I think comparing the GB to the Taliban is quite a stretch. I also think we all should consider that although they have great influence over many peoples lives, those people influenced, in the vast majority, accept that influence. Wether they claim to be God's sole channel on earth or not, those who believe theyn are, ultimately make that choice to believe for themselves. I know many would say, "Well, what about the children who suffer through no choice of their own?" To that question I answer "Well, what about those children's parents who foolishly followed a dogma that would harm their own children?" I know, for me, I decided shortly after my first kid was born, that there would be no way that I would deny my children a blood transfusion if I thought it was the best chance they had to save their life. This was 8 years before I stopped believing in "The Truth". I just decided that I was not convinced enough, about the blood issue, to risk my child's life. Everybody wants to dehumanize those men on the GB. But really we were all right there with them. Yes, to a much smaller degree, but still. The sad truth is people suffer and even die for their religion. That is not unique to JW's. But if we are pissed off at the lives that we lived in the past, we really only have one place to look. The Mirror. If we were a minor child when we had a miserable JW life, then look in the mirror, then look at Mom and Dad.