Rocket Talk: Can Sunday Subway Service Start Sooner?
Newsstand: November 19, 2009
Gender Studies Coming to a High School Near You
Please Insert Station and Try Again
The Art of Not Knowing
Things between Anonymous and the Church of Scientology have been getting downright nasty lately. Vindictive, even.
For much of the last week, Project Chanology's local adherents have been holding court at Scientology's Yonge Street chapter, carrying out what they call "flash raids." Unlike the broader, theme-based demonstrations of the past few months—addressing everything from the Church's notorious Fair Game policy to its very own, admittedly hilarious private navy—the community-targeted, information-based flash raids are, in comparative terms, not unlike the ubiquitous mall kiosks festooned with remaindered copies of Dianetics and stress tests: it looks like Scientology will just have to get used to them.
That's not to say they're taking it in stride. In response to Anonymous' constellation of indictments—ranging from an alleged history of tax fraud to more than a few disturbing human rights violations—operatives within the church, and definitely the local organization, have taken to the streets themselves, although without the en-masse presence that Project Chanology has maintained. While Anonymous' unnervingly exhaustive manifesto stops short of dropping the t-bomb, Scientology's response has been peppered with truncated, unofficial quotes lifted from YouTube and 4chan, essentially profiling the web-based movement as a band of hate-motivated terrorists.
During our day's first awkward visit to the local org, Torontoist was tossed a handful of literature and told to come back in an hour. One pamphlet—a glossy brochure splashed with Anonymous' "official" logo— featured a FAQ of basic questions about the group's activities. Braving the ire of professors everywhere, Scientology cites the "Anonymous_(group)" Wikipedia entry, without referencing Project Chanology itself: "Anonymous broadly represents the concept of any and all people as an unnamed collective." Also, as of May 17, the entry apparently included the following:
"Anonymous is devoid of humanity, morality, pity, and mercy.Anonymous works as one, because none of us are as cruel as all of us. Anonymous has no weakness or flaw. Anonymous exploits all weaknesses and flaws. Anonymous doesn't have a family or friends."
At press time, the above is conspicuously absent from the entry in question. While it appears as part of "The Sekrit Code of Anonymous" in an Encyclopedia Dramatica entry, the quote refers to the meme of Anonymous as an online phenomenon spanning the breadth and history of the Web, of which Project Chanology is a recent, focused manifestation. Addressing the Project's disputed legality, Scientology is markedly more vague: "It does not matter how many of us are knocked out," the Church cites, referring to this YouTube video. "'Remove one head, and ten replace it.'" Why only the latter appears quoted is unclear, but likely related to its absence from the video's transcription. Instead, the words belong to user Karasuetpeople, posted to the video a month ago.
Because of the vast, structureless body of Anonymous and the obviously heated nature of the issue, the ownership and intent of such quotes on either side can't be reasonably ascertained from online sources. So, like good little neo-Luddites, Torontoist once again closed its laptop and pulled out its thirty-dollar voice recorder.
"I don't know, when you're in a smaller group you can talk to the public more easily," one Anon told us. "You can hand out more flyers; there's more public access. It's not so big, you know?" Without a fixed schedule, the flash raids are prepared a day or two in advance—largely unannounced—to maximize the element of surprise. "Not many people know about them, and [Scientology] can't really prepare," said another. "It's guerrilla warfare. Yesterday, after people showed up, they started closing the blinds."
With greater dialogue, Project Chanology hopes to defuse some of the arguably propagandist rhetoric leveled against them by Scientology's escalating PR efforts. "If you go in there right now," said another Anon, pointing to the org's rarely-open door, "they have a stack of flyers on their desks saying we are evil, evil people. They've been on Bloor walking up and down [the street] with them." Anons, meanwhile, have reduced the scale of their demonstrations lately—with the exception of yesterday's presence at Pride [PDF]—to more effectively engage the public. Sidewalk drawings state the names of those allegedly victimized by Fair Game practices, while an arrow-shaped sign points into the org's lobby with a monosyllabic message: "CULT."
