I could offer some very intelligent answers to your post about how the BKWSU are using, and perhaps even believing in, the academia that has been written about them, and using that to perpetuate the myths they have perpetuated to academics in the first place ... but I wont. Its a vicious cycle. Ditto, I might applaud you on your suggestion of the BKWSU purifying itself first and this forum's role in that.
paulkershaw wrote:This document could then be forwarded to BKWSU headquarters and yet another opportunity be provided for them to clarify in a point by point form the true answers, or versions of the teachings. Any discrepancy could then be pointed out and this would perhaps narrow down the points that needed to be queried ... Would this be more fair?
I think that sounds very professional and very down to earth. Its the obvious thing to do from a counseling/mediation point of view.
I have made a page over at the Encyclopedia that any one; BK, BKWSU, ex-BK, PBK, 'Friends and Family of' etc can add too. The direct link is here; Beginners Guide to the BKWSU.
It can also be discussed on the talk page. You have to log in again to edit I think but you use the same name and password as for here.
We have the BKWSU (UK)'s acting solicitor's address and email on the forum. If he is still retained, he has a professional duty to his clients to at least pass on the questions. I would say the request is perfectly reasonable. In my experience, writing to BKWSU (India) is a waste of time. To me they seem to think that they are above properly acknowledging a serious letter, safe in their palace at the top of the mountain.
But I also think the
Beginners guide is basically highly accurate. It just lacks an explanation of what is positive enough within the religion to keep individuals hooked and a few solid statistics that only the BKWSU could give (e.g. how many leave, how many stay etc). My feeling is that instead of substance (e.g.
ethical responses), the BKWSU is just more focused on keeping up appearances (
e.g. PR whitewash, like Karuna Shetty telling the Moscow Times that Destruction between Russia and America was off the schedule). I can imagine how their wordsmiths would want to twist it. Destruction ... oops ... "Transformation" was one of the things they were discussing about whether they should be more open and transparent about!!!
Remember folks ... the BKWSU zones are discussing reforms in private right as we discuss here in public. And I dare say the leadership (aka The Family™) will meet to discuss again ... IN SECRET and in Hindi.It was October of this year (now) that they were going to report back or meet up in Madhuban to discuss them from last year. Does anyone have an update? Has any center been sent a copy of the report? Thanks. It had better be someone else than me that addresses it to them.
(Am I the only person on the planet that does not like middle-class, journalist-type, WASP deciding what I should think or know and in what language I should speak? (No offense meant to the John Pilger and Duncan Campbell's of the world).