Posts by rwagoner

Decided to live MY life the way I wanted and not to worry what others thought. For our 10th anniversary my wife and I went to an all inclusive resort in Negril, Jamaica called Hedonism II. Some may have heard of it from its well deserved wild reputation. The locals call it "the Zoo" and their slogan is "be wicked for a week". It is a nekkid resort and known for NOT being a family resort.

Anyone else here ever go to Hedo or a resort like it ? How did you react ? Any guilt ? Would you go back ?

RandyW

8

Incognito picture thread.

by Peppermint in

jw
friends

i know some of us feel unable to post our photos on this site and for obvious reasons.

which is a shame as it?s always nice to have more of a clue about the people we meet here.

i posted my picture on the post your picture thread for about 2 hours.

rwagoner

Here I am with the wife.........1 when we met ...carrying the olympic torch and 1 at Hedonism II in Jamaica.

40

moral question

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

just read a thread about a child born with two heads and read some, well meaning but disturbing posts... .

here is the question: .

you and your spouse are expecting...a test is available that will reveal if your unborn child may have a physical disability... .

rwagoner

mama,

how do you deal with the fact that you are bringing a child into the world that will need such care when you have no idea of what the future holds for you? What if you become ill and cannot care for this child properly? What if you die unexpectly?

While I see your point and the question may be especially relevent with a disabled child, those questions could be asked of all parents and all children. How do you know that something may not happen to you 1 or 2 months into a healthy baby's life ? What if you die unexpectly?

Raising a disabled child was hard for my parents, especially since my mother is also disabled. Raising any child is hard work. As parents my wife and I have put a support network in place and have clearly identified guardians for our children in case something unexpected happens in the future.

RandyW

40

What happens when a JW wants to be with a non JW? PLEASE RESPOND

by kristina24/7 in

ok i am a 16 year old female i love with a 16 year old male.

lol that sounds funny since everyone thinks a 16 year old can't be in love.

i understand why but let's face it now a days anything is possible.

rwagoner

if he is baptised and leaves the JW's he will be shunned.....ignored, viewed as dead by all the JW's, including his family

40

What happens when a JW wants to be with a non JW? PLEASE RESPOND

by kristina24/7 in

ok i am a 16 year old female i love with a 16 year old male.

lol that sounds funny since everyone thinks a 16 year old can't be in love.

i understand why but let's face it now a days anything is possible.

rwagoner

is he a baptised jw ?

40

moral question

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

just read a thread about a child born with two heads and read some, well meaning but disturbing posts... .

here is the question: .

you and your spouse are expecting...a test is available that will reveal if your unborn child may have a physical disability... .

rwagoner

Brenda,

I will keep it short this time...I PROMISE...LOL

As I mentioned I work with people with disabilities and various US laws dealing with access and civil rights. I have spoken to many people who became disable later in life and , rightly so, there is almost a grieving process in many of them. It can be a total life changing experience and my thoughts and well wishes are with you as you deal with your own changing issues. While SSDI is not my specific area of expertise (talk about a program FULL of red tape) if I can be of any assistance with obtaining your rights please let me know.

With respect to our differing beliefs I will just say that I respect your right to have them and will agree to disagree.

RandyW

40

moral question

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

just read a thread about a child born with two heads and read some, well meaning but disturbing posts... .

here is the question: .

you and your spouse are expecting...a test is available that will reveal if your unborn child may have a physical disability... .

rwagoner

Odrade,

First as i have stated numerous times...this thread was intended to generate discussion, not judge anyone. I never expected everyone to agree, would be a pretty boring thread if we did. I also know it is an emotionally charges subject and have tried to be respectful of others opinions and beliefs.

Once again, I agree that all cases and sitruations are not the same and parents need to use the info at hand to made understandably painful decisions. All I am asking here is that we not make automatic assumption or generalize ALL cases in either direction. There are obviously examples of catastrophic issues that would need to be addressed. What I am saying is that if we should not simply take a positive test result (without the proof or even suggestion of the types of deformaties or organ issues we've heard mentioned here) and automatically place our stereotypes and possible misconseptions of potential, ability or burden on society on that unborn child.

I agree that there a host of disabilities with varying degrees of severity. Some are more accepted or appear more normal while others are totally invisable. What scares me is the slippery slope that it creates. We can agree that unviable or only briefly viable examples are understandable but what happens when medical science decides that, in the interest of mercy those unable to communicate or with very limited mental function should also be terminated....and then those that can't care for themselves without assistance or who are paralysed should be spared the pain and embarassment..and so on.....Now I know we'll all say it couldn't..wouldn't happen but it already has in nazi germany and even to an extent here in the good od USA. Below is a quote that shocked the hell out of me when I was told about it...

The American Journal of Psychiatry Published a debate on the "Ethics of Killing Children with Severe Disabilities" in which one individual stated...(emphasis added by me)

"I believe when the defective child will have reached the age of five years - and on the application of his guardians - that the case should be considered under law by a competent medical board; then is should be reviewed twice more at four-month intervals; then, if the board, acting, I repeat, on the applications of the guardian of the child, and after three examinations of the defective who has reached the age of five or more, should decide that that defective has no future or hope of one; then I believe it is a merciful and kindly thing to relieve that defective - often tortured and convulsed, grotesque and absurd, useless and foolish and entirely undesireable - from the agony of living"

As a person with a disability with twisted limbs, constant pain and a very different view of what "living" means than some...this thinking sickens and terrifies me. The idea that professionals could think this to say nothing of actually consider proposing something like this in an open forum is completely beyond me.

I also did not mean to "clang your bell" with my comment. Even just from your and FE's posts I can see that you have an appreciation for human life and I can't seem to put the difference that I see into the right words so I will just leave it alone and say that I respect your right to your own beliefs.

Here I am at the end of another long rant (LOL) It was going to be brief when I started,...no, really !

RandyW

39

Help me prove to my bf that defellowshipping happens

by MM090503 in

hi all.. many of you have probably seen my posts on here before, but if you haven't let me reinterate my story in short for you.. i am currently dating a wonderful guy, but the problem is he has been considering becoming a jw.

he has studdied with them for about a year.

because of me has agreed to do some religion searching and figure out what he really believes.

rwagoner

I too am being shunned because I Dissassociated myself. All I did was tell them that while I still believed in God, I no longer believed in the teachings of their publishing corporation. Here is a quote directly from one of their "official" websites...Emphasis (yellow) and commentary (red) added by me.

Do you shun former members?

Those who become inactive in the congregation, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, special effort is made to reach out to them and rekindle their spiritual interest.**( and if you refuse to return to being active...then they shun you too) If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkeness, stealing or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly states: 'Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.' (1 Corinthians 5:13) Those who formally say they do not want to be part of the organization any more are also avoided. What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Disfellowshipped individuals may continue to attend religious services and, if they wish, they may receive spiritual counsel from the elders with a view to their being restored. They are always welcome to return to the faith if they reject the improper course of conduct for which they were disfellowshipped.

Here is the link so he can read it for himself.... www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm

RandyW

40

moral question

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

just read a thread about a child born with two heads and read some, well meaning but disturbing posts... .

here is the question: .

you and your spouse are expecting...a test is available that will reveal if your unborn child may have a physical disability... .

rwagoner

(((((FE)))))

Thanks for the post. I was more upset that I might have been insensitive and offended you.

I agree with you that, whatever your stance on the issue, parents need to use the information that they have and make painful and difficult decisions.

RandyW