breaking family bonds and other allegiance

Hey y'all,

I wonder if any of you kids noticed the powerful mechanisms at work within the cult to break down your other bonds and associations in addition to weakening your family ties.

I remember that it was obvious to experienced SeaOgres that we were often put in a position where we had to "bust" or kangaroo-court one our close friends or respected colleagues. Of course if we didn't find our pals guilty of all the charges that were brought down from On High, we were then charged with (and of course found guilty of) the same crimes.

Having to disconnect from friends and family because of them being "in bad" with the cult causes a real darkness to decend over many people's lives. I can feel it when I read your stories of growing up within. I pray that someday the darkness that entered our lives can finally lift. But years after we left, my oldest child told me that when she thinks of me she gets the same feeling she got when she first watched "Apocalypse Now."

I'm afraid I'll have to take that one to my grave.

Be well,
Dennis