$$$Do I want to be able to think for myself?$$$No one ever truly thinks for themselves. There is always some type of conditioning at work in one's life. But there is a certain proper type of autonomy that all should desire. But the idea is interdependence and not independence in an absolute way.
Congratulations, duns, you've become an apostate. Not only do you bracket all your quotes in $$$ (a sure sign of greed, and thus apostacy) but you openly contradict the society. You speak of autonomy, but the society inculcates complete reliance on, and subservience to, the GB. Anyone who publically promoted interdependence (ignoring the teamwork involved in passing bricks at a quick-build) would be ousted as an apostate. Welcome aboard the apostate train!
$$$Do I want to be able to show love to whomever I wish--even if they disagree with me on some things?$$$Non draws the line when it comes to those who hate Jehovah and those that practice sin. Non do not want to be buddy buddy and hobknob with worldings who cuss, drink too much, are homosexual or who fornicate. If you hang with the ungodly, guess what you gonna be.
Then why do you have such a problem with reforms that would protect the congregation from pedophiles? Oh, that's right... I cussed and said REFORM--the nastiest of words. Tell you what, let's call it 'new light' and make some changes.
$$$Do I want to be allowed to question what I hear?$$$jw already are allowed to question what they hear. Non does it all the time.
OK, now publically, OUT LOUD, in front of other JWs, question even the tiniest issue. I don't mean a question in the sense of a fact-finding question. Dare to question CRITICALLY something completely harmless like the no-beards issue, and see how often you're counciled for independent thinking. Questioning it internally might eventually lead to your freedom, but that doesn't apply to this situation.
$$$Do I want to be able to speak out publically against wrongdoing, not keep quiet because it might make Jehovah's Perfect Organization look bad?$$$This is an example of a question that is loaded and improperly framed.
Tell that to the elders who, when confronted with obvious miscarriages of any sense of justice, say "I can't speak out against this... I'll lose my position!"
Give non a break.
Would a compound fracture suffice?
Hmmm