Independent Scientology censorship in action

From the comments on Marty’s article An Open Letter to Tony Ortega:

fatfreddy | September 29, 2011 at 7:02 am | Reply
>I can assure you that any atmosphere of abuse is no legacy of LRH.

Really?

Two years ago I studied the PDC´s [CALIWOG NOTE: Philadelphia Doctorate Course, a series of lectures by L. Ron Hubbard]. Sadly I do not remember the exact lecture number, but I marked the line big and fat. The context of that part of the lecture is the neccessity to bring sombody in PT [Present Time], before running exteriorization processes like it was done at that time. basicly LRH says:….in order to bring somebody in PT…beat him……

Now: There are probably rare situations in life, where it could be helpful to apply it. (Lets assume soldiers or sailors are going nuts during a battle or storm), but its a root for abuse. Its given as applicable technology, and the worst thing is:”…………one cannot be puished by applying LRH policy,bulletin or lecture”.

Now: If DM will ever be comm-eved [Committee of Evidence, a trial in the Scientology justice system] and accused of staff beating, and he is refering to that part of the lecture, what are you doing then? [CW Note: Under the Scientology justice system, if accused Scientologists can prove they are acting in accordance with LRH policy, they are essentially found innocent.]

martyrathbun09 | September 29, 2011 at 1:11 pm | Reply
Dude, you really did not understand the PDC.

fatfreddy | September 29, 2011 at 5:59 pm | Reply
That type of “eval” [CW: “Evaluation,” interpreting what someone says, a bad thing in Scientology] does not help.

I assume I shall claryfie the tape until the sentence disappears.

martyrathbun09 | September 29, 2011 at 6:58 pm | Reply
Probably your last comment here Freddy, unless you can manage to pull yourself up above 1.1 on the Tone Scale.

——–

This is typical Scientology. If someone dissents, tell them they are wrong. If they have facts to back them up, censor them. A perfect illustration of why I don’t think Marty Rathbun is as different from David Miscavige as he would like people to believe.

ML,
Caliwog

Tips on using the Censored by Marty section

My Censored by Marty™ section now has nearly fifty comments that Marty Rathbun won’t allow his followers to see. I have no doubt there are more. A lot more.

Some suggestions for using the section:

• If you think your comment is censorship material*, copy and paste into a Word doc and/or take a screen shot. That makes it easier to post here (and the screen shot makes for nice dox).
• Post a follow-up comment on Marty’s blog with a link to your censored comment here on the Caliwog Blog. (The date/time line has the direct comment link.) That’ll get censored too, but that way Marty knows he can’t keep the truth away from everyone.

* More on censorship material: Let’s be fair. If you post something that says “MARTY YOU’RE JUST A BIG LYING ASSHOLE,” of course it’s going to get censored. You really don’t have to try that hard. All you have to do is ask questions or point out how the Church activities about which he is complaining have been going on since before the days of DM. Best is when you can point out that DM’s actions are in accordance with LRH policy. Post anything like that, and Marty will do his best to make it disappear.

Except he can’t, because we’re here.

One thing Marty Rathbun has in common with David Miscavige and LRH: All three think/thought they could run from the truth. Let’s keep the pressure on Marty to be honest — and let’s make sure his followers know they aren’t getting the full story. Scientologists generally drop out of Scientology when they figure out the truth. I want to have the same sort of resource for Independents. They may not all want to look, but when they do, we’ll be ready.

ML,
Caliwog

The censorship continues!

I had yet another comment censored by Marty Rathbun. I added it to my Censored by Marty™ section, but I thought this particular one merited its own blog entry, because it illustrates (yet again) how Marty and the Independent movement are trying to re-write history.

I was responding to Marty’s post Gnats and Losers, in which Marty claims a Church member came to his house to harangue his wife and she chased them away. Marty says that during the years he was in the Church supporting David Miscavige:

“We also didn’t have years of virtually all Scientology resources engaging in forcible, life ruining extortion for the most OFF POLICY, OFF SOURCE, and destructive anti-Scientology programs imaginable.”

