Okay, I have to weigh in on this, too, now.
DannyBear and Joel,
This is one of the few times that I've wholeheartedly disagreed with your posts.
Brother Bowen is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Brother Bowen has not even been reproved. Brother Bowen DID speak some truth about disgusting goings on in the WT Organization, but that does not mean he no longer has a right to attend the Kingdom Hall to worship (Jah --not the GB). Brother Bowen may even have "gotten something out of the meetings" IF he had not been privy to the information about the brothers chosen to present the good and timely spiritual food and the hypocrisy and wrongness of the choices.
Something all of us may forget, all the while applauding silentlambs and his cause, and wishing ferverently for its success in reforming the Watch Tower's policies:
Silentlambs IS a real victim!
Maybe I should restate that one more time for emphasis:
Silentlambs IS a real victim!
He has become a "real victim" because of becoming an [outstanding, upright, honest, and courageous] ADVOCATE for even MORE [powerless and downtrodden] VICTIMS!
His entire family are victims (although he has never tried to portray himself or them as such in anything I've read). Victims of a vicious policy of shunning -- whether official or not. They have done nothing worthy of disfellowshipping but are clearly anathema to the congregation.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Brother Bowen had something appropriate and insightful to say when he raised his hand to comment at last night's meeting. YES, he may have been testing the waters, but why shouldn't he? Does not being reproved actually MEAN not being reproved or doesn't it.
And he was perfectly entitled to practice mirroring (thanks for the term, Tina!). It IS idiotic for the elders to assign a "shadow" for undf'd Brother Bowen everywhere he goes in the KH.
Would the two of you actually DEFEND this intimidating practice?
Joel, honey, I can't believe how HARSH you were in saying silentlambs was engaging in attention-seeking behavior! And that sharing his experience here on the forum was "adolescent." Following the attendant around was not "getting even" it was, as Had Enough pointed out, a way of making the attendant see how ridiculous it all was, and a way of letting the attendant know that Brother Bowen was aware of what was going on.
Now, the burning rubber part may have been a tad "adolescent" -- but Brother Bowen is not perfect yet. He is a man like us, as was Elijah. I think we, and the rest of the world, can forgive him his little foible. The "silentlambs" movement will not suffer too much from Bill's "temporary humanity."
Danny Bear,
Brother Bowen, despite his mirroring and pealing out did NOT, NOT, NOT attempt to "repay in kind" the kind of treatment he was given by the cold-hearted, hypocritical Witnesses at his "home" Kingdom Hall.
The INTENT behind his shadowing his "Shadow" was to bring home the point that his "Shadow" was not at all subtle and that silentlambs was AWARE. The pealing out did not come close to causing anybody at that hall the psychological harm exercised towards unDF'd Brother Bowen that evening!
If I were sitting there in that meeting with MY children, MY children would want to know why ex-elder Brother Bowen was not being called on, even though he was trying his darnedest to show his love for Jehovah by participating in the meeting as so often admonished to do by the faithful and discreet slave.
From what I read, Brother Bowen behaved in an exemplary manner (well, maybe he could've remained in his seat and not taken a bathroom break, because he IS an adult and he should have 'taken care of that business' BEFORE the meeting as I always told my children! The time between the meetings is NOT a bathroom break time, after all, singing praises to Jehovah is PART OF OUR WORSHIP!) and exercised great restraint.
MY children, DannyBear, would have wanted to know why everybody was ignoring nice, dear old Brother Bowen. They would be ASKING, "Is he disfellowshipped then?" "No." "Then why isn't anyone talking to him?" CHILDREN, DannyBear, see things very clearly. And the MOLESTED children in that KH saw very well last night WHO was up on that platform giving a part, and who was being IGNORED.
silentlambs,
I'm just about WORN OUT here, getting my Irish up and all, because you ARE unfairly being held to a higher standard than "human."
What some here may have forgotten is that you are just as newly out as several of us, that your wounds are just as open and unhealed, that in addition to dealing with your own mourning process, and the rest of your family's, you have taken it upon yourself to CRUSADE for the SILENT VICTIMS!
I, for one, am EXTREMELY, unabashedly grateful and admiring, and if, after reading some of these responses you want to go hop in your pick-up truck and peal out of your driveway just to let off some steam, I say:
You just go right ahead, now, darlin'! Lay that rubber down THICK!!!
Love,
outnfree
