“I am he.” Those three words best define my response to the vulgar, persistent and potentially violent participants in the daily psychological assaults and “gangstalking” routines that surround me on a daily basis. “I am He.” Let me explain what those words mean.

One of the singular acts of courage that I often call upon for inspiration, took place in the Garden of Gethsemane on the final night of Jesus’ life on earth. On that dark night, a large mob, including armed soldiers, are bearing weapons and carrying lamps and torches in a search for Jesus. They follow Judas, who has agreed to betray his master Jesus for a mere thirty pieces of silver.

Knowing Jesus routine, Judas leads the mob out of Jerusalem and across the Kidron Valley. They come upon Jesus and his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the darkness beneath the Olive trees, it will be difficult for the soldiers to recognize Jesus. They may never have seen him before. Therefore Judas provides a sign, saying: “Whoever it is I kiss, this is he; take him into custody and lead him away safely.” Judas leads the great crowd into the garden, sees Jesus with his apostles, and goes straight up to him. “Good day, Rabbi!” he says and kisses him very tenderly.

“Fellow, for what purpose are you present?” Jesus retorts. Then, answering his own question, he says: “Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?” But enough of his betrayer! Jesus steps forward into the light of the burning torches and lamps and asks: “Whom are you looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” comes the answer.

“I am he,” Jesus replies, as he stands courageously before them all. Astonished by his boldness and not knowing what to expect, the men draw back and fall to the ground.

“I told you I am he,” Jesus calmly continues. “If, therefore, it is I you are looking for, let these go.”The soldiers regain their composure, stand up, and start to bind Jesus. (Matthew 26:47-56)

“I am he.” What a magnificent display of courage! Take note, however, of what Jesus did not do. He did not cower behind his disciples, expecting them to risk their lives to protect him. He did not seek safety in a mob of his own making. No! Jesus boldly stepped forward, courageously identified himself and took steps to protect the lives of his followers. His courage was so startling that the large mob drew back and fell to the ground.

Can you imagine any modern world leader, any president, prime minister, or king, displaying that sort of courage? Hardly! There is a fundamental reason why you will never see any modern leader act in this way.

Genuine courage can only be built on a foundation of love. Jesus loved his disciples dearly. Therefore, courage motivated by love, moved him to put their lives ahead of his own. Great love for his Heavenly Father moved Jesus to face the terrible ordeal he was about to undergo with great courage. There can be no genuine courage in the absence of love. Indeed, cowardly mob violence, as is seen in “gangstalking” is usually based on hatred. How many government officials do you know that genuinely love the people they serve?

There Is No Courage In Acts of Injustice

Here is something else we can learn about true courage from Jesus example. Genuine courage never abuses the rights of others, even adversaries. When the mob surrounded Jesus that evening, one of his disciples, in the heat of the moment, drew a sword and struck a slave of the High Priest, cutting off his ear. It is significant that Matthew records that detail about the identity of the individual that was struck.

The High Priest was the arch-enemy of Jesus and had been constantly seeking a way to have Jesus killed, in spite of the fact that Jesus had not committed any sin. He was the instigator of the mob that evening, and was having Jesus arrested on trumped-up charges. Striking the slave of that High Priest would no doubt be considered payback, a justified action by some. However, note the complete lack of malice and injustice in Jesus’ immediate response. “And he (Jesus) touched the ear and healed him.” —Luke 22:51. Yes, Jesus did not take pleasure in seeing one of his enemies suffer. Rather, he healed the ear of the injured slave.

Do we see the lesson? Genuine courage is never petty or vindictive. It does not return “evil for evil.” (Romans 12:17) It does not take pleasure in the suffering of others, even those who have made themselves our enemies. Genuine courage can even prompt us to do good for our enemies, as Jesus did! (Romans 12:20) How can we imitate Jesus example when surrounded by those who mock and slander us?

What we are discussing here is not the innate courage that may be a part of our personality. That varies from person to person, and can often be misguided. We are discussing the sort of courage that comes from knowing and trusting the Almighty God. Because this sort of courage has God as its source and foundation, it is far stronger, and is not dependent upon personality, age, or life experience. “Be courageous and strong . . . Jehovah your God is with you.” —Joshua 1:9

Such courage is essential when facing adversities or injustice. “Trembling at men is what lays a snare, but he that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected.” —Proverbs 29:25. Such courage enabled Jehovah’s Witnesses of all ages to withstand a brutal Nazi assault under Hitler’s regime. It can enable us to endure adversity today.