An hour later, we followed up on that earlier request for an interview. As staff members we'd talked to had since changed shifts, a gentleman in a red Dianetics shirt—reportedly a member of the local org's Office of Special Affairs—welcomed us. After our introduction, a knowing expression flashed across the man's face, and we were guided back toward the entrance.
"Have a nice day," he said, holding the door. Then he locked it in our faces.
All photos by Jon Robertson.
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The only thing stupider than scientology is protesting scientology.
Matty's right. Only an idiot would waste their time protesting things like the death of Lisa McPherson (they took her from a hospital after a car accident, locked her in a room and let her starve to death while cockroaches ate her), elaborate campaigns of harassment (they framed Paulette Cooper for a bomb threat because she wrote a book critical of them, as well as their use of lawyers for no reason other than to harass), use of front groups to indoctrinate, recruit, and push Scientology's policies on unsuspecting schools, kids, companies, and politicians (Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Criminon, Narconon, Association for Better Living and Education, Applied Scholastics, the Cult Awareness Network, which they bankrupted and then bought, and more), use of "Vulture Ministers" (they show up at disaster sites, claim to be working in association with the Red Cross [or similar], and take advantage of the situation to recruit while denying victims actual help), policy of disconnection, infiltration of government offices to remove critical documents and gain influence (the IRS, RCMP, OPP, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, among others), and a business model based on fraud, false imprisonment, assault, extortion, kidnapping, defamation, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and racketeering.
Maybe we should just protest war instead, because that's been so much more effective.
Hahaha, I'm surprised the editors let you link Encyclopedia Dramatica.
OK, I understand that Scientology has done some evil things, without a doubt... However, if you compare Scientology with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, or any other religion, Scientology aren't all that bad, at all. Certainly Scientology hasn't done anything worse than the Crusades, have they? And Scientology isn't any more of a money making scam than your average Christian televangelist, right?
If it is killing people, scamming money, using charities to proselytize or promote self interest - Well Christianity, Judaism, Islam, all those religions have done that stuff. People aren't harassing Catholic churches over pedophile priests or the Spanish Inquisition... People aren't harassing Jewish temples over Israeli occupation of Palestine... People aren't harassing mosques over 9/11 or beheading journalists... Most people are able to understand that even if we strongly disapprove of the actions of certain members of a religion, in a tolerant and democratic society we aren't supposed to take it out on all members of that religion.
If you used the same tactics as "Anonymous" in front of a temple, or mosque, or church, or whatever, you would be charged with a hate crime faster than you could sneeze.
As far as I can see it, Scientology is being persecuted for nothing more being a bunch of weirdos. Sure, some Scientologist individuals have harassed or killed people, and Scientology is raking in the bucks... Sure they believe that a space alien named "Xeno" blew up a trillion people in DC-10 aircraft several million years ago... But right-wing Christians have assassinated abortion doctors not too long ago, and eating bread and wine that turns into the blood and flesh of Christ seems pretty weird when you think about it. No, people aren't protesting Scientology for any real moral reasons, otherwise they would protest just about every organized religion.
No, it is just that Scientology is fringe enough that not many people are going to call out your hate mongering. Well, I am going to call out hate mongering! Hating Scientology might be cool, but hate is hate, and as much as my hardcore atheist skeptic ass dislikes organized religion, I am with Scientology on this one. The only thing different between Anonymous and Neo-Nazis is that Anonymous where smart enough to hate a religion small enough that no-one gives a shit about it.
OK, I understand that Scientology has done some evil things, without a doubt... However, if you compare Scientology with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, or any other religion, Scientology aren't all that bad, at all.
God, how can people be so mind-numbingly stupid? Please tell me you're not seriously arguing that just because other religions have done evil things.......that makes it ok? I get so tired of hearing this stupidity.
