I will NEVER Google search an old friend again ...........

[EMAN51]

I am 48 years old. I had a good friend in Jr. Hi and H.S. growing up in the mid-70's in Alabama. He had it all, great student, great athlete, looks, personality and leadership. Student Body President, Science Fair winner, Champion debater and the nicest guy in the world. We have crossed paths a few times since 1976 since I moved to California. I know he graduated from medical school and became a physician in B'ham. He married, had 8-9 kids and lived on a large farm. He was accomplished and had it all, including wonderful parents and brothers.
He was a great friend. However, he became a Born-Again Christian Evangelical. He home-schooled his children and became prominent in that community. I visited him while he attended a meeting in S.D. and he spent a good part of the time proseltyzing (1991 I believe). Although he was different, he was always someone I admired and respected for his achievement and success. I saw him at a reunion in 2001 and he looked like he hadn't aged a day.
I ran a Google search on him today. On the front page of the "results" page I saw his full name and clicked. I was shocked and overwhelmed when I saw it was a DOJ press release announcing his indictment and arrest on 7 counts of transporting minors across state lines for illicit sexual purposes. Another article mentioned state charges for similar acts. I felt sick to my stomach for his family and the victims. I also felt sorry for him because he had thrown away (if found guilty)his perfect life. The press release, 1 and a half months old, said he was looking a 130 years.
I also felt sad as I lost the romantic ideal of who he was and should have been and I hope this is a mistake and he is not involved, but I doubt it.
I guess I picked a bad day to look him up.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. You're absolutely sure it was him, and not someone else?

I know there are, around the country, a great many people with my name.

If it was him, that is indeed really, really sad. But that's the problem with the born-again super Christian set - they're mentally disturbed, and abuse of one sort or another is almost guaranteed.

[EMAN51]

3. Almost 100%

His exact name, age, city he lives in, occupation, city where he works, and the article mentioned his involvement with home schooling. It has to be, although I am hoping against hope, that it is not. I called a few people who knew nothing about it, but looked at the same material I did and came to the same conclusion. I'm ill.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

2. Wow!

[Shine]

4. Wow, that's quite a story!

There is no such thing as "perfect", but this guy sounds like he definitely went over to the dark side.

Bummer.

[Syncronaut Seven]

5. The zealots, those are the ones to watch

Most have dark secrets and try to build an unassailable reputation in case they get caught.

Pedophiles can be very patient, meticulous people, Often angling for positions of trust to ply their sickness.

It seems the fundies are the worst.

[Arugula Latte]

11. Yep. They go the "other " way to cover their tracks.

Holier than thou. Meanwhile, they're raping children. :grr:

[samplegirl]

6. Sorry for your let down

how disappointing.

[Initech]

7. Wow, that's insanely crazy!

:wow:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

8. Sad and heartbreaking

It's monstrous what right-wing fundamentalism does to people.

Remember the breaking story from a few months back about the evangelicals who were busted for kiddie sex . . . and animal sex . . . and kiddie/animal sex? Or the Xtian DJ in Nashville who was caught w/ thousands of kiddie porn photos on his computer? Or the Church of God Youth Minister in Iowa who appeared on stage with Dear Leader and was later busted for boinking his little "sheep?"

The list is almost endless.

In your case, you had the fundie equivalent of the J. Geils Band's "Centerfold."

:wow:

[BlueIris]

9. Ouch. I'm really sorry.

Whenever I Google my old friends, I find out how much more accomplished they are than I am.

Actually, it occurs to me that since I now know that one of my friends is heavily, extremely, very, unbelievably fucked up, that despite his societal and professional "recognition" as brilliant, he may also be a ticking time bomb. I guess if I Google him in ten years and things are insane, I'll know. Not that I'd look forward to finding out about the damage he's inflicted on society by then.

Still, sorry man. Sounds rough.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Well, if he was truly a friend, would you consider sending him a note?

I honestly don't know what you could tell him, it sounds like an absolutely horrid situation, but maybe you could just say something like he is in your thoughts and leave it at that? :shrug:

Man, that is rough. I feel for you. Quite the shocker.

[alarcojon]

12. I looked up an old friend two years ago

and she had died of a rare illness at the age of 36. Though I hadn't seen her for over eight years, I was really saddened.