“I am he.” There are lessons I have learned from Jesus example. When facing my persecutors, I have no reason to look downcast, cower, or walk timidly. I do not need the security of a mob. Like Jesus, I love my Heavenly Father and want to do his will come what may. I also love my fellowman, and refuse to abuse the rights of those who persecute me. They may curse, spit, mock, and taunt. Yet, when the occasion arises I speak to them. I identify myself, and let them know what I stand for. I demonstrate “love of neighbor” by sharing a message of hope from God’s Word the Bible. I speak respectfully, but boldly. I will not be cowered into silence by the mob that surrounds me. It is my determination to work harder at cultivating true courage.

Far More Than Solace
At times, my persecutors surround me with individuals in my daily routine who are trained conversationalists. They too play a role in the psychological war waged against me. Typically, they use conversation in a subtle effort to undermine my belief system or as a personal attack. Lately, they have mounted a collective attack on my religious beliefs. Some are overt, mocking and insulting, others more subtle in their approach. Yet, they share a common theme. Their words are carefully chosen, and are intended to loosen my grip on the source of spiritual strength that they have failed to compromise.  This evening, while waiting in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s in Chelsea (NYC) was one such occasion.

“I have family members who belong to a number of religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses. I believe religion can help some people to find solace . . . That’s good for some people . . . Personally, I find solace in my work as an artist,” was the observation of the woman ahead of me in line. Is that the fundamental purpose of religion? Is it merely something we dust off and roll out only when someone dies or when misfortune occurs? On the surface, that observation may sound harmless enough. However, let’s reason on the matter.

We have just considered a dynamic and practical example of  courage and leadership in the person of Jesus Christ. Was that recorded in the Bible simply to be a source of solace? The Bible itself gives the answer: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16

Did you note the many benefits the Scriptures offer? It teaches, reproves, sets things straight and disciplines in righteousness. For what purpose? To make the “man of God . . . fully competent.” A doctor undergoes years of training to make him “fully competent” for his profession. Likewise, the Bible, and indeed true religion, makes us morally and mentally competent for life. “Inspired of God,” the scriptures are the fundamental and essential guide to how we should live, and treat our fellowman. Without it, we are simply ill-equipped, or unqualified for life itself.

Those trained by God’s Word are “completely equipped for every good work.” Sadly, the vast majority of religions that claim to be Christian have failed miserably at training their members for “good work.” The record of  mans’ inhumanity to man in the nations of Christendom provide indisputable evidence of that failure.  However, true Christianity trains it members to learn and follow the example of Christ . . . his love, wisdom, justice, mercy . . . and courage.

Therefore, I will not denigrate the excelling value of my faith and Bible based training by viewing it as nothing more than a source of solace. It equips me superbly for life, and, to cope with the distresses and injustices that may come with it.

One reason why I am convinced of God’s active expression of love for his people is the timely expression of wise Bible-based counsel that helps me to avoid taking actions that will prove unwise in the long term. Often, I hear or read something that addresses a challenge I am facing at that moment, and offers a bit of sound advice on how to handle it. Here is one example of a gem I received while listening to an audio presentation of a Bible study-aid early this morning during a sleepless hour:

Don’t Become The Thing You Hate. If we see behavior we hate, yet respond in kind, we become what we hate, which is a self-destructive course. On the other hand, if we respond to such challenges by finding new ways to show love, we shine the true light, and dispel spiritual darkness.

Isn’t that refreshing advice!  The cruel practices we see in the world around us are the result of spiritual darkness. Being determined to find new ways to show love in this spiritually darkened world is a powerful antidote to our mentally and emotionally poisoned environment. Perhaps you will find sound advice to be of practical value, as I did.

I found the article entitled “Senators Say Patriot Act Is Being Misinterpreted” in the New York Times, dated May 26, 2011 of great interest. “Two Senators claimed on Thursday that the Justice Department had secretly interpreted the so-called Patriot Act in a twisted way, enabling domestic surveillance activities that many members of Congress do not understand.”

Could this issue be of relevance to those who are victims of involuntary covert torture weapons testing and ongoing psychological attacks? Here are two relevant quotes that I found of great interest:

“I want to deliver a warning this afternoon: When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry . . .” —Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat and a member of the Intelligence Committee.

“Another member of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Udall, Democrat of Colorado, backed Mr. Wyden’s account, saying, “Americans would be alarmed if they knew how this law is being carried out.”

I offer no opinion on the political issues involved, as I remain strictly neutral in political affairs. However, as a victim of injustices consistent with the thoughts expressed in this article I share it for its newsworthiness and potential relevance.

