Posts by LennyinBluemont

84

I sure hope Obama is our next President

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

LennyinBluemont

One of the most pressing needs in this country (besides removing military bases from other countries and ending policies that force other countries to do things "our" way) is for universal health care. It is shameful that people die every day in this country - not for lack of treatment being available - but for lack of insurance coverage. And for those who have some aversion to universal health care, let's not forget that it's already in place - for everyone in the armed forces and all members of congress. Yes, all those folks get free healthcare, just like any citizen of Canada, France or England. (I know it's not really "free", someone's paying for it. Oh yeah, we are.) In those countries no one is refused healthcare because they can't afford it or don't have insurance. But in this country, even people with insurance are denied treatments necessary to save their lives. There is only one beneficiary here: The healthcare industry.

Mr. Obama (as well as most other candidates) has accepted huge sums of money from the healthcare industry to finance his campaign. So the question you have to ask yourself is: Is Mr. Obama more likely to act for or against the financial interests of the healthcare industry if elected?

John Edwards, on the other hand, has refused to accept contributions from the healthcare industry and speaks with a strong voice against their practices. He is not beholden to them as Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton are. Yeah, I know. He's a sleazy lawyer. But let me tell you something. I've been in business for over 30 years. Sometimes you need a sleazy lawyer to get the job done. Ever wonder why so many politicians are lawyers?

12

Answer to the ? Do you believe this is Gods Organization?

by darth frosty in

jw
friends

it seems that this is the catch all question that elders like to use to prove apostasy or just to get rid of you.

i was thinking that this is a possible way to answer the ?

and turn the tables on them.

LennyinBluemont

Understanding the purpose of the question, as highlighted in the initial post here, to determine whether or not they can make an accusation of apostasy stick, I answered, "I don't know if I'm in a position to make that judgment." In my case, it deflected the conversation onto other matters. Of course, if they try follow-up questions, you just continue repeating the above statement like a mantra.

58

Current & Former Elders- Will You Help Witnesses - Get Out of the Cult ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i know ,at first glance it seems like an impossibility .

i really haven't lost my mind here folks.

hear me out on this one.

LennyinBluemont

If you're no longer associated you're instantly viewed as "off limits" to any dub with a modicum of loyalty to the borg. I was in for 28 years, elder for 14 and was highly respected by hundreds in this area as I was "semi-prominent". (kinda like being "semi-professional"?) I crave to be able to talk with so many I have deep affection for. I managed to avoid DFing (as far as I know). But when we sent out letters to all those we had been close to, some for decades, regarding how I was being "hunted" by the elders because I had the gumption to speak confidentially to one person about the UN affair, and then provided all details of the UN matter with an accompanying evidence packet in the letter, the lack of response was disturbing. One sister to whom I had been very close told me I was "dangerous". One emailed us to say how hurt she was that we were trying to "destroy her faith". Another wrote an email that was an attempt to empathize, but simply attributed my position to "bad treatment" I had received. Out of over 50 letters we sent, not one, I repeat, not oneperson responded in any way to the issue that was the focal point of the letter. Now these were all people that I had felt we were very close to for 10, 20 and even 30 years. I realize this is not the approach Hassan recommends. It was kind of a sledgehammer. But at the time I felt my DFing was imminent and that this was my last opportunity to warn them. Out of over 50 people, not even one wanted to either (a.) take issue with the points in my letter; or (b.) express concern over the issues I raised.

It's true, someone who is an active elder can use that deception to have some effect, but I have a problem with the ethics of that method. I don't believe the end justifies the means. In the end, the ones who stay in do so by choice. We know they've been conned, as we were. And we really want to help them. Especially if we had a share in getting them involved or in encouraging them to stay loyal when we were in. To that end I do feel we have a responsibility to discharge. Whether it's paying them a visit (which we also tried with a few) or writing them a letter, I think we owe them that. But if they refuse to respond, we can't force them.

If someone finds a method that works, even with only a 10% success rate, I think their thread will be the most heavily viewed in the history of this forum. And I will salute them. But the dark side is strong.

297

BETHELITES - Whatever Became of?

by Black Man in

jw
friends

i often times wonder what happened to certain bethelites that i ran around with during my 1990s tenure there.

while there are still a few left there, the greater majority of them aren't there for various reasons (marriage, disillusionment, left the borg, etc).

a couple of cats i wonder about - there was one brother who i believe was from kansas, who got his fingers cut off in a printing press.

LennyinBluemont

Used to know Geoff Hearney up at the Farm. We used to organize small "tours" (8-10) people to take up there and Geoff was always our contact. We'd always take him a few six-packs. (No, we didn't do it to make money. Everybody paid their share, nothing left over.)

