I think of a reporter that breaks a huge story about some corruption in the government who won't reveal his source of information. The government uses anti-terrorist laws against that reporter to try to force him to speak. The laws are designed to protect the people and are used in a warped way to protect the government and allow it to hide it's corruption. The reporter has to either violate his principles and turn in a whistle-blower who did the right thing or else go to jail for violating a law that was never meant to be abused that way.
That's the no-win situation. This reporter will give up so much either way.
So many people on JWN and our loved ones are in a similar situation. We have to choose what to give up. In our cases, often we either give up our freedom and integrity or else we give up our loved ones. If we choose not to give up our loved ones, we have to compromise in some way. We have to keep our opinions to ourselves to some degree. Some still go to the Kingdom Hall and go out in the recruiting work. Others manage to get out of that, but have to refrain from celebrating their birthday or participating in events that are banned by Watchtower. I won't drag that out, we all know that people have varying circumstances.
Some choose to speak freely about our disagreements with Watchtower. Some are already kicked out of the congregation and choose not to give up their integrity or pride or whatever it is they feel and refuse to kiss the elders' asses. These ones give up something in their relationships. Again, I won't drag that out, as we all know what that might mean to us or others. I will mention that some have lost way more than I have- they have lost contact with those closest to them such as their parents or their own children. In the very worst cases, some have lost a loved one over the blood issue to the Watchtower. Some of them may have still lost more afterward because they tried to speak out in that situation.
I just wanted to say a couple of things about that. We are all in that same boat. We have fellow feeling on this. But it's not for us to really decide how others should decide which path of loss to take. Also, because we have all experienced this, we should understand that we might get a bit passionate with our opinions, be they political, religious, or spiritual, or whatever. I am certainly no exception in that.
At the end of it all, we are faceless strangers in many cases or just a personality in typing. We don't have to sit down and break bread with each other or meet for drinks. BUT REALLY, should it be that way? I hope that we don't sit around sulking at how people typed harsh words or didn't show the amount of respect the other hoped for or thinks is due.
I don't view anyone on here as an enemy and I would love to meet with any and all of you in a coffee shop. I will grant that I wouldn't want to be alone with some of you and maybe you feel that about me or others, but even in those cases a group setting would be awesome. If you think I am a crazy stalker or if I think you are one, I still have fellow feeling for you. Because my wife won't understand, I might not automatically meet with you on a moment's notice (especially if you are a lady) and many here have a greater degree of anonymity than I do. But if I could (and sometimes I have been able to) I would love to meet and hug each and every one of you.
We all gave up so much over this stupid cult/religion/way of life. Don't expect everyone to "agree to disagree" but let's respect that people we vastly disagree with are here for similar reasons of support and understanding. At the end of the day, internet arguments cannot really be "won." Even if they actually can, what is "won" anyway? Admiration from others that we gave someone a zinger? Alright. Live with that if you are zinged or if you are the zinger. Shake electronic hands and wait for the next round on some other thread, but don't get all aggravated over this forum. In the end, maybe Minimus is right to just ask a bunch of questions and try not to rouse people to anger. But if some are roused to anger, let it go.
Thanks. I would love to hear from those that don't feel the same way and from those that do.