Facing the sustained onslaught of daily no-touch torture routines and involuntary experimentation is not an easy task. However, after twelve years of sustained abuse, I am more determined than ever to follow the Christ in the way I think and conduct myself. I recently reflected on one reason why my decision in this regard is sound and beneficial:

While man chooses to use his enhanced understanding of the human mind to develop psychological weapons, Christ Jesus used his far greater understanding of our mental capacities in a way that will soon bring enormous benefits and blessings to those who choose to follow Him.

Consider this: One of Jesus well known miracles was his ability to restore sight to the blind. (Matthew 9:27-34) In fact, he cured many adults who had been blind from birth. Interestingly, giving sight to the blind was only half of the miracle. Jesus also restored their full ability to coordinate their sight with their other senses. That mental ability, essential to understanding and functioning in a visual world, is a function of the brain that infants and children develop over time. However, most adults who regain sight through modern surgical methods, never fully develop these specialized mental abilities. Not being able to use restored sight effectively can have devastating effects. “Adults who regain sight after being blind for most or all of their lives often experience initial elation followed by emotional distress, depression, and sometimes even suicide.” -Science News

However, those adults whose blindness was cured by Jesus were also granted the full mental capacity to use their sight. They were able to fully function as sighted adults. That demonstrates Jesus mastery over both human physiology and the complexities of neuroscience. He has the ability to fully heal both mind and body. Those he healed did not suffer the distress and depression that comes with the limited ability that modern medicine has to cure blindness.

Who should you put your trust in: Man, who has a very limited understanding of the human brain, and chooses to use that knowledge as a weapon and tool of oppression? Or, Christ Jesus, who possesses a perfect understanding of the human brain, and the desire to use that power to freely benefit humans? The Bible shows that Christ Jesus will soon intervene in human affairs and bring an end to all suffering. Reflecting on the power The Christ has already demonstrated gives me confidence that he can fully undo any psychological or physical damage caused by abusive humans. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I gladly share my Bible-based reasons for such confidence with others on a weekly basis.

“With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” -Revelation 21:3-4

“Since man is made in the image of God, then the taking of a man’s life is the destruction of the most precious and the most holy thing in the world.”—The Plain Man’s Guide to Ethics, by William Barclay.

I attended the The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues in New York City today, a distinguished panel convened to discuss issues involved in ethical treatment of humans used for medical research and testing. I sat for the greater part of six hours, listening as a group of highly educated doctors, administrators and officials struggled with a very fundamental question: How should I treat my fellowman?

The formation of this panel was prompted by the recent discovery of the shocking account of involuntary medical abuses in Guatemala by the United States Public Health Service (PHS) during the 1940’s. Researchers infected people by the hundreds with deadly diseases without consent, so their corpses could be used for further study. The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues was formed by President Obama to asses ways to prevent future abuses in the use of human subjects for research.

Truthfully, a 12-year-old who has read the clear, simple words of Jesus Christ can show that distinguished panel the solution: ” . . . just as YOU want men to do to YOU, do the same way to them . . .” —Luke 6:31. This fundamental teaching by Jesus Christ is often called The Golden Rule. This principle clearly shows that human life is more important than any potential medical or scientific advances that may be achieved by exploiting or endangering the lives of others. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Don’t abuse the rights of others if you don’t want your own abused. What clarity, beauty and wisdom is contained in that simple command!

Can you imagine how many of the world’s shocking human rights abuses and injustices would be resolved by adopting this clear, effective principle? It was sad to see such a refreshingly simple and effective truth elude this highly educated panel of experts. No doubt, there are good motives on the part of many involved in addressing these problems. However, the lessons of modern history tell us why such efforts so often fail. The conglomeration of political/commercial powers, and all-consuming greed motivates powerful interests to abuse the lives of others for selfish interests. That overarching self-interest is often carefully disguised in a morass of “ethical” legalese that does little to protect the innocent and vulnerable. Human life is now seen as “completely disposable tools for making money.”—Disposable People, New Slavery In The Global Economy

The dictionary defines ethics as: A theory or a system of moral values. Any system of moral values is only as good as the principles it is built on. As human society becomes more secular in nature, the fundamental principles found in God’s Word the Bible are being stripped from our ethics. As we discard those sound principles, the inherently selfish thinking of secular humanity insures that we will see a dramatic increase in abuses of human rights on a global scale. “. . . But wicked men . . . will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.” —2 Timothy 3:13

It is the height of folly to put our trust in any man-made system or government. Only Jehovah God possesses perfect wisdom. Thus, he is the only reliable guide as to what constitutes a successful system of moral values.  “. . . Look! They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have? ” —Jeremiah 8:9. The Bible makes it clear that God’s administration will soon take over management of human affairs. Only then will we enjoy the protection and justice we yearn for. “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4.

