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In Reply to: A question for Windy posted by Oldtimer on October 05, 2005 at 21:33:14:
PD- I cannot discuss many details of the production of the show because of the contract/waivers that I signed with the DPO. But one question pertinent to the ongoing discussions has been about whether or not I was "surprised." I was. I had never intended to discuss my book on air. That was Kristi's and Dr. Phil's choice, so I was surprised when Kristi asked why I wanted to know if anything good happened in her history with TFI. I don't want to influence the discussions excepting to point out that my book was entirely a retelling of my experience in the COG. My experience was markedly different than my daughter's. Kristi has been out of TF for over 12 years, and one of the key issues in our relationship has to do with this very topic. I cannot own her exerience in TF because it is hers, and mainly a direct result of her mother kidnapping her and holding her hostage in TF for 13 years. Kristi cannot own my experience because I had mine before she was born. My novel works these issues in detail, so I will not elaborate here on this site. But if you look closely at the transcripts of the show, I believe you will be able to understand when Kristi says that it makes her feel "small" when I discuss that which was a good experience for me in the COG. This, I believe, is one of the main disconnects between parents and their children in or out of TF. After the followup show airs, I will be able to legally discuss in more detail how the show was produced. I did not want this to be the "Jim and Kristi" show, but if what happened on the show produces the desired effect,ie: my daughter and I get closure on issues such as these, then it was worth the pain for me. Time will tell. I am inspired by the many discussions that are going on in all the web blogs as many issues are getting sorted out for the SGAs in and out of TFI. I am hoping that the same will happen with their parents. The thing that the Family must fear the most is the many true stories that have surfaced over the years. Happily, many families have already found closure. The Family International held a deadly secret among its top leadership that had a devestating effect on thousands. If many of us who joined the COG in the beginning knew that the founder was a pedophile, we would have packed up our backpacks and left in the summer of 1970. The open and public discussions are a way of insuring that this never happens again. I also hope that it will bring closure to thousands. I am on my way to my family's closure. I wish the best for those who still need it as well.
