I have been thinking about this for a while, and a couple recent events here on the board have solidified my thinking. First, seattleniceguy's triumph with the UN posting a letter regarding the WTS affiliation with the UN. Way to go! It just shows that with a little combined effort we can accomplish alot. Second, someone posted recently asking about the schedule for the summer conventions, and it planted a little idea in my head.
Now, before I mention the idea, let me give a little background behind my thought process on this idea. First, who is it that we want to reach with the message that the WTS is a dangerous cult. That's easy, existing members who we want to help out, and possible future members whom we want to warn "stay away!". So, basically, this includes every human on the face of the planet. The problem is, though, that the first group, existing JW's, will not listen to us at all, because we are "apostates". The second group just doesn't have JW or WTS issues on their radar until one shows up at their door - JW's are an afterthought or a joke on Jay Leno to them, so they just don't care. That is, until a co-worker, relative, or publisher on their front porch starts talking to them about Paradise(tm).
So, how do we get the word out. The Internet is an amazing tool, and has helped possibly tens of thousands of us to see the real truth about the "truth". But you have to be actively LOOKING to find these web sites. Again, the active JW's will not touch the "apostate" web sites. Others, as mentioned before, are simply non-interested, so they most likely won't find these web sites either.
So, how do we more effectively get the existing JW's to at least start questioning their beliefs and the reliability of the WTS, and how do we warn potential "victims" without spending hundreds of millions of dollars on Super Bowl or World Cup Soccer television advertising?
Well, here comes my idea: With pooled funds donated by us ex-JW's, we advertise in the largest local newspapers the two weeks surrounding each district convention. We follow the conventions around the US and World with our ad campaign. The ad's could be as simple as something like this:
This weekend there will be XX,000 people gathered in your community who <Insert any of the following>:
Believe you and your children will be murdered by God because you don't go to the Kingdom Hall.
Plan on living in your house and using your things after you and your family are dead.
Used to believe that <vaccinations, sliced bread, aluminum, etc.> were wicked and from the Devil.
Believe that they are the only people on earth who <are approved of by God, have the Truth, show love, etc.>
Protect the anonymity of pedophiles and ignore or threaten the victims.
You see where I am going with these. What does this accomplish? Well, it alerts the community to the arrival of the convention and of their wacky and dangerous beliefs. Secondly, imagine the following conversation at a restaurant after one of the convention days:
JW seated at table: "Hi, we're here for a religious convention and I would like to ask you a question..." as she pulls out a tract.
Waitress: "Oh, are you a Jehovah's Witness. I read something in the paper about you folks. Why did your religion join the UN when you believe its wicked and controlled by Satan?"
It will force the rank and file to start addressing these issues, or at least hearing them for the first time. And each time someone starts asking questions, the WTS armour of secrecy starts cracking.
Well, what do you fine folks think? Looking forward to seeing if we can pull something like this together and start causing the WTS some pain on a large scale (and most importantly, start getting JW's to start questioning things!).
Brandon Bartlett