TerryWalstrom

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Posts by TerryWalstrom

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  8

  I Got a Response from the Washington Post (JW article)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  dear terry,.

  thank you very much for your note.

  i really appreciate all the information you provided on jehovah’s witnesses and the personal experiences you shared in this email.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Thanks for the suggestions and all the positive comments.
  I really think even the tiniest pro-active effort any of us makes can start a ripple which may lead to a wave.
  
  
• 
  8

  I Got a Response from the Washington Post (JW article)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  dear terry,.

  thank you very much for your note.

  i really appreciate all the information you provided on jehovah’s witnesses and the personal experiences you shared in this email.

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  TerryWalstrom

  I keep my eyes open for "positive" stories about the JW's which--likely as not--are often crafted by their own hands Not in this instance (I don't think.)
  If I can, I do try to include something other than sour grapes in the form of data.
  After all, opinion counts for little.
  Above all, if a writer for any publication says anything Pro WT, you can fairly bet the GB will pump it through the propaganda machine for all it's worth.
• 
  8

  I Got a Response from the Washington Post (JW article)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  dear terry,.

  thank you very much for your note.

  i really appreciate all the information you provided on jehovah’s witnesses and the personal experiences you shared in this email.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Dear Terry,

  Thank you very much for your note. I really appreciate all the information you provided on Jehovah’s Witnesses and the personal experiences you shared in this email. In the podcast episode, I tried to convey primarily the history of Supreme Court cases and the broader effects they had on First Amendment law—not any endorsement or value judgement of the religious organization itself. But I do greatly appreciate this firsthand knowledge and context. It means a lot to me that you took the time to reach out and share all these details.

  Thanks again,

  Lillian

  --

  Lillian Cunningham

  The Washington Post
  __________________________
  Below is the email I sent to the author of a Washington Post article on JW's and the 1st amendment.
  _________________________
  (Transcript of trial: https://archive.org/details/WalshTrial [l.facebook.com])

  I would argue the actions of Jehovah's Witnesses against their own interests, and the interests of their local community, as well as nationally, were coerced by fear of excommunication in extremis, or at least insidiously coaxed into their beliefs through loyalty and disinformation.

  What is my interest in all of this?
  I served time in Federal prison from 1967-69 as a 'neutral' Jehovah's Witness as a result of a conviction for violation of the Universal Military Training and Service Act.
  I was privately counseled by my congregation leaders not to accept alternative civilian service. I was further counseled not to reveal I had been influenced in any way by other than my own conscience. This same deliberately invisible influence was carried out as coordinated policy nationwide.

  During the Vietnam war, 5,000 draft-age men turned in their draft cards rather than be conscripted. These were protests. 200,000 men were accused by the Federal Government of being Draft Offenders. 25,000 were indicted. Out of the 25,000, only 8,750 were convicted. Out of the 8,750 who were convicted, only 4,000 were imprisoned. Most of these, with some exceptions, were young men--Jehovah's Witnesses, like myself, who surrendered our loyalty to an organization and its leaders claiming to speak on behalf of the only true God.

  Five years before my appearance before a draft board, the Watchtower Society had quietly and unceremoniously changed the official interpretation of Romans 13: 1,2 rather quietly, flip-flopping back to the traditional plain reading Christendom had held for two thousand years!

  In fact, JW texts I was operating from had not been updated to include this change. I found out the hard way!
  The Watchtower headquarters would not provide me with a membership card nor a letter attesting to my ministerial status. I later found out this was only provided in special cases where a "special Pioneer" was involved who spent 100 to 150 hours monthly knocking doors.

  I had the legal right to serve alternate service working in a hospital--had it not been for the private counsel of my JW elders in strict accord with their covert (by this time) policies on Christian neutrality.

  This policy too, like the previous Romans 13: 1, 2 policy, reversed many years later. Apparently, the malleable nature of Watchtower ‘truth’ repudiates its value as the divine mind channeled by an Almighty.

  First Amendment champions? I think not!

  This religion is fraudulent in premise and has a historical track record of trampling on human rights.
  (Please read how JW's allow sexual abuse of children to flourish:
  https://www.theguardian.com/…/jehovahs-witnesses-did-not-pr… [l.facebook.com])
• 
  41

  Who deserves the title of king of apostasy ?

  by Chook in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i think this would be a noble endeavour..

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  TerryWalstrom

  John Redwood
  Richard Kelly
  Randy Watters
  The above for wide-ranging influence over a number of years.
  We never know what seed planted in a conversation will blossom in someone's heart into a portal to freedom.
  So, every one of us can be that "king/queen" for a day.
• 
  105

  Another School Shooting: The Gun Violence/Mental Illness Debate Continues

  by jp1692 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  in the aftermath of the valentine's day school shooting in florida, i have read quite a number of articles, blogs and posts about the event.

  it is disturbing--and i think inexcusable--that many people take the opportunity to use horrible tragedies such as this to push their own particular agenda.. in particularly insensitive and tone-deaf tweet, conservative political commentator tomi lahren wrote: "can the left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and anti-gunowner agenda?

  my goodness.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Stars explode, volcanos erupt, Tsunamis wipe out islands, parasites infect drinking water, mosquitos bring disease, and microscopic creatures are everywhere outside and INSIDE of us using us for their food!
  
