I wish to make a comment on something that disturbs me deeply to the point I cannot let it pass or be ignored. A little over a year ago I resigned as an elder to protest WT policy and how it hurt children. The impetus that brought me to that conclusion was a child I knew personally that was in danger. To stand up for her eventually meant a stand against six million misinformed JWs. It is a simple point that many have joined with a basic conclusion; we will not support or condone anyone who hurts children or victims of child molestation. If that happens to be the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society then so be it. But is that the only entity that we take this stand against? If so, that would make us nothing less than simple WT haters and what is good accomplished in that?
I recall a few months ago when I was at the trial in Ritzville Washington. A local reporter asked for information about the trial. We offered to provide it on the condition that she wait till the trial starts before she published the material. The reason was the possibility it could cause difficulty for the defense in providing an impartial jury. The reporter broke her word and ran the story a week before the trial. In the end it did not do any real damage but it caused some very stressful moments before the trial. When the reporter approached me for comment during the trial I told her, “no comment.” When she asked me why, I stated, “You broke your word to me and your actions placed the victim in a difficult position I do not help people who hurt victims.” At that point I encouraged everyone there to not offer her any comments. Why? For the reason stated above. If you hurt victims you become an enemy of silentlambs. It would be inconsistent to condemn WT and not condemn others who might do the same.
A few days ago I posted a victims story on this forum, as I have done this many times before, it helps to bring the issue back up and shows new victims come in every week. As I have previously mentioned stories are posted at a five to one ratio. That means for every five I hear, one person will send me the story to be posted publicly. Most are just not ready, this is perfectly understandable, yet others want to add their voice to the hundreds that are speaking out with the hope in the end it will protect children. Their courage is to be honored and appreciated for they are the true heroes of the silentlambs issue. I do not know why but with this victim’s story three people chose to challenge the way certain statements were made. I tried on three occasions to defuse the negative comments and two of the posters came around and either allowed room for misunderstanding or apologized. This was commendable as it helped the victim to see it was not intentioned the way it may have appeared.
One poster on the other hand made no such move he called her a liar repeatedly and demanded actual police reports before he would ever believe otherwise. I requested that Simon remove the thread from the board due to the cutting remarks. This is unacceptable it crossed the line and is not to be tolerated. This person calls themselves “Mad Apostate.” I do not know if you were having a bad day or if you simply were not thinking, but I would encourage you to think long and hard about what you have done. You owe the victim and this board a public apology for your actions. You were wrong, you hurt a victim of child molestation, you insulted her, and you would be better served to make it right. This is not a place for smart remarks or idle threats, but if you feel you have the right to hurt victims of child molestation, that is not freedom of speech it is pure evil. I offer you this opportunity to correct your mistake.
I have also noted comments of an “insider elite” that control the board. This is simple paranoid delusional thinking. There is not a secret organization or special group of insiders who control everything. If you wish to know something communicate! Email and use the telephone that is the way you find stuff out. As I mentioned from the beginning of the silentlambs issue, by any means necessary I wish to force the wt to change policy to protect children. I will talk to anyone anywhere anytime, if you wish to help lets talk and see what can be accomplished. That is not an insider club it is an effort of those who wish to assist in a common goal. Different people offer different things, some do not have computers but together I think it is a collective effort by those who do what their heart motivates them to. Other people may have different agendas they wish to accomplish, yet, while I have talked to many people I have yet to find any evidence of some well-financed apostate conspiracy that operates like the CIA to destroy the wt at all costs. That is simple JW think. You see JW’s want all JWs to believe that there is this huge organization ran by the Devil that is seeking to destroy God’s people. Are you going to fall for the same claptrap? Face the reality that anything that is being accomplished is done by people like you and me who get off our asses and put forth the effort to do something meaningful. So if you think you are missing out on some inside information please follow the sentence that preceded this one, then you can be an “insider” to.