OldSoul,
Wow!! I really liked your post. Very well put. I especially liked this part, because, to be honest, it applied to me COMPLETELY when I was a JW.
But, typical of one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you internalized the comments and only saw them as they relate to your experiences. Empathy doesn't mean sympathy, empathy means looking through someone else's eyes. From one who is still in to another, I encourage you to acquire some genuine empathy. You will see the dear people in your Hall in a whole new light. They hurt because of those who do nothing to alleviate their suffering. Well, nothing much beyond platitudes, from what I have seen.
I had no freakin' clue what empathy was!!
Brad