I recently used the word "Moonies" in a post to describe followers of Sun Myung Moon. A member suggested that this word is offensive, and this is not the first time I have heard this notion.

I took the word from a speech entitled "Our Pride", given on December 13, 1981, in which Sung Myung Moon states, "We are Moonies and we are proud of it. We are the people who can digest the cultures of the world."

If Sun Myung Moon doesn't find the word "Moonies" offensive, why do others?

twinkiedooter

Why do others find that word offensive? They must be ilinformed and unread for them to be offended. I am of the observation that if a person does not "like" something or understand the subject fully, then he's "offended". What a crock of baloney if you ask me. Nowadays it's "chic" to be offended by everything and anything. At least that's what I think. Just like lawsuits are "chic" to file against someone for "offending" the other person for something ridiculous in a normal world.

Nigel Ligen

The Moon organization has a history of deceptively recruiting young people into the group, particularly in the 70s and 80s. They were famous for lying and telling young people they weren't with Moon. Using this deception they'd try to get some unsuspecting soul to come to a 3 or 7 day "seminar," "workshop" or "leadership meeting" and a few days or even in some cases weeks later tell the victim that they follow and believe Moon is the Second Coming. By then they hoped to have hooked another life for Moon. These were very elaborate ruses to con people. They knew no one aware of who they represented then would likely come to one of these events.

They are also known for swindling widows in Japan out of hundreds of millions of dollars and their leader, Moon, was convicted of cheating on his taxes. For these and other reasons they are always shedding their skin and putting on new face. Re-branding their image. They don't want people to associate who they are with who they are.

They know if they tell someone they are members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification or one of the other many front organizations for the Unification Church then the new potential victim will not know they are the same people who deceptively recruited young people and follow Moon as the Messiah.

They have been quite successful in cowering the press into not using the term. They try to say it is like using the "n" word. They just don't want people remembering them for who they are since their past isn't pretty.

Today they have been mainstreamed to the pint where they don't feel the need as much to lie about who they represent. So since they have a new skin the rest of us should forget their past.

See this: MOONIE CUP! Sun Myung Moon and Unification Church, Moonies

JimGunther

Well Nigel that's quite a mouthful and I hate to say it but in my community association problems such as you have mentioned have arisen. I guess that's another matter. I'm just surprised that the leader says its Ok to use a word and the followers (and others) call you down for using it. I guess the people who do so assume you haven't seen that particular speech.

450donn

Nigel Ligen Has in his post given an excellent definition of a "CULT" and as such I have no problem offending them. Personally I would not worry about calling them "moonies", but would rather simply close the door on them if they come around.

jenniepepsi

it was me and i apologies. i DID misunderstand the word he was using. i misread it to be the same as 'moor'

again, im sorry...forgive me?

JimGunther

Thanks Jennie and as I mentioned above, there are people from this group in my community who really get hot when someone uses this word and I don't think they realize or care to admit that their leader approved of the word in his 1981 speech.

Here is a link to the speech is anyone is interested:


http://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/s...n81/811213.htm

N0help4u

I would tell them that you took the word from a speech entitled "Our Pride", given on December 13, 1981, in which Sung Myung Moon states, "We are Moonies and we are proud of it and see what their reply to that is.

Chey5782

Unless they, in turn, tell you that as recently as 1982 he has been cited as saying that the term "moonie" IS offensive. I would read more into it before you take one sentence in one speech and wrap your opinion around it. But then I was raised to question authority and ask my own questions, like you are doing here. Then again, if it were me I would print out that speech, highlight the words you quoted, and go stick it in their mailboxes with a little heart shaped post-it saying, "Sorry to have misunderstood HIM!" But that might be viewed as antagonistic and rude. Safer just to nod and go read up on it yourself as you have done.

JimGunther

Its one sentence from the leader of the movement. I understand now that they want to be called "Sunnies." These people have caused some problems in our community as well as to me personally and I have zero respect for them as a result.