at 9.00 am, saturday 14 march i was in the town centre of cheltenham, gloucestershire, uk.
a beautiful town with fine architecture.. feeling replete after a full 'english breakfast' and generally happy with life, i waited outside a bank, smoking a contemplative cigarette, whilst mu friend carried out his bank business.
there were some fine women out and about.. across the square, i noticed (no-one else seemed to) two jw literature carts.
"1) The WTBTS needs to keep JWs too busy to think for themselves and doing something that they can brag about..."
That's pretty what Watchtower's president gave as the reason why all the activity it compels JWs to engage in.
See: Why the unrelenting pressure for more and more organized religious activity?
Sorry folks. Couldn't help myself...
Just took a look at that jwtalk.net discussion. Lots of head-in-sand burying. Some of them will probably wake up one day only to learn they've let themselves become followers of men.
Not to change the subject, but this was my first introduction to jwtalk.net. The subject matter (what is and is not discussed there) is very telling. I noticed an admission that the Branch had indirectly asked its owners to remove certain topics for discussion. The owners apparently followed these men. And there's the 800-lb gorilla.
you also ask why one can be dis-fellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions.
while both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment.
in this regard both whole blood and major components of it carry nutrients, oxygen, and other nourishment to the body.
This will allow them to undo the policy without actually undoing it.
I think your assessment is correct. I don't think Watchtower is worried about potential civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution related to its position on blood.
I've often read ex-JWs opine that Watchtower would end its blood taboo were it not for fear of lawsuits. Yet to this day I've yet to see anyone express a legal argument supporting such an opinion. The position Watchtower holds is a religious one which essentially means it can relax it to allow blood transfusion in a heartbeat without fear of serious civil lawsuits.
My view is that Watchtower has resisted relaxing its religious position to allow blood transfusion in order to protect its religious viability rather than its legal position. The fallout would be enormous were Watchtower to suddenly change its blood taboo to allow wholesale transfusion of blood. On the other hand, Watchtower in effect does let JWs make wholesale use of the donor blood supply but it's done so with such convolution that JWs use massively from the blood supply yet think they abstain from blood. (See: Over 96% Accept 99%! )
you also ask why one can be dis-fellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions.
while both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment.
in this regard both whole blood and major components of it carry nutrients, oxygen, and other nourishment to the body.
Is that because you have the benefit of looking back and not having to look at as tragic outcome?
Many times I've witnessed individuals express non-regret for previously holding a moral position against accepting transfusion of blood. In each case the sentiment was expressed on grounds of morality, meaning they held no regret for once holding a position they now know is errant because at the time they honestly held the position.
I've also witnessed individuals express non-regret because they believe in their particular case it led to a better standard of care.
you also ask why one can be dis-fellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions.
while both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment.
in this regard both whole blood and major components of it carry nutrients, oxygen, and other nourishment to the body.
you also ask why one can be dis-fellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions.
while both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment.
in this regard both whole blood and major components of it carry nutrients, oxygen, and other nourishment to the body.
"There is something now called a "letter of understanding" ...it was used ..."
Here: Letter of Understanding
lmao.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st21dimagms.
take a look at the linked ap photograph and tell me what you think:.
- miss black u.s., miss black georgia and miss black teen .
what would the likes of al sharpton say if the hallowed event this weekend at the edmund pettus bridge in selma, alabama had been attended by a miss white u.s., miss white georgia and miss white teen?
"What I wrote is an opinion based on the names Black culture feels comfortable with and their reasons and circumstances for groups that self identify with their culture. When they have no need to stress who they are we will be in a better place.......... until then we can respect the great things black culture has accomplished. And we can lament the problems."
I appreciate and much respect your contribution to the discussion. That said, it's not the name or names used in this instance that I find counterproductive. It's the use of skin color. A nation that would not judge by the color of skin but by the content of character is not a nation that would have a Miss [name a color of skin] character contest. If we want society to experience the dream it has to be brought to reality. We cannot walk alone.
take a look at the linked ap photograph and tell me what you think:.
- miss black u.s., miss black georgia and miss black teen .
what would the likes of al sharpton say if the hallowed event this weekend at the edmund pettus bridge in selma, alabama had been attended by a miss white u.s., miss white georgia and miss white teen?
A person does not have to be black to attend a historically black college or university. Same with black churches, and the Negro Baseball League too for that matter. Hence I don't know how any of these add to the subject.
"It took until 1983 for a black women to become Miss America since then a total of 8 black women have won the crown."
How many years will it take before a white women can win the Ms. Black US pageant?
"There are a couple of Asian American Beauty Pageants."
I can understand that, and I could understand a Ms. African American pageant too. Neither of those is (or would be) based on the color of a person's skin.
"In Congress we also have the Congressional Black Caucus as well as a foundation called the Congressional White Caucus."
I find the idea of a Congressional [name a Color] Caucus very offensive, not to mention counterproductive. In response to request by a non-black member of congress to be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus a CBC member reportedly said, "Primarily, we are concerned with the needs and concerns of the black population, and we will not allow white America to infringe on those objectives."
That's not the dream, either. An important part of the dream is, "The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."