The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues convenes its fifth meeting in New York City on May 18-19th, 2011. Its agenda focuses on the issues of ethics and human experimentation. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on the lives of involuntary experimentees in covert remote energy weapons and psychological torture. To give some historical context to this issue, here is a brief list of some of the involuntary and controversial human experimentation admittedly conducted with government sponsorship over the course of the twentieth century. Source: healthnewsnetwork.com

1931 Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, under the auspices of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Investigations, infects human subjects with cancer cells. He later goes on to establish the U.S. Army Biological Warfare facilities in Maryland, Utah, and Panama, and is named to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. While there, he begins a series of radiation exposure experiments on American soldiers and civilian hospital patients.

1932 The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. 200 black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs in order to follow the progression and symptoms of the disease. They all subsequently die from syphilis, their families never told that they could have been treated.

1935 The Pellagra Incident. After millions of individuals die from Pellagra over a span of two decades, the U.S. Public Health Service finally acts to stem the disease. The director of the agency admits it had known for at least 20 years that Pellagra is caused by a niacin deficiency but failed to act since most of the deaths occured within poverty-striken black populations.

1940 Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with Malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend their own actions during the Holocaust.

1942 Chemical Warfare Services begins mustard gas experiments on approximately 4,000 servicemen. The experiments continue until 1945 and made use of Seventh Day Adventists who chose to become human guinea pigs rather than serve on active duty.

1943 In response to Japan’s full-scale germ warfare program, the U.S. begins research on biological weapons at Fort Detrick, MD.

1944 U.S. Navy uses human subjects to test gas masks and clothing. Individuals were locked in a gas chamber and exposed to mustard gas and lewisite.

1945 Project Paperclip is initiated. The U.S. State Department, Army intelligence, and the CIA recruit Nazi scientists and offer them immunity and secret identities in exchange for work on top secret government projects in the United States.

1945 “Program F” is implemented by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). This is the most extensive U.S. study of the health effects of fluoride, which was the key chemical component in atomic bomb production. One of the most toxic chemicals known to man, fluoride, it is found, causes marked adverse effects to the central nervous system but much of the information is squelched in the name of national security because of fear that lawsuits would undermine full-scale production of atomic bombs.

1946 Patients in VA hospitals are used as guinea pigs for medical experiments. In order to allay suspicions, the order is given to change the word “experiments” to “investigations” or “observations” whenever reporting a medical study performed in one of the nation’s veteran’s hospitals.

1947 Colonel E.E. Kirkpatrick of the U.S. Atomic Energy Comission issues a secret document (Document 07075001, January 8, 1947) stating that the agency will begin administering intravenous doses of radioactive substances to human subjects.

1947 The CIA begins its study of LSD as a potential weapon for use by American intelligence. Human subjects (both civilian and military) are used with and without their knowledge.

1950 Department of Defense begins plans to detonate nuclear weapons in desert areas and monitor downwind residents for medical problems and mortality rates.

1950 In an experiment to determine how susceptible an American city would be to biological attack, the U.S. Navy sprays a cloud of bacteria from ships over San Franciso. Monitoring devices are situated throughout the city in order to test the extent of infection. Many residents become ill with pneumonia-like symptoms.

1951 Department of Defense begins open air tests using disease-producing bacteria and viruses. Tests last through 1969 and there is concern that people in the surrounding areas have been exposed.

1953 U.S. military releases clouds of zinc cadmium sulfide gas over Winnipeg, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Fort Wayne, the Monocacy River Valley in Maryland, and Leesburg, Virginia. Their intent is to determine how efficiently they could disperse chemical agents.

1953 Joint Army-Navy-CIA experiments are conducted in which tens of thousands of people in New York and San Francisco are exposed to the airborne germs Serratia marcescens and Bacillus glogigii.

1953 CIA initiates Project MKULTRA. This is an eleven year research program designed to produce and test drugs and biological agents that would be used for mind control and behavior modification. Six of the subprojects involved testing the agents on unwitting human beings.

1955 The CIA, in an experiment to test its ability to infect human populations with biological agents, releases a bacteria withdrawn from the Army’s biological warfare arsenal over Tampa Bay, Fl.

1955 Army Chemical Corps continues LSD research, studying its potential use as a chemical incapacitating agent. More than 1,000 Americans participate in the tests, which continue until 1958.

