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In Reply to: another fact posted by Passing By on February 06, 2004 at 07:32:50:
I never hoped a lawsuit would happen. I always talked about preventing something like that.
I'm not sure how I have contributed to Grant's credibitlity at all.
One evening about two years ago, both Sam Ajemian and Acheick were in my living room. I don't know if Acheick was paying attention to the conversatin Sam and I were having or not, but I do know that she was in the room at the time.
Sam asked me to explain the difference between FCF and Activated. I told him straight out that FCF was for financing Family charities, and Activated was for distributing Family materials.
I've described Activated on this board as a sort of Ponzi scheme.
I've also posted questions about their finances as published on their website.
I wrote at length about the large payment to Gordon Melton from FCF, and questioned what possible legitimate reason FCF could have for giving such a large amount of money to a so called academic who has distinguished himself by writing positive things about The Family, and ignoring the negative.
Perhaps the difference between myself, and others is that I've actually taken time to travel around and meet a lot of the players we are talking about. I've spent a lot of time talking to both Anneke and Grant, and I may have a different perspective than you do.
Just to clarify that, so people don't think I'm spending millions of dollars just to hang out with these people, I am in the convention and meeting business, so I end up in all kinds of cities. When I'm there, if there is someone I want to meet, I'll take time to see them on my off hours. I'm not getting on airplanes to go inspect Laurelhome. That trip also included a meeting with the Secretariat for the Third Millineum at the US Catholic Bishops Conference in Washington DC. It was interesting to talk to both Barney and that guy within a few hours of each other.
I hold certain opinions. Many based on face to face discussions with people involved. You may not agree with them, but your lack of agreement does not make what I have to say less valid.
This is a very difficult way to communicate sometimes. It is very easy to misunderstand someone's intentions. That's why we have to keep trying and explaining what we really mean. It is also possible that through communication, even a hard headed person like myself may come to understand a different point of view. But, that only happens when there is an actual exchange of ideas.
