Well it appears Watchtower just blinked…… again.
On 9-11-01 the official Press Release was criticized on many levels. It appears criticism came from several sources as the 9-16-01 version of the 9-11-01 Press Release had seven changes from the original. The changes range from simple misspellings of a person’s name to some significant adjustments that further the implication of the Watchtower misrepresenting the actual facts of their assistance. The following adjustments are noted with comments on the adjustments following each one:
“old” PR#1
Michael Wittick was on the 59th floor in Building #2, preparing for a 9 a.m. meeting. After a sudden loud noise, he saw that Building #1 was on fire, with paper and glass flying outside. "We were told to evacuate. When we got down to the bottom they were about to let us go back up, thinking that only Building #1 was affected. All of a sudden Building #2 shook. There was some other kind of explosion, then everyone started getting panicky." He relates that he'd never experienced anything like this in his life, "I was very scared. My knees literally started to shake."
“new” PR#1
Michael Wityk was on the 59th floor in Building #2, preparing for a 9 a.m. meeting. After a sudden loud noise, he saw that Building #1 was on fire, with paper and glass flying outside. "We were told to evacuate. When we were in the stairwell and got down to about the 20th floor, an announcement indicated they were about to let us go back up, thinking that only Building #1 was being affected. All of a sudden Building #2 shook. There was some other kind of violent explosion, then everyone started getting panicky. It changed the mood, the terror really rose at that point." My knees literally started to shake."
Comments:
Okay name misspelled simple mistake, but could be better journalism. Next we see a difference of twenty floors in the story as opposed to the first version. Finally from “never experiencing anything like this, very scared” to the far more dramatic, “it changed the mood, the terror really rose at that point.” So the brother went from “very scared” to “terror” in just five days.
“old” PR#2
Linda was another survivor. She works on Wall Street and saw debris flying. Soon her coworkers and relatives were telephoning. "One of the tenants was trampled, but thank God she was all right. Others saw the second plane hitting the tower. Everyone was scared. . . . Hatred can do so much harm. So many innocent lives were lost for no reason. We pray we can assist others who were going through such a hard time."
“new” PR#2
Linda works on Wall Street and had to evacuate with throngs of other New Yorkers. "One of the tenants was trampled, but thank God she was all right. Others saw the second plane hitting the tower. Everyone was scared. . . . Hatred can do so much harm. So many innocent lives were lost for no reason. We pray we can assist others who were going through such a hard time."
Comments:
Linda was not longer a “survivor” in the new release and she stopped seeing “debris flying” an already mentioned topic earlier for Michael, I guess if he sees it first then Linda does not get to tell her “debris” story. Finally, Lind’s “co-workers and relatives telephoning” were cut out of the piece, could it be they were worldly?
“old” PR#3
Reaching out to those hit by tragedy
“new” PR#3
Reaching out to those hit by tragedy-(Moved to top of Release, dropped 9-11)
Comment:
Do you really need a comment here? It seems that in order to make the Press Release a little more sexy they decided to put the “Reaching out” statement at the top. I guess the original” 9-11” beginning did not have the desired misrepresentation impact of the great small effort of Watchtower to help actual victims. Unfortunately this raises their hypocrite factor by .02%.
“old” PR#4
Arriving in the lobby of the Watch Tower buildings across the Brooklyn Bridge, Timothy, Michael and Linda breathed a sigh of relief. All three are Jehovah's Witnesses and so felt particularly comfortable in the familiar complex of buildings where they chose to seek refuge. They were able to join many others who sought shelter in these buildings. The billowing smoke across the river is a reminder of what they just survived.
“new” PR#4
Arriving in the lobby of the Watchtower buildings across the Brooklyn Bridge, Timothy, Michael and Linda breathed a sigh of relief. They were able to join many others who sought shelter in these buildings. The billowing smoke across the river is a reminder of what they just survived.
Comments:
Ah yes, the “all three” sentence was stricken from the new release. Why? One reason might be the fact so many made fun of the three JW’s given water as opposed to the thousands who were suffering from the tragedy who were completely ignored by Watchtower. Another revealing point in the sentence was when it was stated “where they chose to seek refuge” so you see the Society was not out actually helping people, they were giving water to those who happened to find the right door that wasn’t locked and identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses to then be admitted to an offering of Watchtower love.
“old” PR#5
A volunteer brings Timothy a cup of water and offers him a chair. "You don't know how happy I feel to have made it to Brooklyn, coming down from 83 floors in the air." When he realized he really was out of danger, he added "I'm in the house of Jehovah now; I feel safe."
“new” PR#5
A volunteer brings Timothy a cup of water and offers him a chair. "You don't know how happy I feel to have made it to Brooklyn, coming down from 83 floors in the air." When he realized he really was out of danger, he added, "I feel safe."
Comments:
This change is very interesting, “ the house of Jehovah” dropped completely. Could it be that the Society does not want to give away there best kept secret? A special dispensation given direct from God to Brooklyn Bethel that prevents any harm from coming to Watchtower property in the event of any disaster. If the brothers let this get out, thousands of brothers and sisters would flood Brooklyn anytime a disaster hit and it would certainly be bothersome to have to “reach out” to more than twenty to thirty at a time. Another line of reasoning might be that they actually do know it is not the “house of Jehovah” but they just do not want the Witnesses to know that little known fact.
“old” PR#6
The Watch Tower buildings in Brooklyn were unaffected by today's tragedy, but the people working in them felt it deeply. As spokesman J. R. Brown expressed it, "Today's explosions sent a shock wave through the heart of New York and the rest of the world. Everyone will be touched by this tragedy. Comfort and cooperation are the necessary survival kit right now."