1956 U.S. military releases mosquitoes infected with Yellow Fever over Savannah, Ga and Avon Park, Fl. Following each test, Army agents posing as public health officials test victims for effects.

1958 LSD is tested on 95 volunteers at the Army’s Chemical Warfare Laboratories for its effect on intelligence.

1960 The Army Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) authorizes field testing of LSD in Europe and the Far East. Testing of the european population is code named Project THIRD CHANCE; testing of the Asian population is code named Project DERBY HAT.

1965 Project CIA and Department of Defense begin Project MKSEARCH, a program to develop a capability to manipulate human behavior through the use of mind-altering drugs.

1965 Prisoners at the Holmesburg State Prison in Philadelphia are subjected to dioxin, the highly toxic chemical component of Agent Orange used in Viet Nam. The men are later studied for development of cancer, which indicates that Agent Orange had been a suspected carcinogen all along.

1966 CIA initiates Project MKOFTEN, a program to test the toxicological effects of certain drugs on humans and animals.

1966 U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when army scientists drop lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.

1967 CIA and Department of Defense implement Project MKNAOMI, successor to MKULTRA and designed to maintain, stockpile and test biological and chemical weapons.

1968 CIA experiments with the possibility of poisoning drinking water by injecting chemicals into the water supply of the FDA in Washington, D.C.

1969 Dr. Robert MacMahan of the Department of Defense requests from congress $10 million to develop, within 5 to 10 years, a synthetic biological agent to which no natural immunity exists.

1970 Funding for the synthetic biological agent is obtained under H.R. 15090. The project, under the supervision of the CIA, is carried out by the Special Operations Division at Fort Detrick, the army’s top secret biological weapons facility. Speculation is raised that molecular biology techniques are used to produce AIDS-like retroviruses.

1970 United States intensifies its development of “ethnic weapons” (Military Review, Nov., 1970), designed to selectively target and eliminate specific ethnic groups who are susceptible due to genetic differences and variations in DNA.

1975 The virus section of Fort Detrick’s Center for Biological Warfare Research is renamed the Fredrick Cancer Research Facilities and placed under the supervision of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) . It is here that a special virus cancer program is initiated by the U.S. Navy, purportedly to develop cancer-causing viruses. It is also here that retrovirologists isolate a virus to which no immunity exists. It is later named HTLV (Human T-cell Leukemia Virus).

1977 Senate hearings on Health and Scientific Research confirm that 239 populated areas had been contaminated with biological agents between 1949 and 1969. Some of the areas included San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Key West, Panama City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.

1978 Experimental Hepatitis B vaccine trials, conducted by the CDC, begin in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ads for research subjects specifically ask for promiscuous homosexual men.

1981 First cases of AIDS are confirmed in homosexual men in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, triggering speculation that AIDS may have been introduced via the Hepatitis B vaccine

1985 According to the journal Science (227:173-177), HTLV and VISNA, a fatal sheep virus, are very similar, indicating a close taxonomic and evolutionary relationship.

1986 According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (83:4007-4011), HIV and VISNA are highly similar and share all structural elements, except for a small segment which is nearly identical to HTLV. This leads to speculation that HTLV and VISNA may have been linked to produce a new retrovirus to which no natural immunity exists.

1986 A report to Congress reveals that the U.S. Government’s current generation of biological agents includes: modified viruses, naturally occurring toxins, and agents that are altered through genetic engineering to change immunological character and prevent treatment by all existing vaccines.

1987 Department of Defense admits that, despite a treaty banning research and development of biological agents, it continues to operate research facilities at 127 facilities and universities around the nation.

1990 More than 1500 six-month old black and hispanic babies in Los Angeles are given an “experimental” measles vaccine that had never been licensed for use in the United States. CDC later admits that parents were never informed that the vaccine being injected to their children was experimental.

1994 With a technique called “gene tracking,” Dr. Garth Nicolson at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX discovers that many returning Desert Storm veterans are infected with an altered strain of Mycoplasma incognitus, a microbe commonly used in the production of biological weapons. Incorporated into its molecular structure is 40 percent of the HIV protein coat, indicating that it had been man-made.

1994 Senator John D. Rockefeller issues a report revealing that for at least 50 years the Department of Defense has used hundreds of thousands of military personnel in human experiments and for intentional exposure to dangerous substances. Materials included mustard and nerve gas, ionizing radiation, psychochemicals, hallucinogens, and drugs used during the Gulf War .

1995 U.S. Government admits that it had offered Japanese war criminals and scientists who had performed human medical experiments salaries and immunity from prosecution in exchange for data on biological warfare research.