I quoted that and responded:

“Wait a second, Marty – weren’t you working for the Church when Mark Bunker had people picketing his home and giving flyers to his neighbors saying he was a religious bigot? Remember, Mark had videotape running (http://www.xenutv.com/blog/?p=594). And what about Paulette Cooper? Wasn’t LRH at the helm when that little bit of mental torture took place?

“Oh, and speaking of Mark Bunker… you guys really should always have a video camera at hand.

“I’m sure you won’t post this comment, Marty – don’t worry, I’ll run it on my site 🙂 – but good on Mosey for chasing these guys down. Despite my disagreements with you, I still think the Church’s harassment of you is despicable. You may or may not believe this, but I despite the Church just as you do, and their behavior towards you (and others) is one reason why.

“ML, Caliwog”

As I expected, my comment was censored. Apparently, inconvenient truths still count as entheta!

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure whether to believe Marty’s story, though I’m hesitant to accuse him of making this stuff up because it makes me sound like a slimy Church lackey. And we’ve all seen the creepy airport spy video posted by the Church (labeled as an anon), so we know Marty’s being followed. Still, reports of harassment against Marty’s wife always rally the troops – especially after a nonsensical post that doesn’t get many comments – and one wonders why there is no video or a shot of the guy in the first photo getting into the car. And Marty isn’t exactly known for his honesty; LRH did advise his followers that it was OK to lie (or tell an “acceptable truth”) for PR purposes. Regardless, I have no doubt that the Church has been sending people to harass Marty, Mike and their wives, and I stand by my statement that such behavior is despicable and wrong.

Remember, if you have a comment that gets Censored by Marty™ be sure to add it to our collection. And whenever you think that Scientology can be reformed by high ranking ex-members, just remember… leopards don’t change their spots.

ML,
Caliwog

Marty (and LRH) on censorship

This weekend, Marty posted a blog entry entitled Blog Moderation Policy. First of all, let me say how glad I am that Marty has finally acknowleded that the “freedom of speech” he promotes is not entirely free. Let me also reiterate that his blog is his blog, and he is welcome to censor as he sees fit. I have a policy of letting anyone say anything, and as we saw this past week, such a policy has its drawbacks.

However (you knew that word was coming, right?) I do wish Marty was a little more up front about what he censors.

Jeff Hawkins or David Miscavige?

Marty says his moderation policy is modeled on Jeff Hawkins’ (outlined here). From Jeff:

“Remember that the spirit of this blog is respectful debate. Other posters may have different opinions than you do. That doesn’t make them evil or stupid. Try to learn from other points of view. See if you can see things from their point of view or understand why they feel that way. Don’t immediately attack someone if they’ve tromped on one of your sacred cows.” — Jeff Hawkins

A perfectly sensible policy – and I’m sure many of the folks who reads Marty’s blog (especially those who have been censored) will see the difference.

For all his protestations to the contrary, Marty often zaps comments that present a sensible yet negative viewpoint of LRH, as well as comments that call out Marty himself out for being misleading, dishonest, or simply incorrect. (And also that Marty’s followers frequently attack dissenters like a pack of wolves, and as long as their viewpoint agrees with his own, Marty will do nothing to stop them.)

I started a collection of comments that were Censored By Marty™, and several users have added their own. Check out that thread, and I think you’ll see quite a few comments that should have been allowed if Marty’s censorship policy really was similar to Jeff Hawkins’.

In truth, Marty’s censorship policy is pretty much the same as that of the Church of Scientology. Both Marty and Miscavige censor “entheta” as defined by L. Ron Hubbard.

LRH: Entheta and what to do about it

“ENTHETA means enturbulated theta (thought or life); especially refers to communications, which, based on lies and confusions, are slanderous, choppy or destructive in an attempt to overwhelm or suppress a person or group.” — LRH, Technical Dictionary of Dianetics and Scientology

LRH wrote a great deal about how to handle entheta:

“AN ENTHETA LETTER = is a letter containing insult, discourtesy, chop or nastiness about an org, its personnel, Scientology or the principal figures in Scientology…. when you try to help some people – or help them – they react like mad dogs… Such people are Suppressives or belong to Suppressive Groups…. Rather than go to the trouble of issuing a Suppressive Person order or even investigating we assign writers of choppy letters to the DEAD FILE. We just don’t comm.[unicate] with the entheta line… All choppy, nattery, rumour-mongery letters dead end in the DEAD FILE.” — LRH, HCO PL 7 June 1965, ENTHETA LETTERS AND THE DEAD FILE, HANDLING OF

“Complaints, upsets, snarls, discourtesy, are not answered by the Letter Reg but when received by Letter Reg are stamped “Entheta” and with no answer to the writer are sent to [Central files and from there to the] Justice Section.” — LRH, HCO PL 6 April 1965, LETTER REG HAT (emphasis in original)

“We long ago discovered in Dianetics that what we validate comes true. Thus, if we continue to process or connect with or continue to harbor entheta, we discover that entheta becomes quite live. But if we decide to process on the theta line, validating such things as affinity, reality and good communication, we make short work out of the case.” — LRH, Accent on Ability, Foundation Bulletins Vol. 1 No. 3

In other words, accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, quietly and without sorrow. This makes for great PR for Scientology, but it does not lead to respectful debate. Sadly, LRH did not realize that his censor-entheta policy might piss off a person enough that he starts his own blog which becomes a pain in everyone’s ass. (That would be me.)

Entheta or ego?

It should also be noted that the organized Church of Scientology goes to great lengths to censor information that is critical of David Miscavige. Marty censors comments that are critical of him. So far as I know, neither is in keeping with LRH policy.

Here’s the bottom line: Censorship usually occurs because the people doing the censoring have something to hide. That’s why censorship was practiced by Nazi Germany, that’s why it was practiced by Soviet Russia, and that’s why it’s practiced by the Church of Scientology.

LRH knew his subject wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, which is why he put so many controls on what could be said, who could be admitted, and who could be ignored.

Marty, you’re talking about creating a kinder, gentler Scientology. If that’s the case, why not stop the censorship altogether? Why not allow what you say to be scrutinized by all? Why not allow your followers to be exposed to entheta – don’t you think they are smart enough to sniff out the truth for themselves?

Or are you afraid they are smart enough to sniff out the truth for themselves?

Moderation, Caliwog-style

I’ve been thinking about my own no-censorship policy, and after reading Marty’s blog entry, I’ve come to a decision: I’m not changing it.

I’m not in this for the glory. I’m not trying to start a movement or portray a positive public image. I’m just an anonymous guy who thinks that Scientology is harmful. I post facts that are verifiable and opinions that can stand up to scrutiny or criticism.

I realize that my posts and the comments that follow them may stir up some emotions, and not all of them are positive – but we’re adults and we can handle it. I’ll ask you to be respectful, but I won’t tell you what you can and cannot say. That may get some people angry and it may earn me some razzing on the forums, but I can live with that. So long as we get out the truth about Scientology – and about those who would lie and censor to cover up its true nature – we are doing good work.

REMINDER: If you’ve been CENSORED BY MARTY™, please post your censored comment here!

ML,
Caliwog

How Marty violates the Code of a Scientologist

In his latest blog entry, Let Me Be Crystal Clear, Marty clarifies what he meant when he said that the world is leaving Scientology behind. Regular readers of Marty’s know that he has a habit of pronouncing things dead, and I guess that by saying that Scientology is dead to the majority of the world – which, let’s face it, it is – he pissed off some of his loyal following.

As part of his backpedaling, Marty accuses hard-core Church goers of violating several points of LRH’s “Code of a Scientologist.” For reasons I can’t quite understand, this pissed me off — I suppose it’s because I can’t stand hypocrisy, and Marty violates most of the points from the Code that he cites. To wit:

“1. To keep Scientologists, the public and the press accurately informed concerning Scientology, the world of mental health and society.”

