First, her open letter: Rick wrote: The Wednesday Night Chat group (WNC) is like a select group of people who have been invited ... Bronte: "Select" -- your word choice. This is a group of "elite." Rick: to a cordial discussion in someone's living room. Bronte: Except when someone dares to disagree with elite opinion. Rick: In fact, it's almost literally an extension of Tom's living room. Bronte: Except when some of you were thinking of moving the group to a public building. Don't blame the elitist attitude on Tom's living room. Rick: Certain behavior appropriate in FFL is inappropriate in WNC. Bronte: You're prescribing behavior now, Archer. How elitist is that? You want to control not only how WNC members think but how they behave as well? There is a more appropriate word for that: fascist. Rick: Some people in WNC also belong to FFL and enjoy both, each for different reasons. Bronte: WNC will never become FFL because it's made up of different people. Let people be people. Let them be who they are. Quit prescribing and demanding certain behaviors. I've received half a dozen emails from WNC members thanking me for what I'm saying about the unspoken problem in the group, and for the interesting posts. Anyone who doesn't like what anyone else writes doesn't have to read it. To silence another's freedom of speech because you don't like what they said is fascist. Ugly word, absolutely appropriate. Quit white-washing elitism, folks. Archer, you are supporting and enforcing it. I am profoundly disappointed to see this in you. Rick: Others in WNC intentionally avoid FFL because they don't like the rough and tumble atmosphere there. Out of respect to those people and the unique purpose of WNC, I think I reflect the majority in requesting that we don't bring the behavior of FFL into WNC. Bronte: "Bring the behavior of FFL into WNC"? You mean because I call a spade a spade when I see it? What kind of people is this "majority" you speak for that they want to silence others or curtail their expression simply for having points of view that disagree with theirs? I have done nothing inappropriate. Did you write a preachy letter like this to Nate, Mr. Archer, for his vitriolic obscenity-strewn tirade in this forum? Not that I objected, it came from his honesty. Sometimes honesty and strong sincere feelings make people have to speak like that. But I ask, did he get a preachy little letter, too, telling him to behave properly or risk being silenced? Of course not. Not because his behavior was not objectionable to your delicate tastes, but because he wasn't rocking the "idea" boat. Only people who do that are not welcome here. Well, I'm going to make you do it, Archer. You are going to have to choose between being the lackey for people who want to silence and control others, or you can choose to get off this soapbox. Rick: When you joined FFL Bronte, you found much of the language and behavior offensive. At your request, I attempted to clean it up. Bronte: And we made it better through those efforts. There was no rule imposed from on high. Improving the civility was a group effort, a consensus. Rick: I am getting emails on the side asking me to "unsubscribe" you from the group. Bronte: Well, Rick, go figure. Rick: I don't want to do that, just as I've never (but once) banned anyone from FFL. Bronte: If you want to be the henchmen of those who would control the thoughts and actions of others, then do your dirty work, Rick Archer. Rick: So I'm asking you politely to consider these points. Bronte: "Politely" being the sugar-coat that's supposed to disguise your fascist-like ultimatum as acceptable. Rick: Let `er rip in FFL but please attune yourself to the very different atmosphere of WNC if you're going to post here. Bronte: I shall not be different people when I write to different chat groups just to please the controlling intentions of the very people whose agenda I have exposed. I shall write as I am and from who I am. If you want to silence me, those of you who hide behind Rick Archer, let that be your karma. You would have done well in Nazi Germany or in France around the fire in the witch burnings. How are you being any different? Only the scale of seriousness is changed. Angela has been writing FFL that she believes the New Age movement has brought to bear a philosophy that supports fascist thinking, that in the end will make people capable of everything the Nazis were capable of in their day. I found that a little extreme. But in the past few days, "fascist" is an adjective that sadly has entered my vocabulary. I'm now seriously wondering if Angela is right. Has it really come to this? Have my friends from the days of early TM really changed in 20 years from kind-hearted idealists working to try and create world peace, to become today cloak-and-dagger silencers with henchmen who throw independent thinkers from their midst? Look in your hearts, people. Do you have a conscience left, or have you already surrendered that to "universal mind"? Take some individual responsibility. Speak up for the right thing here. Those of you who've spoken for repression, remember your youthful ideals. Is this the kind of person you ever intended to be? It's time for some clean-up, folks, and I don't mean the kind that kicks Bronte Baxter off the forum. If that's what you choose to do, it's no real loss to me. I was just passing through, tossing out some fun, maybe useful, ideas while in the neighborhood. This chat room? I take it or leave it. If you elect to silence a voice, a voice that causes you to think, the loss is in what you do to your soul. I know, you think you don't have one. Which is why your situation is so very scary and precarious. Wishing you all love and light, but most of all, purification - Your friend, Bronte
Then her departure letter: Inasmuch as there has been no response to my open letter, and the person who invited me to join the satsang now considers me an embarrassment, I have elected to leave this group. Thanks to those of you who supported a democracization of policy, but the majority of your peers wish to maintain intellectual fascism and elitism. Why waste one's time talking to mentally ingrown people? It just drains the energy. To the person who wanted to converse and share, thanks so much. Later I may answer your last post privately. At the moment, however, I have no heart for writing. I am profoundly sorry for the choices this group, and my friend in particular, have made. When people care more about impressing others than about fairness and friendship, the grounds for true dialogue implode. Enjoy your clique, and may you find many new recruits to feed your collective delusions. If what you all have enlightenment, may I ever be spared from it. Please remove me from your mailing list. - Bronte Baxter