Knew Chuck Liebensperger, Jerry Beck, David Smith, Jeff & Karen Malone, et al, mostly as a consequence of being involved with Mighty Distributing (Dick Wallace) when they were headquartered up here in Jessup, MD, before the move to GA.

4

Who's near Philadelphia?

by LennyinBluemont in

jw
friends

there is a possibility the wife and i will be in philadelphia on 6 january to see a folk singer that night.

anybody there up for lunch?

of course you'd need to catch the morning meeting.

LennyinBluemont

Thanks Gopher!

4

Who's near Philadelphia?

by LennyinBluemont in

jw
friends

there is a possibility the wife and i will be in philadelphia on 6 january to see a folk singer that night.

anybody there up for lunch?

of course you'd need to catch the morning meeting.

LennyinBluemont

There is a possibility the wife and I will be in Philadelphia on 6 January to see a folk singer that night. Anybody there up for lunch? Mini-apostafest? Of course you'd need to catch the morning meeting. Respond here or PM.

49

Standish Arms Sold by WTS, 5 other buildings on the market

by blondie in

jw
friends

5 other buildings remain on the market.

by linda collins.

brooklyn daily eagle.

LennyinBluemont

Thanks so much, Blondie and Betterdaze, for the info and the links. Now we know that the company that made the $50 Million purchase from the WT, just happens to have as it's founder a JW! Small world! AND, they are listed as a major contributor to the KNOCKING "documentary", a pro-JW propoganda piece. Now why would a real-estate development company capable of making a $50 Million purchase have an interest in providing financing for a pro-JW movie? Something definitely smells funny here. Jourles, you were over a year ahead of your time! I had some exposure to the Zarembas (another major contributor to KNOCKING). Does anyone know if Walter Zaremba was called "Butch"?

Given the fact that the WT is able to cash in just one single building for $50 Million (or put another way, .05 Billion), can you begin to imagine, with all the real estate holdings, buildings, cash and investments, what they might possibly be worth? By the way, who holds title to assembly halls? Their net worth is certainly in the billions, if not the tens of billions.

Given that, wouldn't it have been nice, during the tsunami devastation or Katrina, to have read in the WT, that the WTB&TS had donated $4 Million to the Red Cross to benefit victims of those disasters on behalf of its members? They probably would hardly have missed it. How Christian is it to be so sickeningly wealthy, and not reach out to your fellow humans in crisis? For once, they would have actually gotten some good PR. But they can't do that, because then the R&F would want to follow their lead and give their money to the Red Cross too, and that means less for the WT. For starters, they should all be disfellowshipped for greed. They have certainly qualified on a level no single JW could ever do, even in their dreams.

I hope there are more revelations on this real estate transaction that is starting to smell a little like that fish that should have been cooked last night.

49

Standish Arms Sold by WTS, 5 other buildings on the market

by blondie in

jw
friends

5 other buildings remain on the market.

by linda collins.

brooklyn daily eagle.

LennyinBluemont

If they're using a "front" organization of brothers to make it look like they don't own it anymore, it wouldn't be the first time. Remember Cohi Associates? (Dick Wallace, et al) They had this phony organization composed of brothers BUY property in the 70's when they didn't want the neighbors to think the WT was the buyer, to avoid public opposition. Then Cohi would quietly turn the property over to the WT after the deed was done.

10

Biden stands by impeachment threat; Bush has 'damaged us' like no other adm

by What-A-Coincidence in

jw
friends

biden: yes, i do.

i want to stand by that comment i made.

the reason i made the comment was as a warning.

LennyinBluemont

I'm disgusted with the entire congress of the U.S. for not impeaching these two long ago for lying us into a war that has cost so many lives, ruined so many others and destroyed our relations with other nations who used to be our friends. Why have they not acted? Is it because they feel guilty themselves for having rubber-stamped it? Then they should impeach them and then have the decency not to ever seek office again. Those two should be in jail for a very long time. If you cut Cheney's head off smoke would come out.

1

Annual/Monthly Reports?

by LennyinBluemont in

jw
friends

hey, simon, et al: i'll bet a lot of us here would love to know:.

) the total number of those registered.

) a monthly report of how many new ones registered.

LennyinBluemont

Hey, Simon, et al: I'll bet a lot of us here would love to know:

1.) The total number of those registered

2.) A monthly report of how many new ones registered

3.) An "Annual Report" showing any decrease/increase over previous years

It seems like we have a lot of new ones posting, but that doesn't let us know how many registered but are not posting yet. It would be nice to quantify how "as they go on decreasing, we go on increasing."

Is this doable?