by Simon in

the latest controversy over the confederate flag just sums up to me the state of dysfunction that exists in american society.. in summary: a white supremacist nutter shoots 9 black people dead in a church.

he's clearly inspired by the messages of others which the confederate flag is often a symbol of.. it seems like a no-brainer to remove it.

not only isn't it removed, it isn't even lowered at all as a mark of respect.. and of course now there are the people who want to defend their right to have it.

TerryWalstrom

Have you ever seen a young person with pink hair?

Same thing. No, really.

If you pay absolutely no attention, they lose energy.

The power to provoke controversy is bestowed by those who are offended.

Taking the bait of a Master Baiter is impossible for some persons to resist :)

109

The Confederate Flag

by Simon in

the latest controversy over the confederate flag just sums up to me the state of dysfunction that exists in american society.. in summary: a white supremacist nutter shoots 9 black people dead in a church.

he's clearly inspired by the messages of others which the confederate flag is often a symbol of.. it seems like a no-brainer to remove it.

not only isn't it removed, it isn't even lowered at all as a mark of respect.. and of course now there are the people who want to defend their right to have it.

TerryWalstrom

I'm old enough to have absorbed quite a bit of pre-1960's white culture in the South while simultaneously having been reared by my grandparents and great-grandmother.

In order to help you comprehend the Southern mindset, I have to begin with the premise that much of America was settled by very determined, hard-headed, no-nonsense, under-educated people with a Do-or-Die attitude. So many people, such as my great-grandmother faced death and privations in everyday life. My Great-grandmother told me of her family's move from Tennessee to Texas in a covered wagon, in her words: "Chased by bloodthirsty savages whooping war cries" along the way.

To present day folks, this is not a politically correct phraseology!

Native Americans are seen today as simply as stone age aborigines dispossessed by white people. To my Great-grandmother, they were terrifying murderers hellbent on her destruction.

Now, what does all that have to do with the Confederate Flag, you may well ask?
The deeply ingrained attitude of black and white, life or death, right or wrong stemmed primarily from US or THEM. It was a no-brainer.

This is reflected in our old friend, George Bush's famous words: "If you're not with us, you're against us."

Survival was the only real truth. There were no social or political niceties in the South.

People sized you up at a glance and formed a rock hard opinion at the get-go.

Remember that . . . it will help us later.

Confederate States consisted of a mixed bag of diverse people who hated Northern politicians. Southerners were a pre-technology people and they looked upon their slaves as human farming equipment--no more and no less. The fact that they looked human could have quickly made it impossible for decent, god-fearing Christians to treat them so inhumanly--IF it weren't for the fact Southern preachers disabused them of that notion.

Not only were blacks the beneficiaries of a curse placed on Noah's son Canaan, but God actually approved of slavery. So--what's to lament?

Northern industrialist city-slickers were trying to horn in and force genteel Southern folks to--in effect--get rid of their farming equipment! HOW DARE THEY!

Beginning to get the picture?

______________________

When I was a child, I saw red-neck men everywhere and I deeply feared them. They had their sleeves rolled high, they cussed, they treated their wife like shit and were damned well not going tolerate anybody telling them what to do. They worshipped Jesus Christ, loved their shotgun (which rode just behind their head on a rack in the ever-present pickup truck--and would be quick to condemn Yankees as worse than rats spreading the plague.

Where did this attitude come from?

Easy--from their Daddy and his daddy before him.

When the South lost the Civil War for real--it did NOT PENETRATE the cognitive dissonance of these stubborn jackasses!

"THE SOUTH SHALL RISE AGAIN!"

This still holds in much of the state of Texas, for sure.

What other war in history is RE-FOUGHT every year in perpetuity by grown men dressed up in uniforms on a 'sacred battleground' like Little Round Top and Gettysburg?

Why?

They just won't face reality: the old ways of Southern charm and comfort are gone with the wind.

Southern men had privilege. They were each the king of his own castle. Each man's world was ideal (for him.) Little boys grew up next to their Redneck Dad watching him and listening to him pontificate on "Right and Wrong." It was a deepset bond.

Fortunately, I did not grow up with a Dad in my household. So, I escaped this plague of 'culture'. But, I'm here to explain it to you today.

In the very same way Jehovah's Witnesses cannot open their mind to any idea which does not make them the ONLY TRUE religion--Southerners in the U.S. cannot abide giving up their Confederate Flag symbol of hard-headed, never-say-die insanity.

How bad is this attitude today? In Fort Worth where I live, only men over the age of 65 secretly express these views. These are the Fox News constituency. They dare not say any of this aloud--only privately.

Texas, Georgia, North and South Carolina and other southern states--depending on the heritage of Father/Son--are the seedbed for Confederate obstinancy.

When men my age die off--so too will this mindset.