On 2005-02-28 20:50:00, Joyce Harris wrote:
Well, I would have to say that Whitmore Academy is about as WWASP-like as they come:
I would beg to differ w/ that assessment. There are a lot of programs out there that are more WWASP-like. Thayer, for example. It's run by John and Willa Bundy. John Bundy is thought to be a former employee of Teen Help/WWASPS. Can anyone substantiate that? They also operate a referal service that's been under some criticism for pretending to represent a group of outfits, but really strongly favoring Thayer.
And a young man died there recently, over the course of at least days and in front of a few students and staff. Nobody spoke out till it was too late the way some of the Whitmore kids spoke out about some of the things that have happened there.
I think there's a difference. I don't really blame the people who insist that "different from WWASP" means perfectly good, safe and effective for thinking that. I do blame them for refusing to look closely enough at the proffered alternatives. Everybody wants to be a hero. Nobody wants to think they've been wrong. That's how crusades, jihads and other wars always start.
There are similarities as well. Those are interesting. They're similar in that they really seem to hook the parents a lot more than the kids. Most of the kids just go along because the program is holding their parents hostage. But they don't have anywhere near the level of organization that WWASP has w/ controling the parents, either. It's just these couple of charismatic ppl, not an established show circuit of EST derived seminars.
I've spoken to former students and adults who are actually afraid of physical, illegal, thug violence if they speak out against Thayer and/or the CEDU programs. Whitmore only seems to inspire fear of getting a bitch session from Cheryl.
No, I'd give WWASP props for professionalism, but it's like giving props to Stalin for having the trains running on time.
Moralizing, with the force of law or coercion, is a
far greater crime against the constitutional principles of our nation than unauthorized euphoria, regardless of the substance involved, be it chocolate or heroin.
--James
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