I used to think that my posts had an impact on myself but now I think they were mostly stupid. I did appreciate everyone's support when the elders wanted a letter from my unbaptized 26-year old daughter as to her private sex life. That was choice. I miss jjrizo. I hope he sees the light again some day. Seemed like a nice fellow for awhile.
reubenfine
JoinedPosts by reubenfine
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180
Posters that make an impact
by JH in.
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what posters do you like the most on this forum and why?.
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62
Opposing war = passive support?
by expatbrit in.
before everyone gets all huffy about another war thread, i tried to reply in the original thread, but it buggered up.
simon, if you want to move it there and get rid of this thread, please do.
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reubenfine
We didn't attack Somalia. I also do not know why all political decisions are made. You didn't respond to the heart of my post, though. Please read
http://web.amnesty.org/web/ar2002.nsf/regAMR/regAMR?OpenDocument
and tell me why we shouldn't attack Mexico, Brazil, or Colombia if we're so interested in evil governments. Mexico is a good place to start, where the torture of people in custody is routine. The US couldn't care less about it.
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Opposing war = passive support?
by expatbrit in.
before everyone gets all huffy about another war thread, i tried to reply in the original thread, but it buggered up.
simon, if you want to move it there and get rid of this thread, please do.
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reubenfine
From Amnesty International:
AI's Annual Report 2002 details human rights violations in 2001. It records:
- Confirmed or possible extrajudicial executions in 47 countries in 2001.
- People "disappeared" or remained "disappeared" from previous years in 35 countries.
- People reportedly tortured or ill-treated by security forces, police or other state authorities in 111 countries.
- Confirmed or possible prisoners of conscience in 56 countries.
- People arbitrarily arrested and detained, or in detention without charge or trial in 54 countries.
- During 2001, people were sentenced to death in 50 countries and executions were carried out in at least 27 countries. These figures include only cases known to Amnesty International; the true figures are certainly higher.
- Serious human rights abuses by armed opposition groups committed serious human rights abuses, such as deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians, torture and hostage-taking, in 42 countries.\
If the reason we are attacking Saddam is because he is evil then we have a lot of attacking to do. Oh yeah, the US is on the list for holding prisoners at Guantanamo Bay without being charged. We obviously need to attack ourselves since we are so righteous. Come on, this is about oil and only about oil. The US never has and never will attack someone just for being evil. Politics just don't work that way, espcially US politics. The selling of wars always works that way, though.
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Confessions of an ex-elder
by Irreverent insince this forum is for cleansing and healing through sharing, i want to share some confessions of an ex-elder.
how could i have allowed myself to be conned into becoming an elder?
and, after becoming an elder, why did it take me 3 years to finally figure out the hypocrisy of the organization?
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reubenfine
Welcome to the board and thanks for sharing. 3 years, that isn't so bad at all! You had a well-trained conscience and it has paid off.
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It's ridiculous that the Supreme Court even has to look at this case
by crownboy inwell, today the supreme court listened to oral arguments in a case titled lawrence v. texas .
the supreme court will decide whether a texas anti- sodomy law specifically targeting homosexuals is constitutional or not.
i was just suprised that this is even still an issue today.
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reubenfine
Nice title; The Supreme Court Tries Sodomy
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"You reap what you sow" (or things that come back and bite you in the ass)
by Simon ininteresting reading .... i can't wait for 30+ years time when documents are de-classified so we can maybe get to the detail.. osama bin laden was once praised.
ronald reagan and george bush's role in opening the floodgates of terrorism.
osama bin laden created by the us.
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reubenfine
Fascinating stuff, Simon!
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Did I turn my back on Jehovah's True Organization?
by sandy ini was wondering as i have been lately; did i turn my back on god and am i wrong for turning my back on the organization?.
are there any of you out there that feel like you have a real personal relationship with god with or without religion in your life?
do you still call god jehovah?
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reubenfine
Hi Sandy,
I think it is possible to have a relationship with God without belonging to a religion. The fact that you feel your prayers were answered shows that it is a personal thing. Jesus never talked about devoting yourself to an organization, especially one where you are not allowed to think for yourself. If they really are God's people they will have love among themselves and it will be obvious. I think we were all brainwashed to some degree and the guilt you are feeling is probably a part of that. I believe your search for truth will be never ending, not that that's a bad thing, it's a good thing. At least it will be your search and your relationship with Jehovah.
I'm not sure what is the truth about religion but that's ok. I'm still open to the truth. I've just had so many years of my life wasted by a mind-controlling religion that I'm suspicious now. I think you're asking the right questions though. I know you will find the right answers for yourself!
I think religion is like getting a person to 3rd or 4th grade in school. After that you have to move on with your own reseach. I sat for decades in the Kingdom Hall hearing the same old basic stuff, bored to tears. Enjoy your journey!
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If you were President????
by LB inlots of opinions here on this site.
but i haven't seen anyone post an alternative to this war.
i know many of you support it and many others recoil at the thought of this war.
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reubenfine
Who cares if they respect each other? I don't. Tell me how many countries respect us now? Only one country in the world has a population in favor of this war and that is Israel. We are breeding contempt for the United States which only encourages more terrorism. That doesn't sound very smart to me. Maybe Washington didn't know what he was talking about, and maybe neither do I. I do know enough that in my own life I don't go around trying to piss people off.
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If you were President????
by LB inlots of opinions here on this site.
but i haven't seen anyone post an alternative to this war.
i know many of you support it and many others recoil at the thought of this war.
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reubenfine
In George Washington's Farewell Address of 1796, his advice was to be friends of all and show favoritism to nobody. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washing.htm
"In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations, has been the victim."
My opinion is the reason we don't act like this is because it isn't in the interests of big business. The US military is nothing but hired thugs for whatever big business is calling for at the time. Oh yeah, they sell it like it's the righteous thing to do. I guess it's also righteous to continue holding "detainees" in Cuba without being charged. It's no wonder the whole world is pissed at us.
We should have no troops outside of the US. The only possible scenario I could think of is where an invaded country is crying out for help. We are only encouraging terrorism with our bullying tactics. That we were attacked because of our foreign meddling is obvious to me. It really doesn't matter though, because the US government will do whatever is in the interests of big business. End of story.
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What bothers/worries you most about the war ?
by m0nk3y inthere seems to be quite a few concerned people out the regarding this war in iraq and for good reason.
so what exaclty is bothering you about it, does it involve the very real fact that alot of innocent blood could/will be shed ?
are you fearing this could all be a part of bible/wts prophecy ?
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reubenfine
I'm afraid gas will go up. Oh yeah, I forgot. This isn't about oil.