In Reply to: Human Rights and International Law posted by Jules on August 29, 2003 at 06:26:34:
As you could read in one of my posts below, individual rights are to me more important but it is not a matter of absolute rights either. There are cases where the communal interest (read, the interest of society) becomes a priority over the individual's. Checks and balances, what you bring out, are what secretive organizations don't have. Internal investigations are normally to wash out signs of improprieties. The Family is not about to do their own house-cleaning.
I am absolutely against the idea of forced self incrimination, this principle is actually part of the USA constitution. It is up to the individual to preserve their secrets, in spite of what others think, even if the public story (or history) is never complete.
My point in all of this is that each person should make his/her own decisions. There are forces pulling us on many directions but in the end it is the individual's responsibility. The only way that individual can make an informed decision is with... information. Though sometimes a little encouragement may help in either direction. You have been doing a great job and have a powerful role as an information broker, keep that up facilitating the empowerment of the abused. It seems that you know where you are going. The reason why I am not for disbandment is not due to some cozy feeling for The Family but because of pragmatism, knowing that once a doctrine hits the air, it is there for anybody to use it and abuse it. Berg started something and it found echo on many. Some of us woke up and others still sleep. Rest assure that many new more people are falling asleep with The Family even as we speak.