If you used the same tactics as "Anonymous" in front of a temple, or mosque, or church, or whatever, you would be charged with a hate crime faster than you could sneeze.
Pff. You're blaming us for the fact that the prevailing attitudes are illogical and unequal?
But right-wing Christians have assassinated abortion doctors not too long ago
Yes, but I imagine they didn't get away with it unpunished. Scientology has killed people and no-one has been held accountable. The woman who starved to death in one of their compounds? Her death certificate still says it was an "accident". Yeah, they sued the coroner and had it "changed".
No, people aren't protesting Scientology for any real moral reasons, otherwise they would protest just about every organized religion.
What? Why? Name another religion which deserves the same treatment?
No, it is just that Scientology is fringe enough that not many people are going to call out your hate mongering.
They would be wrong if they did.
Chances are you're just a scientologist plant, anyway.
Sizzurp, you seem to misunderstand these protests.
The atrocities you cite committed by other religions happened hundreds upon hundreds of years ago, when those religions were still young and, funnily enough, anonymous wasn't around. We are now in the 21st century, and armed with this knowledge and the lessons learnt from such historical horrors, we are in a unique opportunity to act right now. Just because other churches have done it before, is not an excuse to stand by and do nothing while a new church commits similar crimes right now.
You also seem to misunderstand who are the targets of these protests. Individual scientologists are not under attack, regardless of who thinks what of their belief system. It is the corrupt management structure of the organisation that is the target. Decrying those who take advantage of vulnerable people, take their money, their livelihoods, their families and friends, and sometimes their lives, is not hate mongering simply because the people involved happen to hide behind the banner of "religion".
Tell me - do you believe it is hate mongering to condemn the actions of a catholic minister who abuses young boys in his care? I would be interested to hear your answer.
I sincerely encourage you to research more thoroughly on what these protests are actually about.
www.enturbulation.org
www.exscientologykids.com
To the author - thankyou for this interesting piece.
Intelligent, rational people are able to understand that things like religions, cities, nations, are abstractions. These are collective entities made up of millions of individual human beings - To pass collective judgment on the institution or people for the evil actions of a few is hate. I don't have to hate Toronto in order to condemn murders and thefts committed by Torontonians, and so if I don't hate Scientology that doesn't mean I condone the evil things some Scientologists have done.
The "You are either with us or against us" mentality is what is truly stupid (well, that and you can't seem to figure out the blockquote tag).
Spoken like a true brainwashed cultist. Anyone who disagrees with you must be part of the conspiracy! Perhaps you should consider joining the Scientologists, you have the proper world view already!If you don't like Osama Bin Laden or some religious terrorist, you wouldn't protest by burning an effigy of Mohammad. You wouldn't protest the religion Islam itself because a few crazy folks use Islam as an excuse to murder people. If you did do such things, you would come off as aggressive and hateful to many ordinary people who aren't even Muslims.
Anon is planning "flash raids". I don't know about you, but when I hear militaristic terms like "raid", and they go to the raid wearing Guy Fawkes masks (is that some sort of implicit threat to blow them up or something?), it makes me nervous. It makes normal, tolerant people nervous. In my gut, it just feels like jackboot thuggery.
Although some people do feel the Scientology beliefs themselves are dangerous, this is not the main focus of the protests. There is a faction of Scientology called the FreeZone which uses exactly the same materials and beliefs, but provided for free. This faction is not targeted by the protests - by your reasoning, if it were a simple case of "hating" people for their beliefs, don't you think they would be?
I am not sure what the "burning an effigy of Mohammed" example has to do with anything? Anonymous protests are strictly non-violent in nature.
"Flash raids" (or "flash mobs") are a term used to describe a sudden collection of people in a public space - it is not unique to this movement, nor does it necessarily have anything to do with activism of any kind.
