I was having coffee at a Starbucks located in a Supermarket chain in one of the towns I work in my business . While sitting there doing paperwork , what looked like 3 elders on their field service break sat at a table no more than 4 feet from me . After eavesdropping it was obvious they were elders as they were talking about the C.O.'s visit and how they needed to get their hours up in field service. Then about 10 ft. away at another table 5 JW's sat down - 2 were middle aged to older women age about 60 - 65 , 2 women were in their mid 30's looked like possibly wives of elders or JW husbands, and 1 lone man about mid 30's with them.
As I finished my coffee I sat there plotting my course. Since the 3 elders got there before the 5 other JW's - I figured I'd wait until the elders left then spring into action with my Huffington post article titled " A Reason ( and Season ) to Stop Shunning "which talks about psychological bullying of shunning and mentions Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientologists, and Amish as ALL religions who shun and how hurtful and hateful it is. Here's the link to the article : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janice-harper/a-reason-and-season-to-st_b_1146103.html.
My opportunity came when the elders got up and left. I approached the table of 5 Witnesses and asked, " Are you Jehovah's Witnesses ? " They gleefully said " Yes ! " Then I mentioned that I have relatives who are Jehovah's Witnesses too. This of course, made them even MORE giddy in their glee and they said, " Oh ! nice ! " . Little did they know exactly WHAT I had up my sleeve.
So I said, " I have a JW niece who hasn't attended meetings in years , yet many of my JW relatives shun her, won't have anything to do with her even though she's still a Witness ! Is this the normal standard that Jehovah's Witnesses follow ? " Then sister attractive brunette in her mid 30's acted as spokesman for the 5 and said, " Oh no ! we don't do that ! " I said, " Oh really ? My niece hasn't attended Witness meetings in years and my JW family acts like she doesn't exist ! I think it's very sad and wrong for them to do this. " Then sister brunette says in this sing song type high pitched too sweet voice , " Well, do you have any children ? " I said, " Yes, they are all grown. " She continued, " Well, it's like when you send your children to their bedroom when you discipline them for a 30 minute time out and isolate them from the family. You do it out of love so they'll learn to be good and obey. " I said, " That's a TOTALLY different situation. Disciplining your children for 20 - 30 minutes is a lot different than shunning and isolating family members for months on months and year after year ! I find that inhumane and offensive. " Sister brunette was at a loss for words.
So I told her I'd like to give her a copy of this Huffington news report which explains how bullying and shunning are psychologically damaging and hurtful to people . She accepted it as I looked at the middle aged older ladies . One of them shot daggers with her eyes at me as the other older lady started to say something. I interrupted her and said, " I have to go. Just please read this information as it's very important and I think it would really be helpful to you. Take care. " And with that- I turned around and walked away from them leaving them in their mind controlled drunken coffee stupor.
So- I hope they will discuss this among them as I just came across as an unbelieving relative concerned for the sad shunning my niece is experiencing. None of these people knew me as I never lived in this particular town . It's 70 miles away from where I live now.
Anyway- My motive is to inform as many of these JW's as I can in order for them to hear it from an " outsider " or non-Witness. You just never know where our seeds may bear fruit, eh ? LOL ! Would enjoy hearing your feedback or any comments you have. Have some of you tried talking to JW's at Starbucks or anywhere else and gotten them into conversations before ? Any experiences ? Would love to hear about them ! Take care you all. Have a great weekend ! Peace and love to all of you ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper