Hesitation

A funny thing happened to me as I went to post my latest blog entry: I hesitated.

The blog entry in question – the one I’ve been talking about for a week now, which frankly isn’t anything even approaching a big deal – is called The Truth About “Look, Don’t Listen,” and it’s about the true origin of that phrase, its common misattribution, and why it is so odd that the Independent movement should adopt it as a rallying cry.

The blog entry talks quite a bit about Marty Rathbun and the Independent Scientology movement, and that’s what has given me a moment of pause. This whole Squirrel Squad episode has garnered sympathy from a lot of people – including, it seems, me.

I’m not prone to sympathy for former Church leaders who still practice Scientology. Marty was responsible for harassment just like this, and I suppose it serves him right to be on the receiving end. And if he is to be believed, it’s not the first time the Church has sent someone to his doorstep.

Still, it’s clear from the tone of Marty’s voice in his own video that he was shaken. Angry, to be sure, but also startled. That’s what makes this really disturbing. Marty’s a true Rondroid — a tone-40, TRs-in, hyper-focused, LRH-lovin’, on-policy son-of-a-bitch — and yet when four guys in silly T-shirts show up on his doorstep, it clearly rattles his cage. I don’t know why that bothers me so much, but it does.

Another issue is that I don’t want to be seen as piling on Marty along with the Church. I’ve had Indies accuse me of being part of OSA, and to this day I can’t be sure if Marty really believes that (I hope he’s not that dumb) or if he’s just trying to “dead-agent” me (which means he thinks his followers are that dumb). That sort of accusation doesn’t bother me, because anyone who can think logically – my target audience, in other words – can see that I oppose Scientology in all its forms. Regardless, the idea that someone grounded in reality might even perceive me of doing anything that forwards the Church’s agenda makes my skin crawl.

That said, it’s hard to sit here and watch Marty bask in the sympathy, especially when he makes it sound as if he’s winning friends in the media.

Of course, what Marty says is a media victory isn’t necessarily one. Take today’s Marty story, Human Rights Tolerance Award Winner Tom Cruise, which is actually about Tom Cruise’s daughter allegedly moving in with Mom to get away from all the Scientology stuff. Marty sez:

“The Daily, a new internet news medium, just reported that perhaps Tom’s daughter has split with him and the ‘church’ of Scientology.”

That’s not entirely true. The Daily article (which you can read here) doesn’t differentiate the Church from the practice of Scientology; it sounds as if Isabella is trying to get away not just from the Church, as Marty alleges, but from Scientology in general (which, if the story is true, is probably the case – otherwise why go to her non-believing mom?).

In fact, to read Marty and Mike’s quotes, you’d think they were former Scientologists who have left all that bullshit behind. Aside from making Marty and Mike out to be reliable sources, the article is actually a “win” for the anti-Scientology movement; Marty and Mike have succeeded in conveying just how creepy Scientology is.

Marty, of course, is trying to spin this on his own site:

“I have dealt with so many mothers and fathers (Scientologists and non-Scientologists) whose Scientologist kids were turned against them…”

I have to interrupt – this is true, and it’s all down to LRH’s “PTS/SP tech. If someone, anyone, criticizes your Scientology beliefs, “handle or disconnect” – so sayeth Marty’s guru, L. Ron Hubbard!

“…including the wonderful woman whom I am now auditing – that this topic is literally smack-dab in the center of my plate.

“I think it is significant, and ironic in a sense, that Miscavige’s best friend and closest confidant may be experiencing the backfire of this venomous “seize their children’s minds” technique perfected by Miscavige himself.”

Nice try, Marty, but the damage has been done – and I thank you for it.

There is one thing Marty said that really bothers me:

“Fact of the matter is the tactics Miscavige has employed to turn children and teen agers into unthinking and ruthless automatons are chilling. A series on that score will follow as time permits.”

I’m looking forward to hearing exactly what tactics Miscavige has employed, because I’ll bet you dollars to donuts they can be explained by LRH policy. I’ll bet you Marty won’t tell us that. I’ll bet he censors any comments that do. And you can bet that I will use this blog to show you the LRH policies that David Miscavige is following.

You know, I feel a lot better now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest. The Squrrel Squad incident doesn’t change the fact that Marty is still trying to lure people off the path away from Scientology. And it doesn’t change my mission to help ensure that people know better.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to give Look, Don’t Listen a final edit.

ML,
Caliwog