[Heidi]

13. Anyone can be indicted for anything.

And even if he's been convicted, he and all those associated with the circumstances probably need compassion now more than ever. :shrug:

[faithnotgreed]

29. thoughtful and well said heidi

i agree completely

[Renew Deal]

14. Care to share the DOJ profile?

[EMAN51]

16. I'm not sure what you mean

regarding a profile. The information was contained in a press release dated September 28th, 2005.

[Renew Deal]

17. I mean

a link to the press release.

[EMAN51]

24. This may be it

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln/Docs/September%202005/Sept%2028,%202005%20BIRMINGHAM%20PHYSICIAN%20INDICTED%20ON%20FEDERAL%20CHARGES%20OF%20INTERSTATE%20TRANSPORTATION%20OF%20CHILDREN%20FOR%20SEX.htm

[hickman1937]

15. Damn, somebody tell a Priest joke. n/t

[JVS]

18. Ok. What did the Priest do when he found out an old friend was in prison?

He went to visit him because doing so is one of the corporal acts of mercy.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi3/catholichomeschool/acts.html

Great joke eh?

[Porcupine]

19. Hey, you'll always know where to find the guy now. n/t

.

[Az]

20. It is likely

That his conversion to fundamentalism was the result of his own internal battles with his desires. People with such desires that are so at odds with what is socially/morally acceptable often see themself in the same terms society labels them. Evil, a monster, despicable. Thus in an attempt to purge themself of these traits they try to find things in our society which are the opposite.

Religion carries with it the image of wholesomeness and piety. It is often said of various religions that all you have do is have faith and all will be made right. For such a tormented individual that lure is often great.

Yet the truth is no matter how firmly they cling to the faith it is not going to change what their mind is nor change the things they are drawn to. Religion and faith is not the way to deal with such issues. It only clouds the matter and in fact places those that pursue such salvation in the presense of the vary things they are tempted by often with the aura of trust that religion brings with it.

Its a terrible situation in truth. People who are drawn to such things can never be naturally intergrated into society. Psychological measures must be taken. But due to the extreme taboo of such desires it is next to impossible for most to admit it to themself let alone seek medical help for it.

His life has likely been one driven by his compulsions. The need to excel fueled by his own revulsion of his own drives. Always trying to run away from himself. Truly someone that deeply wanted to be saved but turned into a monster instead.

[dorktv]

21. How do we help those that have that problem?

[Az]

23. There are a number of methods

Some more severe than others. Hopefully treatment such as negative reinforcement therapy would work. But it may require medication. It is of course dependent on the individual.

[Mutley]

22. Wow, that's awful!

I hope it isn't him. :hug:

I never find any information on my old friends. Either they had common names, or they haven't done any more than I have.

[eppur_se_muova]

25. Last time I saw an old acquaintance in the news...

he was helping to disenfranchise Florida voters in the 2004 election. Really weird. I was reading an article about the "Voter Verification" movement, and he was quoted. Turns out he was one of the big organizers.

Think a sex scandal would have been easier to stomach.

[LittleClarkie]

26. That "perfect" life was likely nothing of the sort

all fake.

[Lindsey]

28. That's horrible...I'm so sorry...I know what you mean about

illusions being shattered. However, maybe NONE of it's true. Remember, the McMartin case was proven to be totally false and so many lives were completely ruined. I shutter when I think of those poor people here in Southern Cal. On the other hand, it DOES seem to be the fanatical Christians, doesn't it, who are just sicker than one can possibly imagine. I think the fanaticism is a way that they try to make up for what they're really about. In any case, I'm really sorry......

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. A kid who was in my youngest brother's high school class and who used

to be over at our house all weekend has grown up to be an attorney for Concerned Women of America and other theocratic front groups. He made the front page of the New York Times in that capacity.

He always was kind of intense in an annoying way and prone to fanaticism. He and his older brother (equally loony, although not as prominent) once caused an uproar in high school because they decided that one of their classmates was possessed and needed to be exorcised.

The odd thing about it was that they were not raised fundamentalist but both went kind of crazy together (unlike the third brother, who has apparently stayed sane) after their mother died.

It would have been understandable as a grief reaction, but they've kept it up for about thirty years now.