1995 Dr. Garth Nicolson, uncovers evidence that the biological agents used during the Gulf War had been manufactured in Houston, TX and Boca Raton, Fl and tested on prisoners in the Texas Department of Corrections.

1996 Department of Defense admits that Desert Storm soldiers were exposed to chemical agents.

1997 Eighty-eight members of Congress sign a letter demanding an investigation into bioweapons use & Gulf War Syndrome.

Most of my writing in this blog has focused on winning the day to day battle for the mind when targeted by psychological attacks in long-term covert no-touch torture experimentation (what is colloquially termed gang-stalking). These programs are designed to trigger life-threatening health effects of long-term distress, and to strip the targeted of humanity. Your environment is poisoned by a barrage of provocation, manipulation, humiliation and negative conditioning. The intent is to strip away your self-control and ability to function in society. In effect, they want to turn a normal, balanced human being into an isolated, self-destructive animal. However, that need not be our outcome.

One of the tools we can use to protect ourselves is simple, free, and has no side effects. It is a smile. I learned early on that the simple act of smiling can bolster the mind and body, instantly relieving stress. When I find myself around negative people, a genuine smile “clears the air” of emotional poison, allowing me to sail through potentially stressful encounters without mental “wear and tear.” It rewards my acts of kindness, reinforces them, and encourages good in others. When you enter a room with a big smile, it is human nature for others to smile in response. Therefore, by smiling, you exert a positive influence on your environment. Even when I am alone, I indulge in the pleasure of smiling when anxiety starts to cloud my thoughts. It lowers the heart rate and eases tension, helping me to relax. Yes, all of that can come from a smile!

The amazing health benefits of smiling are discussed in this Ted.com video presentation “The Power of Smiling,” by Ron Gutman. Ron reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you’ll live — and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being? I hope you find this video inspiring and useful.

A primary weapon in no-touch torture is relentlessly negative, condemning speech. As a way of breaking a targeted person’s spirit, covertly employed individuals surrounding him such as neighbors, workmates, and others will slyly use casual conversation as a weapon to constantly denigrate the victim. Such poisonous, destructive talk is tailored to the circumstances of each targeted individual. In my case, the torturers seek to turn my love for God against me. How so? By convincing me that the perverse, merciless surveillance they practice is in imitation of God. “God is always watching you, ready to punish any mistake you make,” is their claim. Is their view of God an accurate one? Is God really like a rabid, merciless prosecutor, constantly searching every detail of our lives, relishing any opportunity to punish our weaknesses and mistakes? In actuality, nothing could be farther from the truth.

The Bible does teach that Our Heavenly Father is interested in each of us personally. “ALL hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Why does he carefully search through our figurative hearts and examine the “inclination of (our) thoughts?” It is because God constantly searches for the good in our hearts even though we are far from perfect. To illustrate: A prospector will carefully and patiently sift through much rock and sand, looking for a tiny bit of gold. When he finds that gold, he rejoices, and carefully preserves it, while discarding the worthless rocks. God searches our hearts, seeking any good he can cherish and reward. Yet, he is willing to ‘discard,’ or forgive our many mistakes or flaws.

A practical example of how God does this can be found in the Bible account of Abijah. Abijah lived in a wicked household. His father, Jeroboam, was the head of a dynasty that had turned the nation of Israel away from true worship of God. Therefore, Jehovah purposed to make a clean sweep of Jeroboam’s house, “just as one clears away the dung.” (1 Kings 14:10) But God ordered that only one member of Jeroboam’s household, Abijah—who was gravely ill—be given an honorable burial. Why? God explained: “Something good toward Jehovah the God of Israel has been found in him in the house of Jeroboam.” (1 Kings 14:1, 12, 13) What do these words tell us about Abijah?

Abijah was not a worshipper of the true God. And, he was in a wicked household. Yet, while “sifting” through all the bad in Abijah’s heart, God found a bit of genuine goodness. In other words, there was some good deed or kindness that Abijah had done that God considered noteworthy. And he rewarded that good, by allowing this gravely ill man to be given an honorable burial.

Now, think of the beautiful facet of God’s personality this act reveals to us. Recall that something good was “found in” Abijah. Our loving Heavenly Father searched through Abijah’s heart until He found a trace of goodness. He cherished this goodness and rewarded it, granting a measure of mercy to this one member of a wicked family.