“new” PR#6
The Watchtower buildings in Brooklyn were not damaged in today's tragedy, but the people working in them felt it deeply. As spokesman J.R. Brown expressed it, "Today's explosions sent a shock wave through the heart of New York and the rest of the world. Everyone will be touched by this tragedy. Comfort and cooperation are the necessary survival kit right now."
Comments:
Not much here, just a change to a click able link. Can you guess what it is? A Watchtower article, “Coping With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Nothing like not missing an opportunity when faced with death and disaster, to place some literature while you are at it. That will help provide some real “Watchtower” relief.
“new” PR#7
Contact: J. Richard Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600
“old” PR#7
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600
Comments:
This one is simply too much fun. Richard? Did Mr. J. R. let one slip? No one ever calls him Richard. Another name for Richard is of course Dick, do you see the implication if he had to use his last name first? Now what is his first name, Jerome? Clearly a gaffe Mr. J. R. would soon wish to forget. Should we let him?
Original Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2001
9-11
"I got rocked out of my chair." Timothy Eng was on the 83rd floor of World Trade Center's Building #1 and felt the first plane hit this morning. "At first I thought it was a really heavy wind, but then I saw one of the traders I work with; he was burned from head to toe. I rushed to put out the flames. People said a plane hit the building. All we saw was debris flying out from above. I helped the trader get down the stairs. As we came down it was dark and there was water and debris everywhere."
Michael Wittick was on the 59th floor in Building #2, preparing for a 9 a.m. meeting. After a sudden loud noise, he saw that Building #1 was on fire, with paper and glass flying outside. "We were told to evacuate. When we got down to the bottom they were about to let us go back up, thinking that only Building #1 was affected. All of a sudden Building #2 shook. There was some other kind of explosion, then everyone started getting panicky." He relates that he'd never experienced anything like this in his life, "I was very scared. My knees literally started to shake."
Both of theses men were survivors of today's tragedy, two of the thousands who made their way across the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges to escape the aftermath of this catastrophe.
Linda was another survivor. She works on Wall Street and saw debris flying. Soon her coworkers and relatives were telephoning. "One of the tenants was trampled, but thank God she was all right. Others saw the second plane hitting the tower. Everyone was scared. . . . Hatred can do so much harm. So many innocent lives were lost for no reason. We pray we can assist others who were going through such a hard time."
Reaching out to those hit by tragedy
Arriving in the lobby of the Watch Tower buildings across the Brooklyn Bridge, Timothy, Michael and Linda breathed a sigh of relief. All three are Jehovah's Witnesses and so felt particularly comfortable in the familiar complex of buildings where they chose to seek refuge. They were able to join many others who sought shelter in these buildings. The billowing smoke across the river is a reminder of what they just survived.
A volunteer brings Timothy a cup of water and offers him a chair. "You don't know how happy I feel to have made it to Brooklyn, coming down from 83 floors in the air." When he realized he really was out of danger, he added "I'm in the house of Jehovah now; I feel safe."
Food and refreshments are provided to the people who streamed in the building. "They are looking for a haven," Jack, one of the helping hands, remarks. "There was some panic. A lot of people who work here volunteered to help provide whatever was needed."
The Watch Tower buildings in Brooklyn were unaffected by today's tragedy, but the people working in them felt it deeply. As spokesman J. R. Brown expressed it, "Today's explosions sent a shock wave through the heart of New York and the rest of the world. Everyone will be touched by this tragedy. Comfort and cooperation are the necessary survival kit right now."
Contact: J. Richard Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600
New Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2001
Reaching out to those hit by tragedy
"I got rocked out of my chair." Timothy Eng was on the 83rd floor of World Trade Center's Building #1 and felt the first plane hit this morning. "At first I thought it was a really heavy wind, but then I saw one of the traders I work with; he was burned from head to toe. I rushed to put out the flames. People said a plane hit the building. All we saw was debris flying out from above. I helped the trader get down the stairs. As we came down it was dark and there was water and debris everywhere."
Michael Wityk was on the 59th floor in Building #2, preparing for a 9 a.m. meeting. After a sudden loud noise, he saw that Building #1 was on fire, with paper and glass flying outside. "We were told to evacuate. When we were in the stairwell and got down to about the 20th floor, an announcement indicated they were about to let us go back up, thinking that only Building #1 was being affected. All of a sudden Building #2 shook. There was some other kind of violent explosion, then everyone started getting panicky. It changed the mood, the terror really rose at that point." My knees literally started to shake."
Both of these men were survivors of today's tragedy, two of the thousands who made their way across the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges to escape the aftermath of this catastrophe.
Linda works on Wall Street and had to evacuate with throngs of other New Yorkers. "One of the tenants was trampled, but thank God she was all right. Others saw the second plane hitting the tower. Everyone was scared. . . . Hatred can do so much harm. So many innocent lives were lost for no reason. We pray we can assist others who were going through such a hard time."
Arriving in the lobby of the Watchtower buildings across the Brooklyn Bridge, Timothy, Michael and Linda breathed a sigh of relief. They were able to join many others who sought shelter in these buildings. The billowing smoke across the river is a reminder of what they just survived.
A volunteer brings Timothy a cup of water and offers him a chair. "You don't know how happy I feel to have made it to Brooklyn, coming down from 83 floors in the air." When he realized he really was out of danger, he added, "I feel safe."
Food and refreshments are provided to the people who streamed in the building. "They are looking for a haven," Jack, one of the helping hands, remarks. "There was some panic. A lot of people who work here volunteered to help provide whatever was needed."
The Watchtower buildings in Brooklyn were not damaged in today's tragedy, but the people working in them felt it deeply. As spokesman J.R. Brown expressed it, "Today's explosions sent a shock wave through the heart of New York and the rest of the world. Everyone will be touched by this tragedy. Comfort and cooperation are the necessary survival kit right now."
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600