The Guy Fawkes masks are a combination of a reference to a film which shows the uprising of a people against an oppressive government, and an internet joke. Not all protesters wear GF masks, but most do hide their faces, an important measure to protect them from Scientology's well documented practice of "Fair Game".
Between the "flash raids" concern and the Guy Fawkes mask issue, this indicates to me that you still have not done any research deeper into this topic. Again, I sincerely encourage you to take a second look, the answers are not hard to find.
To Sizzurp Sippa -
You are correct that actions of an individual do not necessarily reflect on an entire group.
However, when an organization is currently committing abuses as a matter of policy, the organization should be opposed.
Anonymous is not seeking to prevent anyone from believing what they want - the Freezone Scientologists practice Scientology without the abusive policies and coercive practices, and without the criminal element that is so deeply entrenched in the Church of Scientology. The Freezone is not targeted by Anonymous protests - if Anonymous was a hateful bigoted group why would they be accepting of Freezoners? Freezoners have even spoken at some of the Anonymous rallies.
What sets the Church of Scientology apart from religious organizations is the fact that the abuses are mandated by official "Church" policy and practiced by the "Church" leadership. Extremists of other religions do commit atrocities in the name of their faith but they do not represent their religion. Acts of abuse are condemned by the leaders of such religions.
In the Church of Scientology, the situation is different. Splinter groups (the Freezone) condemn the extremist and abusive behavior of the official "Church" leadership.
The victims of the Church of Scientology are usually Scientologists themselves. That does not make it excusable, and no society should turn a blind eye to sever human rights abuses, just because the perpetrators hide behind a religious cloak.
David Miscavige is the Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center, and he is currently the supreme leader over the Scientology Organization. With his accomplices, he is directly involved in the practice of abusive policies, including imprisonment of Scientologists in the Rehabilitation Project Force, and harassment and intimidation of "enemies" in accordance with the "Fair Game Policy".
This is not just a rogue extremist, this man is the highest ecclesiastical authority in Organized Scientology. David Miscavige said: "2001 saw us shooting down SPs (Suppressive Persons, enemies of Scientology) like 'ducks in a pond.' "[International Scientology News Issue 20]
"On August 29, 1982, David Miscavige, and others, acting on the orders of L. Ron Hubbard, kidnapped me and subsequently kept me captive and physically and mentally abused me for six months. During this period, David Miscavige, an officer and director of RTC, told me in the presence of Vicki Aznaran, President of RTC, Mark Yaeger, Commanding Officer, CMO INT of CSI that if I ever escaped, he would personally see to it that the resources of the Church of Scientology would destroy my character and reputation internationally."
- David Mayo (former right-hand man of L. Ron Hubbard)
"Mark Fisher, who was severely beaten by Miscavige, repeatedly told Miscavige and others that he did not want to be at the Hemet base. As Miscavige and others beat Mark in my presence, Mark kept saying that his attackers could beat him all they wanted but he still wanted to leave. Finally, Miscavige expressed his contempt and disgust at Mark and left the guard house where Mark was being held."
- Andre Tabayoyon, former Scientologist
David Miscavige and his accomplices continue to abuse the rights of anyone they consider to be an "enemy". Families are torn apart because the Church declares a person to be an SP, and enforces the disconnection of any Scientologist from that person.
David Miscavige boasted to many Scientologists about how he blackmailed the IRS Commissioner Fred T. Goldberg, coercing him to grant Scientology a tax-exemption.
The criminal history of the Church of Scientology and its leaders is quite shocking.
For example, the 1978 convictions of eleven Scientology leaders (including Mary Sue Hubbard) for their role in Operation Snow White - the largest domestic infiltration of the US Government.
In that same year, the then leader of Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard) was convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison in France. The leader of the French Church of Scientology was also convicted.
In 1988 the Spanish Government arrested Scientology president Heber Jentzsch and ten other members of the organization on various charges, including coercion, fraud, and labor law violations. Jentzsch jumped bail, and has never returned to Spain.
