|
In Reply to: From the mother's perspective posted by Jo on December 09, 2005 at 13:50:15:
Jo- I was not "privy" to what was going on in this particualar situation when a decision was made to remove your children. But I have to admit that these were pre- Book of Davidito -days and I thought that child care, at least in Scandinavia- was a safe place for children. At the time, no children were of school age in Stockholm, and I believe that the childcare system was based on the Montessori method. In fact, Nina, my one year old at the time, was beginning to read long before she would have been required to do so. So I wouldn't have necessarily thought that the childcare of the COG- ran by women at the time- was harmful.
I can see how you would have felt that it was an abduction. You have no way of knowing what was "important" at that time for me. I have never denied that the incident happened, although in early emails I wrote to you, I said I didn't remember the incident- I just didn't remember it- sorry. There were no children beaten by belts in the Stockholm colony when I was present. If there had been, I would have beaten the shit out of the any jerk that did it. If you had come to me with such a story in Stockholm, I would have been livid and I would have done the same thing I did when a WS personnel appeared to be trying to rape a new sister who had joined a few days before (in Skillingsfors). It was merely four days after reporting this incident to Little Esther (Regional Shepherd at the time) that I was told to leave the COG, and my wife and child were unceremoneously escorted onto a plane for the United States. I never returned or looked back.
I never felt that I was "duped" into anything I chose to do while in the COG. I made plenty of bad choices but sending your kids to Denmark was not one of them. I cannot blame my choices on others. I agree that your first emails to me (I had not contacted you) were to instruct me on how, what, when, and why to do what I was doing. I read and listened, but I did not agree with you entirely. I've never denied being a leader in Stockhom during the 70's. I do believe that men and women in TFI suffer different experiences. Ricky and Charles are good examples. I never want to see another young man take the actions they did, no matter how much I sympathize with thier motives. I do believe that the incident with your children happened, because you have told me so, and I am sorry that I could not have prevented it. I appreciate that you offered your help in the early days of January.
