Robert,
Nice post. If our presidents spent more time proactively addressing social and cultural issues they likely wouldn't have to be reacting to crises and tempests in teapots so often.
why did russian president vladimir putin ask the russian parliament to approve using military forces to keep the peace in the crimea, instead of asking the un?
why did the russian parliment pass a law approving military force instead of asking for the un to send peace keeping forces to the crimea (http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/01/world/europe/ukraine-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)?.
is russia spiralling into a totalitarian dictatorship like germany in the 1930's and the soviet union from 1920's - 1990's with information control and coercive tactics?
Robert,
Nice post. If our presidents spent more time proactively addressing social and cultural issues they likely wouldn't have to be reacting to crises and tempests in teapots so often.
had a conversation with an aspiring elder.
he said the end must be close because people are so discouraged that the organization can't last more than 10 years.
this is before we received the please come to the international convention letter.
Magnum,
Your post reads like poetry, a sad song. Thanks. It was already looking a lot like you describe 2 decades ago when I left. It seems the pace of the dumbing down of the JWs has picked up. Predictable. The Borg's rulers want control more than anything. They found it difficult to control the intelligent, the educated, the spirited, the artistic and the talented. You are right in noting that there used to be a lot of interesting talented intelligent JWs. That wasn't much the case 20 years ago; from what you say it is even less now, which is predictable.
Ok lurkers, will the last intelligent, interesting, talented, educated, accomplished JW left in the Borganization please turn out the lights of intellectualism when you leave? Thank you. The rest are already in the dark so they won't notice.
why did russian president vladimir putin ask the russian parliament to approve using military forces to keep the peace in the crimea, instead of asking the un?
why did the russian parliment pass a law approving military force instead of asking for the un to send peace keeping forces to the crimea (http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/01/world/europe/ukraine-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)?.
is russia spiralling into a totalitarian dictatorship like germany in the 1930's and the soviet union from 1920's - 1990's with information control and coercive tactics?
FullTime,
Of course. My point is this. Let's assume Vlad's intentions are the worst possible scenario for the W and the Ukraine, that he wants to militarily take over the country, and possibly others, and will do so wil as much force as necessary. It would be a major, major mistake to not have a contingecy plan that includes this scenario. If, again we are assuming, the tepid responses Obama announced today is all he has, Vlad is laughing and telling his front line to lock and load.
Something much more would be necessary other than tepid responses (see WWI and WWII for historical references) to stop a megalomaniac full of himself and bent on such domination. Even if Obama has no intention of arming anyone, that may be the best strategy. I'm playing war game strategy. Not everything you put out there is something you want or intend to do, but you better be ready to do it if necessary.
If Vlad overran the Ukraine and didn't stop after than, setting his sights on E Europe, and all the West and Europe did was set some visa travel restrictions, you and I would be reading about it in the history books decades from now. And you and I would be having a much different conversation a year from now about coulda shoulda woulda. War games.
why did russian president vladimir putin ask the russian parliament to approve using military forces to keep the peace in the crimea, instead of asking the un?
why did the russian parliment pass a law approving military force instead of asking for the un to send peace keeping forces to the crimea (http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/01/world/europe/ukraine-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)?.
is russia spiralling into a totalitarian dictatorship like germany in the 1930's and the soviet union from 1920's - 1990's with information control and coercive tactics?
Obama's moves today: a carrier in the Black Sea (already was scheduled, (yawn), fighters to NATO (yawn), visa restrictions (double yawn). Meanwhile, the EU and US are looking at more effective economic sanctions, but the really effective ones (cut the ties to Vlad's natural gas pipeline) are years away. What Obama should be doing with some plausible deniability is what I stated earlier: having conversations with potential insurgent groups for the purpose of arming them. Or suggest that such conversations are going to be held. Meet force with force and present the potential for the very last thing Vlad wants.
Doesn't matter if he actually does it; that would likely be the most effective thing he can do right now. Vlad knows the pipeline situation is his for the time being, and economic sanctions, though potentially effective, take a long time to bring about results. He thinks he can get what he wants quickly before any negative results are seen. The Crimea legislature has voted to perhaps change home teams. Interesting chess match.
i'm starting to believe the bethel higher ups are trolling us.
the outright contradictions and stuff like overlapping generation is too ridiculous.
calling out the harold camping when we did the same thing.
Wasting our time on this troll. Note to self: never respond to HG.
had a conversation with an aspiring elder.
he said the end must be close because people are so discouraged that the organization can't last more than 10 years.
this is before we received the please come to the international convention letter.
Dozy,
Agree
i have been lurking for a while but was encouraged to sign up by a user on the ex jw reddit forum.
i'm a still in jw but i've been mentally out for about two months.
i'm an ms and i'm also gay so i have two lots of 'coming out' to do very soon!.
Welcome BF,
I understand about not having patience to fade; I could never have done it. Just be careful and keep your anti-JW rants to yourself if you can. The Borg can be nasty if they ascribe the Scarlet Letter to you. Welcome. There are a lot of very smart people on this forum. Some - not so much. Kinda like society in general.
had a conversation with an aspiring elder.
he said the end must be close because people are so discouraged that the organization can't last more than 10 years.
this is before we received the please come to the international convention letter.
kalk,
Well stated. The Borg will have to re-tool sooner or later; what they look like 20 years from now will be interesting. The only way I seem them thriving is to drop the control, DFing, allowing education and self expression and ending the "were right and everyone else is wrong and deserving of death' crap. I don't see that happening. But sooner or later the few remaining intelligent, accomplished JWs are going to bail. They've been bleeding the best and brightest for decades, and a religion that only attracts the dysfunctional members of society, which is the Borg, can't thrive. They may even grow in numbers, especially in economically and educationally deprived areas, but they won't thrive.
The Borg has become less and less relevant. They don't even rate good funny jokes on SNL or other late night comedy shows anymore. They are irrelevant.
had a conversation with an aspiring elder.
he said the end must be close because people are so discouraged that the organization can't last more than 10 years.
this is before we received the please come to the international convention letter.
The Borg continuously stresses scriptures pointing out how difficult it is to gain salvation (and make it into the paradise!!!). They continuously stress works as the primary way to get there, and no one can ever do enough. They make rules, near rules, semi rules, rules light, mini me rules and walk, talk and act like rules that oppress the RIF and turn brother against brother. Cults by their very nature eat their own.
The Borg separates the few it says will make it into the new order, marking 'weak' ones, telling 'spiritually strong' ones to avoid them in social settings and frowning on anything that will lighten one's load. Such as education. A better job. A fitter body. A more traveled and sophisticated life. Friends. Real friends.
Geessh, it is amazing it hasn't already imploded. It is a sick, disgusting, nasty hate-filled cult.
Anyone care to disagree???
had a conversation with an aspiring elder.
he said the end must be close because people are so discouraged that the organization can't last more than 10 years.
this is before we received the please come to the international convention letter.
Newsflash,
People were so discouraged 2 decades ago when I was an elder. Half the congregation was on anti-depressants and the other half needed to be. Most of us elders and aspiring elders laid the 'blame' on a combination of the Borg attracting dysfunctional effed up people looking for a paradise to fix things and them soon, and the burdensome crap and control, I mean teachings, from the Borg, I mean GB. He sees things through newer lenses, but the new boss is the same as the old boss.