Jehovah's Witnesses & Former jw's, Are You Or Were You Ever...?

ASHAMED?

Ashamed to admit that you either are or were a jw?

I have been having a discussion with a fellow ex jw this evening over pecan pie and ice cold milk and the topic of pride and shame came up. I discovered that while my companion was well known to his classmates and neighbors as a jw and he took great pride in his role as a jw. He was hated at school but used that to puff himself up with pride he says.

This seemed foreign to me because as I was growing up in the 1960's and 1970's my being a jw caused me nothing but grief. From problems with teachers and students to neighbors making fun of me I felt a dread anytime I felt that someone new might learn of my parent's choice in religion.

Even now, when I speak to current and former coworkers I never, and I mean NEVER let them know anything about my ties to the Watchtower.

How about you? Anyone out there ever ashamed of your jw-ness?