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In Reply to: therefore posted by Acheick on August 29, 2005 at 13:27:21:
There are a handful of Family survivors who have gone on the record over the years and told what they know and experienced. Most if not all of these people have been labeled as liars or exaggerators by TFI at the time they spoke out. Later, more evidence came out to substantiate their testimonies, and it became evident to anyone who does the research that they neither lied or exaggerated. Merry Berg is a case in point.
Some of the people that Chancellor may be referencing as liars could have in fact lied about their abuse to the authorities while still minors living in TFI. Children and adolescents who deny (lie) about abuse to authorities are not unique to TFI, but few families prep their kids as well as TFI did to cover up and lie.
What about the so-called exaggerators? Isn't that a term that was used to describe Sam Ajemian's documentation of the child abuse in TFI? At the time, TFI's official position was, "There were just an isolated case here or there by a few immature disciples who got carried away." There are plenty of problems with Sam's documentation, but one thing he didn't do is exaggerate the extent of the abuse that went on in the 1970s and 80s. Chancellor's book confirms the abuse was widespread and endemic to the organization's social mores during the height of the FFing.
When survivors who have been tarred and feathered with "liar" or "exaggerator" by TFI in the past hear people like Chancellor talking about liars and exaggerators, they take deep personal offense. These so-called liars and exaggerators have lived to have their stories vindicated.
It would be very helpful if Chancellor would give his wider audience a percentage estimate of the lying and exaggering for which he has documentation.