In 1992 in Canada, the Church of Scientology as an organization was convicted on the charge of breaching the public trust.
In September 2007, a Belgian prosecutor recommended that the Belgian Church of Scientology, Scientology's Office of Human Rights, and 12 individuals associated with Scientology should be prosecuted for extortion, fraud, organized crime, obstruction of medical practice, illegal medical practice, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and commercial infractions.
The German government is currently seeking to ban the Church of Scientology, because of the Church's antidemocratic and anti-constitutional goals.
The Church of Scientology continues to use litigation as a weapon to silence critics, in accordance with official Church doctrine:
"The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win. The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause his professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly."
—L. Ron Hubbard, A Manual on the Dissemination of Material, 1955.
The infamous doctrine that the Church of Scientology practices to hurt its 'enemies':
"ENEMY SP Order. Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."
-Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter of 18 October 1967
Sometimes, Scientologists say publicly that "fair game" has been canceled. However, in court, the Church of Scientology argued that "fair game" was a "core practice of Scientology", and therefore protected as "religious expression".
This occurred in Gerald Armstrong's 1984 case (Frank K. Flinn testimony in Church of Scientology of California, 1984, vol.23, pp.4032-4160.) as well as Lawrence Wollersheim's case in 1989 (Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Court of Appeal of the State of California, civ.no.B023193, 18 July 1989, upheld by the U,S. Supreme Court, 7 March 1994.)
Sizzurp.
Firstly, your original argument was already blown from the water, and you didn't even seem to acknowledge it. The actions of other religions cannot be used as a free card by scientology to commit crimes. Are you finished with that?
Your second argument, that individuals should be protested rather than organizations is even more deeply flawed. Your definition of scientology as an abstraction is laughable, and shows you clearly have not taken the time to research before opening your mouth.When a priest abuses a child, he is not following the official 'catholic church child abuse manual'.
When a group of scientologists, on orders from their superior, kidnap a ex scientologist, lock her in a room in a t shirt for six weeks to live in her own feces, they do so under the direct compliance with the scientology policy known as the INTROSPECTION RUNDOWN. See for yourself.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5hLewFRA51g
When scientologists infiltrate government offices, they do so under the direction of the organizations policy of fair game, which releases scientologists from moral obligations when dealing with scientology critical 'suppressive persons'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_%28Scientology%29
While scientolog'y crimes are committed by scientologists on the ground, they are no more guilty of them than, to use your fondness for analogy, the christians on the ground who enacted the horrors of the crusades, or the german people for the horrors of the nazi movement. Tell me, as an 'intelligent rational person' when the crimes are institutionalized, isn't it the institution that should be blamed, rather than those who innocently had faith in the good image said institution presented itself with? Didn't all these groups justify their actions as for the greater good. Hitler didn't rally the common man to his cause by telling them he was evil, he did it by telling them they were going to save the world. Certainly there is a portion of individual blame, but when the institution can withhold religious service from you, as a method of leverage, as well as punish you with physical labor for non-compliance via the RPF and even threaten you with expulsion, (which for a scientology sea org member means being thrown back into the real world with no money, and no skills- essentially end their lives), how can you blame the one being leveraged, threatened and manipulated? When OSA operatives go about their daily stalking and harassment of critics, they do so under orders. The real question is how scientologists when asked to commit these crimes for their church will happily do so, even though they directly violate the scientology creed of belief which they hold up above all else. It shows a blind faith of rationalization that disturbs me.
As for your comments on flash raids and masks, you can believe about protesters whatever you like, but when those beliefs are pulled from your bias and conjecture, please, please don't refer to yourself as rational.
The vast majority of scientologists being protested wont have a clue about these crimes and their cover ups, and I suppose thats one of the main reasons it needs to be done. Scientologists on the ground need to be made aware of the crimes their organization is committing, and need to be motivated to question said organization and if necessary tear it down so that it can be rebuilt.