Posts by DJS

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

The religious freedom law says the government cannot intrude on a person's religious liberty unless it can prove a compelling interest in imposing that burden and do so in the least restrictive way. This law simply was not necessary. The US Constitution already does that admirably. The state law can trump local non-discrimination laws, and sooner or later - likely sooner - some florist shop or for profit wedding chapel will refuse service to gays and lesbians for religious reasons.

There will almost certainly be a state legal case to determine if the action is covered under the new law. Then there will be an appeal, regardless of the ruling - either from the religious or those they discriminated against - to the SCOTUS if necessary, which is where the state law will almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional. Legal eagles amongst us, please weigh in with your insight.

As I stated, this is a political move by a right wing fundie GOP politician trying to set himself up for a national office run in the near future. This stuff disgusts me. Lawyers in love.

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

DJS

Simon,

It made me want to hurl. This is a political move by a dumbass (can I use that for this guy, p-p-p--pleeeeze Simon?) hoping to maneuver his GOP future for national elections.

I hope he chokes on it. The reverberations have just begun. This idiot hopefully will get exactly what he deserves.

17

What would happen if all or most of the Governing Body died in some kind of accident?

by Esse quam videri in

with the organization controlled, totally and completely by the governing body, what would the watchtower society do to hold it all together if all or most of the governing body were to die?.

would the legal department step in and issue orders?

would the rest of the gb quickly appoint new members?

DJS

It's called a Continuity of Operations Plan, and most if not all large organizations have them. It is a certainty the Dark Lords have one. They likely have policies that keep all of them from flying or traveling together to mitigate such possibility.

It is also almost a certainty that they have contingency operations locations for the HQ, where the remaining GB members would flee to if there was a GT type attack against them, etc. I've helped develop several Crisis Management and Continuity Plans.

29

I'm bemused - Vladimir Putin as a Christian Warrior - Do Russians see him as a fighter for Jesus?

by fulltimestudent in

i accidentally came across this youtube video, "why the west fears putin.

" curious, i watched it.

you may find it interesting also.

DJS

Not Ukrainians in that several of the weapons' systems being used in the Ukraine by the 'insurgents' where supplied, staffed, trained and operated by Vlad and the Impalers (Soviet military). The Guided missile system that brought down the airliner (and other Ukrainian planes) is rarely if ever simply provided by entities like Russian and the US without providing trainers, operators and maintenance for a protracted period of time.

Vlad may have sent in Ukrainian born/bred military experts, but these individuals were Russian soldiers. That's what I meant by 'not Ukrainian."

This is the same reason the US balks at providing the types of weapons' systems the Ukraine wants in fighting Russia. These are complex 'systems' - not an individual point and shoot weapon - that require a lot of sophisticated stuff to make them happen, such as software, hardware, training, support, maintenance, etc. Vlad didn't simply give these things to the Ukrainian insurgents or natives to play with. The US has very good intel as to who staffed and operated these weapons' systems. It is almost a certainty that the US has fixed satellites and other intel gathering systems, including HUMINT, along these borders for the foreseeable future. Vlad can't likely go to the potty without Obama knowing about it.

Orphan Crow - I don't mean to be mean but your question is a 30 second google search.

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/a-crisis-of-credibility-for-overconfident-old-guard-in-russia

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article4028220.ece

http://themoscownews.com/news/20100205/55409476.html

All of these sites, and there are many like them, refer to "Old Guard' in the same manner - they are the older generation who came up through the military, society and especially the KGB/Communist Politburo/Political organizations in the same manner as Vlad, who as I have pointed out is KGB trained and bred. Typically they pine to be back in the USSR. If you are truly a Russophile, you would have known this.

104

The Secret is out....but nobody cares

by MrTheocratic in

i've been looking on this site for some time but never posted.

i'll give a little about myself, but not too much.

i'm a ex-bethelite ( brooklyn )and currently serving as an elder (10 years) (thinking about stepping down) on the service committee.

DJS

Mr T.

Welcome to the site. I pity the fool who has to remain an elder after learning the truth about the Borg. (sorry, I just had to make the most obvious Mr. T reference).

Seriously though, how do you do it? Once I was sick of the control and the lack of love it was impossible to remain an elder. Good luck to you; you are a better man than I.

We all have lots of questions I am certain. Do you believe there will be a spike in those exiting after 2014 similar to those exiting after 1975? Do you believe the Dark Lords will change policy re: DFing?? This topic is probably the most recurring, for obvious reasons.

Do you think the Borg is suffering financially as it would appear to be, O&M costs at least, based on recent org. changes, etc.?

Do you think the Cubs will ever will the World Series?

145

Why attack?

by newqatarjob in

as someone brought up as a jw and been an elder and been disfellowshipped (twice!!!

) i find it difficult to understand why ex jws have to attack the religion, yes religion, not cult or sect.

i am no longer disfellowshipped just do not want to practice anymore.

DJS

NewQatarJob,

Many of us were also elders and in the Borg for a long time. Many of us believe, including me, that the Dark Lords are evil, twisted, delusional narcissists who have appointed themselves over others and have done immeasurable harm.

People have died because of these monsters. Millions have had their families destroyed because of these Evil Men, and countless millions have wasted their lives and their potential because of them.

