We had my Mum and Dad down for a meal at the weekend. Me and Mum have a kind of 'unspoken truce' going on where neither of us raise an issue in conversation that will lead to a discussion on any JW sensitive topics. It's not perfect and it doesn't always work but at least we are maintaining a relationship of sorts.
Anyway, knowing that this is the 'blood card' time of year I did take the chance on asking Mum just what her personal stand on blood and fractions would be. I said I wasn't asking so as to try and change her mind, I just wanted to be aware of the situation in case anything happened.
Mum said that last year she didn't sign the card! Boy was I surprised, but I kept my mouth shut and let her elaborate. Turns out that all the recent information on fractions has confused my Mum, she admits to not understanding all the details and arguments so she decided last year to just hold onto her 2005 card while she tried to get her mind around it.
Now she says she has made her decision and will get her 2007 card signed. And what is that decision?
She is saying 'No' to everything. All blood, all components, fractions and products. This is simply because, in the face of so much intimidating and confusing rhetoric she has retreated to a position she can understand - just say no.
I bit my lip and made my Mum a cup of tea but now, two days later, I can feel the anger rising inside of me. How can I let this rest? Why should I?