Knowing this, should move us to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. He wants the best for all of us. Rather than mercilessly searching for any error that he can punish, He is always searching for some good that he can cherish and reward. “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” -Psalm 130:3

It is sad that God is so cruelly misrepresented by crafty slanderers, looking to distort our view of Him, and destroy us in the process. I truly hope that this honest look at God’s personality will help any seeking help to call upon Him in prayer, confident that he comes to the aid of those “earnestly seeking him.” ” . . .for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. . .” -Hebrews 11:6

I stopped into my local McDonald’s this morning for breakfast. As is typical, a number of the employees engaged in low level no-touch torture tactics, (using code words or actions that serve as psychological triggers and identify them with my torturers). There were also higher level agents in the restaurant providing surveillance, monitoring my responses to this barrage of covert psychological attacks. I will, at times, initiate a conversation with these “agents.’ As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, starting a conversation with strangers comes easily to me. Two such covert plainclothes government “agents” were sitting at a table near mine.”

May I share a quick comment with you,” I inquired, as I finished my breakfast. The two men, one black, one white, both middle-aged, responded pleasantly. I began with a unusual question: “Were either of you ever taught in school how to respond to psychological pressures, manipulation, torture or brainwashing?” Both responded in the negative. “Did you know that Jehovah’s Witnesses teach all of their members, from an early age, how to survive when undergoing those sorts of abuses by any government or regime.” In fact, they have an international reputation for maintaining integrity under all sorts of persecution. For example, during the Korean War, when many of the finest military minds and graduates of West Point were breaking under Korean brainwashing tactics, a Pentagon study admitted that only Jehovah’s Witnesses were able, to a man, to successfully withstand the extreme psychological pressures and torture.”

“I know a little about that, responded one of the two men as they ate breakfast, “I have two cousins that are Jehovah’s Witnesses. But I’ve heard that the higher the intellect, the easier it is to break a man.” “Well,” I replied, “the reason why the Witnesses have stood up to such abuses has little to do with intellect. For them, it’s a matter of faith. If your confidence, or belief system is based upon trust in a government or political ideology, what happens when that government abuses you? The very foundation of your belief system is broken and you will crack psychologically as a result. However, if your belief system is based upon unshakable faith in an authority higher than any man-made government or ideology, you are much more likely to survive persecution or torture. Now, I’m not talking about belief in God as a mere formality, but, rather, having absolute confidence in his existence and support. That sort of faith is far stronger than putting trust in any political ideology.” They both nodded in agreement. Closing the conversation, I continued: “That thought was on my mind, and I just wanted to share it. I will let you get on with your breakfast, thanks for listening.” We exchanged pleasantries and I left.

The truth is, that brief conversation did me quite a bit of good. It was a reminder of the priceless gift I have. This “gift” has equipped me superbly to survive this ongoing experiment in cruelty (covert directed energy weapons and no-touch torture campaign) for over thirteen years.

I can remember as a pre-teen, attending a meeting at Yankee Stadium where Harold King, a missionary and one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, discussed his ordeals in prison camps in Red China. He survived seven years of solitary confinement because of his faith. With me, more than 34,700 Jehovah’s Witnesses, of all ages and cultures were in attendance that day, listening raptly to this true-life account of unbroken integrity. More recently, I vividly recall watching Nancy Yuen, who spent more than twenty years in detention in Red China for preaching Bible truths, tell her life story during a Sunday meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her joyful, enthusiastic spirit was a powerful testimony to the complete failure of an abusive regime to break her integrity or rob her joy.

Few are aware of the brutal persecution Jehovah’s Witnesses suffered right here in the United States. Nationalistic paranoia and religious bigotry during the 1930’s and 1940’s resulted in much persecution and mob violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses nationwide. Determined to claim their First Amendment rights, Jehovah’s Witnesses waged a tenacious legal campaign that led to twenty-three Supreme Court rulings between 1938 and 1946. As an organization, they have fought and won more Supreme Court battles than any other entity in our nation’s history. The rights they secured have richly benefited all Americans. “The Supreme Court rulings . . . were more than vindication for unpopular beliefs–they were also a turning point in the nation’s constitutional commitment to individual rights . . . By vigorously pursuing their cause, the Witnesses helped to inaugurate an era in which individual and minority rights emerged as matters of concern for the Supreme Court and foreshadowed events in the civil rights movement. “ —Judging Jehovah’s Witnesses, Religious Persecution and the Dawn of the Rights Revolution, by Shawn Francis Peter.

Phil Donahue discusses Jehovah’s Witnesses and Supreme Court rulings.