  
  2 out of every 100 people on Earth are Psychopaths. A fact. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  Mental health statistics demonstrate that babies born to mothers who've taken certain drugs and lived certain lifestyles are HIGHLY susceptible to defects including chaotic brain development.
  That's not a BLAME, btw. It is merely an isolated fact on a long list. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  America has written into law ownership of firearms and the result is about 12 million guns are sold each year. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  50% of children come from divorced parents making it statistically more likely for those kids to have health problems, social problems, mental health problems, and incarceration.
  Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  Our problem REALLY IS GUNS-- but not guns alone.
  Both sides of political issues need to be opening their eyes on this.
  
  To wit:
  
  Can we stop divorce? No.
  Can we stop alcohol and drug abuse by parents? No.
  Can we stop the sale of guns? No.
  
  What HUMANITARIAN steps can our government/society take which is, above all, EFFECTIVE?
  
  Can we end child poverty and give free mental health assistance to all Americans? YES!
  Can we provide higher minimum wages? YES!
  Can we provide free education to our kids? YES!
  
  BUT NOT by spending Billions on never-ending senseless WARS!
  We all know that.
  BUT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WON'T STOP wasting tax money
  on weapons.
  Trump is said to be a madman and yet Democrats voted for an EXTRA one hundred sixty BILLION dollars on top of the seven hundred billion Trump asked for!
  
  

  America dropped 26,171 bombs in 2016 under President Obama. 7 countries.
  
  Under Trump, the United States has dropped about 20,650 bombs through July 31, or 80 percent the number dropped under Obama for the entirety of 2016.
  
  

  Did you vote for these wars? No. Are they even Legal? Not really.
  
  We are left with what we Do do: rant ineffectively.
  I plead guilty as charged.
  
• 
  3

  Are we pretending we live in a Disney movie?

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we may wish to believe we are living in a happily ever after world--a kind of disney movie.as jw's we believed jehovah controlled the outcome.

  all we had to do was follow our orders and all would end well...for us.not anymore i don't.i am convinced life brings with it the constant possibility of death and chaos simply because we live in a violent and ever-changing universe.stars explode, volcanos erupt, tsunamis wipe out islands, parasites infect drinking water, mosquitos bring disease, and microscopic creatures are everywhere outside and inside of us using us for their food!we fool ourselves if we actually expect life to be free of violence--even us against our own selves.2 out of every 100 people on earth are psychopaths.

  a fact.

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  TerryWalstrom

  It just struck me yesterday, reflectively, as a society we seem outraged at only CERTAIN KINDS of violence as though expecting things to remain more or less just the way we find comfortable.
  
  Our tax dollars have committed violence around the world and we did NOT vote on or demand those wars abroad.
  Because that money commits violent deaths out of our sight--it doesn't really (REALLY) bother us as much as local violence.
  
  Our Drones and bombs create collateral damage far greater than we care to imagine.
  Civilian deaths include babies, children, mothers, hospitals and general populations which want nothing much more than to live in peace.
  
  Why doesn't THIS bother us as much as a school shooting??
  Would it help if it did?
  YES.
  We as a people would be outraged about war effectively enough to scare the shit out of people running for office.
  
  The outrage we waste could be put to better use.
  
  Imagine if we could have harnessed all the TRUMP outrage and pointed it at the warmongers in Congress.
  But no.
  We have our pet rants.
  Impeach Trump. Ban guns. Police the language and label our opponents with politically charged accusations...NONE OF WHICH does anything at all but keep us divided
  and IMPOTENT at really getting something done effectively.
  
  We are scattered like sheep festering in our blistering anger at the local wolf.
  Where are the real vigilantes who are politically activated to stop WAR?
  They vanished with my generation who became Republicans after protesting the Vietnam War. :)
  
  
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  13

  Haven't been on for a long time

  by avishai in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i came to see if any of the old faces are here, thank you so much, you've helped me through so much.

  so many of you are responsible for helping me to learn to be kind.

  i love you guys, stay strong stay kind.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Hey! Good to see you.
  My face is old--older and worse for wear since the good old bad old days.
  
  I wonder what became of all the cast of characters here on our version of CHEERS.
  
  Stick around. We need a bit of wisdom.

  Welcome home!
• 
  3

  Are we pretending we live in a Disney movie?

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we may wish to believe we are living in a happily ever after world--a kind of disney movie.as jw's we believed jehovah controlled the outcome.

  all we had to do was follow our orders and all would end well...for us.not anymore i don't.i am convinced life brings with it the constant possibility of death and chaos simply because we live in a violent and ever-changing universe.stars explode, volcanos erupt, tsunamis wipe out islands, parasites infect drinking water, mosquitos bring disease, and microscopic creatures are everywhere outside and inside of us using us for their food!we fool ourselves if we actually expect life to be free of violence--even us against our own selves.2 out of every 100 people on earth are psychopaths.

  a fact.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TerryWalstrom

  We may wish to believe we are living in a Happily Ever After world--a kind of Disney movie.
  As JW's we believed Jehovah controlled the outcome. All we had to do was follow our orders and all would end well...for us.
  Not anymore I don't.
  
