NOTE: TO READ THE FULL CONTEXT OF QUOTES CITED CLICK HERE
It's rather interesting to see that the opening sentence of the "JJ" website attempts to "lesson the blow" of the Watchtower's association with the United Nations, claiming their mere "registration". Saying that the WBTS merely registered with the UN doesn't carry the same weight as having an approved association by process of application, a process that took six months for completion. If I contacted a charity and asked to be on their register, it would have a different meaning than asking for an application to associate with them. "Thirdwitness", whom I will call "3W" for now on, has used a convenient wordplay to set up his rebuttal. "3W" explains that once the Guardian newspaper (UK) "informed" them that all associated NGO's must support the UN, the WBTS thanked The Guardian for bringing the matter to their attention, then they immediately withdrew (within two days) their membership with the UN's DPI (Department of Public Information).
Was this pure gratitude from the WBTS that the Guardian reported on the matter or an "oh s*** we've been exposed" moment? Did it really take a newspaper to explain to the WBTS that their association with the UN was an illegitimate hypocrisy? At this moment was the WBTS just now informed that associating with the UN is supporting it? Is it valid to claim that one who joins an organization is not supporting that which they have joined? Did the NGO association requirements change in 1992? If I join only a division of the mafia, can I compartmentalize my support for them?
There's much to be said about the situation, but first lets examine three articles that Guardian wrote about the WBTS/UN association (below-click on images to enlarge them). The second article is the one referenced by "3W".
It's true that this issue has caused quite a stir among many sincere Jehovah's Witnesses, that is, once they have found out about this association. Many have left and are upset that their "Governing Body" joined a branch of the UN. Yes their GB joined, not just a few isolated JW's as some have claimed. The UN is an organization that the Society has adamantly condemned for many decades. Unfortunately, "3W" makes it hard for one discern the truth. He says that "opposers" and former JW's "have claimed that the NGO requirements never changed. This is a half-truth in reality. In all the years that I've discussed this subject with numerous people, I've never heard such a statement. What I have heard however, is that people talk about how the NGO association requirements didn't change in 1991-2 as the WBTS and "3W" claimed they have. We'll prove that in the near future.
"3W" says that Conspiracy theorists claim the Watchtower Society knew they were supporting the United Nations and kept it a “secret”. Though I wouldn't call this association an entire secret-partially because of the Guardian-but I find it odd that the WBTS hasn't mentioned any of this issue in any of its publications. On a random poll I've done with JW's, most I have interviewed have had no idea of it either. Most have refused to accept the reality of this association when brought to their attention, and only when they find out the truth, do they rationalize why it's ok. One may ask, if it's really ok anyways, then why was it such an issue to deny the fact? I believe the answer is rather obvious to some of us. On a side note, "3W" sets this up as an "us" against "them" scenario, blurring the lines of pure objective research from interested individuals.
He then goes on to say They even go so far as accusing the Watchtower Society of having deliberately distributed pro-UN propaganda in issues of the Awake! as “part of the deal” with the UN. Now would be a perfect time to explain the principle purpose of the NGO/DPI relationship. Read below...
This fact can be found on various UN letters written to concerned individuals, as well in their handbooks and on their website. Yes, the principle purpose for an NGO to associate with UN via the DPI is to distribute articles about the UN, to increase public understanding of the UN and its achievements etc. It's simple, you just don't join a publicity department (of an organization) and maintain that you're not interested in marketing or promotions. You'd have a better alibi if you went to work in the mail-room department instead.
The last statement I'd like to address in this chapter is
Was this pure gratitude from the WBTS that the Guardian reported on the matter or an "oh s*** we've been exposed" moment? Did it really take a newspaper to explain to the WBTS that their association with the UN was an illegitimate hypocrisy? At this moment was the WBTS just now informed that associating with the UN is supporting it? Is it valid to claim that one who joins an organization is not supporting that which they have joined? Did the NGO association requirements change in 1992? If I join only a division of the mafia, can I compartmentalize my support for them?
There's much to be said about the situation, but first lets examine three articles that Guardian wrote about the WBTS/UN association (below-click on images to enlarge them). The second article is the one referenced by "3W".
1. Jehovah's Witness link to UN queried- The Guardian Monday 8 October 2001
CLICK HERE
2. 'Hypocrite' Jehovah's Witnesses abandon link with UN- The Guardian Monday October 15 2001
CLICK HERE
2. 'Hypocrite' Jehovah's Witnesses abandon link with UN- The Guardian Monday October 15 2001
CLICK HERE
It's true that this issue has caused quite a stir among many sincere Jehovah's Witnesses, that is, once they have found out about this association. Many have left and are upset that their "Governing Body" joined a branch of the UN. Yes their GB joined, not just a few isolated JW's as some have claimed. The UN is an organization that the Society has adamantly condemned for many decades. Unfortunately, "3W" makes it hard for one discern the truth. He says that "opposers" and former JW's "have claimed that the NGO requirements never changed. This is a half-truth in reality. In all the years that I've discussed this subject with numerous people, I've never heard such a statement. What I have heard however, is that people talk about how the NGO association requirements didn't change in 1991-2 as the WBTS and "3W" claimed they have. We'll prove that in the near future.
"3W" says that Conspiracy theorists claim the Watchtower Society knew they were supporting the United Nations and kept it a “secret”. Though I wouldn't call this association an entire secret-partially because of the Guardian-but I find it odd that the WBTS hasn't mentioned any of this issue in any of its publications. On a random poll I've done with JW's, most I have interviewed have had no idea of it either. Most have refused to accept the reality of this association when brought to their attention, and only when they find out the truth, do they rationalize why it's ok. One may ask, if it's really ok anyways, then why was it such an issue to deny the fact? I believe the answer is rather obvious to some of us. On a side note, "3W" sets this up as an "us" against "them" scenario, blurring the lines of pure objective research from interested individuals.
He then goes on to say They even go so far as accusing the Watchtower Society of having deliberately distributed pro-UN propaganda in issues of the Awake! as “part of the deal” with the UN. Now would be a perfect time to explain the principle purpose of the NGO/DPI relationship. Read below...
This fact can be found on various UN letters written to concerned individuals, as well in their handbooks and on their website. Yes, the principle purpose for an NGO to associate with UN via the DPI is to distribute articles about the UN, to increase public understanding of the UN and its achievements etc. It's simple, you just don't join a publicity department (of an organization) and maintain that you're not interested in marketing or promotions. You'd have a better alibi if you went to work in the mail-room department instead.
The last statement I'd like to address in this chapter is
The interesting thing will be 'the list.' This is a list of all the publications that Watchtower Bible & Tract Society submitted to the UN DPI as required by DPI and outlined in the document "Criteria of Association". Watchtower literature is, according to Watchtower dogma, "spiritual food" delivered by "the slave" to "the chosen" at "the proper time". What articles, precisely, of this 'divine food', were written, printed, and disseminated to the faithfull as well as the general public will make an interesting read. It will also be the highlight of my up-coming Youtube video.
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