Every once in a while we get a thread about shunning, how the shunning practices of JWs have wrecked lives ( and they have ), and how morally reprehensible it is to shun loved ones. Then somewhere along the way, someone will say something like, “There should be a law against this. It should be illegal.”
Ten thread pages go by, begging people to see that a law against shunning would in fact be a disaster, and would in fact undermine one of the fundamental rights, freedom of association, that actually makes life livable.
“But it’s not right. It tears families apart. It’s wrong, they shouldn’t do that.”
Yeah, that’s right. They shouldn’t do that. But they do. To them it’s the right thing, and they choose freely to cut ties.
“But the Watchtower tells them to do it.”
Yeah, that’s right. And they choose to listen, and believe, and act on that with their own moral agency.
In the end, acting against them legally would undermine an actual freedom, an actual right. In the name of “rights”, the argument is made for giving up a fundamental right because.... they are assholes. And we shouldn’t have assholes in the world. It hurts, and of course the government is the best way to take care of that. Except it really isn’t. The entrenched dig in deeper.
Its the same for racists and sexists... and homophobes (the real kind, not the kind the left sees in every newborn boy).
And here we are, 10 pages later ( or more ).
People own their own bodies, their own labor, and the results of it. The only difference between a job and slavery is consent. You agree to sell you labor for a price because it’s your property to begin with. Each person has exclusive rights to their property.
And, sometimes people will choose to do crappy things with it.
“Yeah but it’s not right, it hurts people.”
Yeah, that’s right. But compelled service is slavery. Period.
It sucks, but the best way to beat the WT is through information and making the argument - convincing people over time. Same with these guys. Best way to deal with them is to go somewhere else.
And don’t take down fundamental rights ( private property ) just because there are mean people - nothing is worth it.