  I am convinced Life brings with it the constant possibility of death and chaos simply because we live in a violent and ever-changing Universe.
  
  Stars explode, volcanos erupt, Tsunamis wipe out islands, parasites infect drinking water, mosquitos bring disease, and microscopic creatures are everywhere outside and INSIDE of us using us for their food!
  
  WE FOOL OURSELVES if we actually EXPECT life to be free of violence--even us against our own selves.
  
  2 out of every 100 people on Earth are Psychopaths. A fact. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  Mental health statistics demonstrate that babies born to mothers who've taken certain drugs and lived certain lifestyles are HIGHLY susceptible to defects including chaotic brain development.
  That's not a BLAME, btw. It is merely an isolated fact on a long list. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  America has written into law ownership of firearms and the result is about 12 million guns are sold each year. Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  50% of children come from divorced parents making it statistically more likely for those kids to have health problems, social problems, mental health problems, and incarceration.
  Deal with it or ignore it--it remains with us.
  
  What are you saying, Terry?
  
  We are like soldiers on a great battlefield: life itself is war.
  Soldiers must EXPECT violence and tragedy and DEFEND against the violence and extinction by cooperating intelligently day after day after day after day.
  
  Realistically examine the idea of life as a Disney movie or latter-day Bible story.
  Our problem REALLY IS GUNS-- but not guns alone.
  Both sides of political issues need to be opening their eyes on this.
  
  To wit:
  
  Can we stop divorce? No, you idiot.
  Can we stop alcohol and drug abuse by parents? No, you idiot.
  Can we stop the sale of guns? No, you idiot.
  
  We CAN counsel and aid charitably with humanitarian intentions.
  
  Can we end child poverty and give free mental health assistance to all Americans? YES!
  Can we provide higher minimum wages? YES!
  Can we provide free education to our kids? YES!
  
  BUT NOT by spending Billions on never-ending senseless WARS!
  We all know that.
  BUT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WON'T STOP wasting tax money
  on weapons.
  
  What little we CAN DO....goes undone.
  
  We are left with what we Do do: rant ineffectively.
  I plead guilty as charged.
  
• 
  13

  Big Questions

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  big questionslook at the entire history of humanity on earth and ask:"what is it people really want?

  "on the flip side: "what is it which keeps holding us back?

  "______no matter how bad or good our life is at any one moment we can imagine a better life.we can imagine a place "over there" greener, more beautiful, with rivers of purest water; a land of milk and honey.but wait--before you turn away with a yawn.... one more thing.. that gap--that space--between here and there, demands of us an irresistible passion to cross over.. we seek: a better life.. we find a "bridge" to buy which promises us a guarantee: whether it is god or utopia or diet and meditation--we each, in our own way, find: the answer.. the lowest form of human consciousness?.

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  TerryWalstrom

  snare&racket

  Of course, I read it carefully.

  Are you not conscious when your genetics tell you to eat, to sleep, to love, to protect, to care for..... this is genetics in action, conscious and very deliberate in its guidance for survival.
  _______
  
  Let me have another go at my intention if you'll allow me.
  
  Yes, we are made of materials of a physical nature with built-in limits and we cannot over-ride them absolutely without much travail.
  However--I am talking about the "Ghost in the Machine" aspect of choosing and determining what preferences gain sway.
  
  There is something of a horizon line of human knowledge as far as AWARENESS is concerned. No matter how fast we approach it--it recedes. It is an imaginary line.
  Free Will, I think, is as real as the horizon and just as imaginary.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCOWaaTj4A

  
  I am speaking about volition in a way which perhaps you may reject out of hand.
  
  That's okay. In our organic sameness, we are finally individual in our ideations and individuation.
  ____
  (http://journalpsyche.org/jung-and-his-individuation-process/)
  
  Individuation can be defined as the achievement of self-actualization through a process of integrating the conscious and the unconscious.
  ______
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL61yQgdWeM
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  10

  Jehovah's Witness Books in Guinness Book of World Records

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://ed5015.tripod.com/jwbookscirculation.htm.

  new light.

  predicting world events--yet--containing not even 1 successfully completed prophecy.how is any of it "food"?

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  TerryWalstrom

  The use of the word "Popular" is aberrant, IMHO.
  Every JW in the world is required to own publications published by headquarters.
  Ah, but those were the good old bad old days when WT was a publisher.
  Now, I'd modify that word. It is more a purveyor.
  
  How may "Popular" books are out of print, discarded, expunged and considered improper the same way JW books become--it must be said--because the contents are embarrassing to those claiming "truth" as the boilerplate of their mission?
  
  This obsolescence is not planned!
  It is intrinsic due to the nature of its origin: imaginary communication to an invisible being.