So you were an elder. Good for you. So you are happy happy joy joy. Excellent. Either you are genetically pre-disposed to such or you still have your head planted firmly up your ass and are blind to the ham they have done. Or a combination of both. Many of us realized the harm when we were still in the cult and still serving as elders. Clearly you were oblivious to it.

Either way, I don't care. Very few ex-Dubs have warm, touchy feely feelings about the Dark Lords. They deserve our wrath, our condemnation and a siren's warning to all others of their danger. I suppose you are also A-OK with the Dark Lords sending 7 billion people to their deaths while a few million Dubs survive. I guess it doesn't matter to you how the Dark Lords turn brother against brother with their endless stream of rules, near-rules, almost rules, rules-lire, semi-rules and walk, talk and quack like rules. One of the primary reasons the sheep remain in a constant state of angst and anxiety is the myriad of rules the Dark Lords pile on them. Pharisees.

29

I'm bemused - Vladimir Putin as a Christian Warrior - Do Russians see him as a fighter for Jesus?

by fulltimestudent in

i accidentally came across this youtube video, "why the west fears putin.

" curious, i watched it.

you may find it interesting also.

DJS

FTS,

I read Friedman and Stratfor every day, including the one you reference; it is one of my sources, but I also work with - or have contact with - current and former military advisors and security personnel who have up-close and personal experience working in various US governmental agencies around the world. It isn't considered nice or appropriate to call a head of state a cold blooded murderer or mafia hit man. Even Friedman is going to shy away from that. But that is what Putin is, and he plays well to the old guard and the rank and file who seek a strong leader. Most people are sheep. Most people are followers. Sadly, many Russians will follow Vlad into oblivion, because that's where he is heading.

Of course the Russians rationalize their actions, but the simple fact is that they will be forced to use force to accomplish their goals; the former republics do not want to be assimilated and are not waiting with wine and roses. A lot of old-guard Russians have romanticized this issue to the point where the old republics appear more like former lovers pining for them than angry exes wanting a restraining order. The Crimea was a cake walk, but there do not appear to be any additional cakes.

27

My father is a fg ae

by Butyoucanneverleave in

this is my first post.

i just had to get that statement off of my chest!

my father is one cold hearted judge mental, hypocritical, piece of s**t. i hate this religion and what it has done to my family!

DJS

HotelCalifornia,

We understand. More than you know. Welcome to the site.My father is also an angry piece of work. Only the good die young according to Mr. Joel.

29

I'm bemused - Vladimir Putin as a Christian Warrior - Do Russians see him as a fighter for Jesus?

by fulltimestudent in

i accidentally came across this youtube video, "why the west fears putin.

" curious, i watched it.

you may find it interesting also.

DJS

The average Russian isn't much different than the average American when it comes to liking politicians. Rattling sabers will almost always increase popularity, and Vlad knows this well. After some of his little green men shot down the wrong plane, the sanctions and the free fall of oil prices Vlad was in a serious funk. What better way to get yourself out of it than to conduct some 'fly-bys', blame the W and rattle some more sabers.

That will help his popularity until it doesn't. Russians are used to malaise and 'suffering' that would make the typical American scream for anarchy, or at least immediate change. Many in Russia believe the energy contract makes Russia the poor commodity provider slave to the Chinese in this process. Providing the raw materials rather than making the stuff is a losers' strategy, but Vlad is addicted to oil revenues. Until the Russian economy diversifies and loses its cocaine like addiction to easy oil $$ their economy will always be tenuously tied to sanctions, cartels, recessions and of course the price of the cocaine, I mean oil.

Vlad has also arranged things so that he is essentially a dictator who deals ruthlessly with challengers. He has shown that he can be an astute and pragmatic politico when needed, but people tend to default to their real selves when pressured - and he is feeling a lot of pressure right now.

Vlad is one scary mofo, and there are times when a lot of people, including me, wonder how far he will go. He is a cold blooded murderer, based on intel. And he does it with panache that for some reason attracts a lot of admirers.

So FTS, the Russian issue right now is centered around one personality, so it is difficult to speak rationally about Russia itself, which I believe most of the W world want to see succeed.

114

Why do religious people make claims and then refuse to back them up?

by Viviane in

several times over the past few months i have had conversations, both here and in real life, with religious people making all sorts of interesting and conflicting claims.

i like to know how things work, so generally i will ask questions to net out what i am being told and see if it can be explained and make sense.. for instance, if someone said 2+2=4 and i asked how, there are a variety of ways that could be shown to me, a number line, physical objects being put together, counting on fingers and toes, etc.

indeed, in my personal life, i often have to explain how certain technologies work, sometimes planned, sometimes off the cuff, from a variety of group sizes to a varying degree of technical expertise.

DJS

Why? I don't know, but some guesstimates:

a. Pride/arrogance - Can affect smart or dumb, rational or irrational, educated or un-educated.

b. Personality Type - Feeler/Perceivers typically 'make up their minds' based on emotions and perceptions. They don't like the facts/evidence to confuse them, and they almost always seek information/knowledge that confirms their biases and reject all other sources. Rational personality types, based on the data, are more likely to analyze all of the data before making up their minds and to reject theism.

c. Education - As Bono says: "The less you know the more you believe." Studies suggest the more educated an individual the more likely they are to seek evidence before making up their minds and to reject theism.

d. Intelligence - It is what it is, and studies suggest a strong correlation between lack of intelligence and theism.

e. A combination or mixture of a, b, c and d.