There is so much more I can relate. This superb, spiritual education and historic heritage has equipped me for the challenges I now face. I need to remind myself of that from time to time. My survival is no accident. I have been trained by a practical program of Bible-based education that is truly matchless in equipping me for life’s adversities. This is my spiritual heritage, and a priceless gift!

In following recent events in the news, I’ve been struck by just how pervasive our modern Death Culture has become. Life is cheap. Millions celebrate the death of those condemned by public opinion, with the same pleasure they derive from watching a Hollywood movie villain get his ‘comeuppance’ in the end. The death of real people is now popular entertainment, in a way reminiscent of the ancient Romans feeding the condemned to wild beasts in their stadiums and coliseums.

The fundamental notion of ‘justice’ is undergoing a profound and disturbing perversion. “Having your day in court,” is no longer the desired outcome. The public cries out for the blood of others as swift retribution. Often, that retribution is demanded on scant evidence. Slander, or the weight of negative, unreasoning public opinion is all it takes to deprive others of their right to life. Injustice is the new justice.

Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of this “death culture” is the popular belief that power, supremacy, and money are of much more importance than human life and moral values. Those who have the greatest power and influence on the world’s stage deem it their right to override or ignore laws and judicial process as they take the lives of those less privileged, less popular, and less desired.

Given this climate, I can understand the rapid growth and adoption of covert no-touch torture and psychological harassment programs designed to disrupt and destroy the lives of perceived “enemies” at the community level. It is simply an outgrowth of our modern Death Culture. Bloodthirst is being legitimized, glorified and made a community right, while sidestepping judicial process and the rule of law.

As I observe the daily participants in these psychological attacks, I often see the same pleasure on their faces that comes with killing a virtual enemy in a video game or seeing the villian die in a Hollywood fantasy. It is just one example of the rapid corrosion and perversion of our moral values. Our movies, our music, and modern political leaders promote this murderous view of life. We are taught to equate strength with the willingness to take the lives of people we do not like.

It will get worse. Our popular culture is zealously inculcating the principles of Death Culture into ever younger, highly malleable minds. I was alarmed recently to see the coming attractions for a highly promoted Hollywood movie, rated PG-13, that carries the following theme (“Hanna,” imdb.com): “A 16-year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.” Think of all the 16 year olds (and younger) who will see this movie, as part of their steady diet of violent entertainment. This is Death Culture propaganda. How young people choose to interact with other nations, cultures and creeds, especially when disagreements and conflicts arise, will be shaped by this endless stream of life-cheapening entertainment.

We should not be surprised therefore, that no-touch torture programs, and covert torture weapons normally associated with international warfare, are now being covertly employed at the community level, among our own citizens and neighbors. It is a natural outgrowth of our modern Death Culture.

How can we cope when facing such egregious abuses of public trust and law? There is a group that for the past century has experienced the worst of psychological and physical torture programs by abusive regimes. Yet, they have earned an international reputation for unbreakable integrity. In his book entitled “The Nazi State,” Professor Ebenstein of Princeton University wrote concerning Jehovah’s witnesses: “When the witnesses did not give up the struggle for their religious convictions, a campaign of terror was launched against them which surpassed anything perpetrated against other victims of Nazism in Germany. . . . The sufferings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the camps were even worse than those meted out to Jews, pacifists or Communists. Small as the sect is, each member seems to be a fortress which can be destroyed but never taken.” During the Korean War, the products of our military schools and our better colleges cracked by the score under the stress and blandishments of Communist brainwashing. A Pentagon study of the problem brought forth a red-faced conclusion: Those few Jehovah’s Witnesses who ended up as prisoners of war . . . withstood to a man the scientific, psychological efforts to convert them to Communism—better than a number of patriotic West Pointers.” What has enabled this relatively small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses to withstand such abuses? How can we benefit from their experiences? To find out, please bookmark this site and return soon for my next installment.

Addendum: Gang Stalking or No-Touch Torture?

I am moving away from using the term “gang stalking” to describe the psychological attacks engaged in by individuals at the community level guided by covert agencies. That colloquial expression does not adequately describe the full intent and nature of these attacks. This is what the CIA has termed “No-Touch Torture.” These sustained attacks, which may last for years, are not designed to punish or reform. They are designed to inflict severe and permanent psychological damage. Indeed, their intent is to destroy the foundation of psychological health needed to support life. Just as a physical weapon can induce organ failure to end life, no-touch torture attacks and destroys the psychological or mental health essential to life. When someone is placed under sustained No-Touch Torture for months and years on end, the objective is destruction of life and well-being. To describe this abuse of law and public trust, one can hardly do better than to use the name given it by those who employ it.