One of Marty’s major premises – the idea that the crimes of Scientology are the fault of present-day Church leader David Miscavige and not Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard – is a lie, one that he insists on repeating to the public, the media, and his flock of loyal followers (many of whom naively look to him for the truth). Most of Scientology’s crimes were initiated by LRH, and as a long-time member of Church management – and one who admits he carried out those crimes – Marty should know that. Marty has attempted to whitewash LRH to the public and the press, so he’s not keeping anyone accurately informed about Scientology. Or the “world of mental health,” for that matter – why isn’t Marty exposing Scientology’s easily-disproven lies about psychiatry?

“8. To support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights.”

Marty’s “stats” on this one are zero. Actually, they are minus one – remember that story he told about leaving a prostitute to get beat up by her pimp? One could argue that Marty tries to get people away from the Church of Scientology, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, he doesn’t try to get them away from the subject of Scientology, which is a bad thing. At the end of the day, what Marty is doing is little different than the Church’s so-called “humanitarian” programs like Narconon and the Way to Happiness foundation: Elaborate and cleverly-disguised recruitment drives.

“11. To actively decry the suppression of knowledge, wisdom, philosophy or data which would help mankind.”

Rather than decry the suppression of knowledge, Marty practices it, by actively censoring comments that talk about the dangerous side of Scientology and the less-savory parts of LRH’s tech. (I have an entire section devoted to comments that have been Censored by Marty™.) Why doesn’t Marty let critical comments stand, and defend them? Because a) there is no reasonable defense, and b) LRH and the Church trained Marty to cover up and lie, and those old habits die hard.

“14. To teach Scientology at a level it can be understood and used by the recipients.”

Fail. Marty has a major opportunity to use his blog (not to mention his media appearances) to inform the world at large about Scientology’s alleged benefits – and yet he doesn’t. As time goes on, Marty’s posts feature more and more Scientologese. Having alienated so many protesters, he’s now preaching to the converted. The problem, I think, is that Marty is blinded by his hatred for David Miscavige. His blog – and, I assume, his life – has become all about getting revenge. And I can respect that, because DM is an evil, sadistic little troll – but why does Marty have to adopt so many of DM’s tactics? (Oh, yeah, I know – because they both learned from the same teacher.)

“16. To insist upon standard and unvaried Scientology as an applied activity in ethics, processing and administration in Scientology organizations.”

I have to answer this one from the perspective of a Scientologist. Marty (and many of his followers) accuse the Church of altering Hubbard’s writings. But how do Marty’s followers know that he’s applying genuine Scientology? Hubbard insisted on using up-to-date E-meters that had to be regularly sent in for “recertification”(at significant cost, of course).* The Church-going anti-Marty crowd accuses Marty of using out-of-date, uncalibrated meters and of not being qualified for the plethora of jobs Hubbard invented to surround the auditing process. We don’t even know what version of Hubbard’s bulletins he’s using. Original LRH writings? Altered by David Miscavige? Altered by the Free Zone? Altered by Marty Rathbun?

* Meter recertification was one of Hubbard’s brilliant money-making scams, especially when you consider that most modern electronic devices generally don’t go out of adjustment. Wasn’t that why we invented solid-state electronics – to reduce maintenance? When was the last time you had to send your computer or wide-screen TV back to the factory for recerfitication?

“17. To take my share of responsibility for the impact of Scientology upon the world.”

That’s a laugh. Let’s not forget that Marty shares responsibility for many of the organized Church’s abuses, some of which he openly claims to have invented and/or carried out. Marty and Mike say they have information that could put David Miscavige in jail, and yet as far as I know, no criminal charges have been filed. Either this “information” doesn’t exist, or Marty is waiting for the statute of limitations to run out so he won’t go to jail, too.

Besides, we know the impact of Scientology on the world is largely negative. Lisa McPherson died because LRH said that the proper way to treat a psychotic breakdown was to lock someone in a room and not talk to them. Marty has never spoken out against this quackery. He has never said that locking Lisa in a room to die was the wrong thing to do. He has never said that Lisa should have received proper medical and psychiatric help from a qualified doctor, rather than a bunch of ignorant fucking bozos. Marty has only said that he believes Lisa died because DM altered LRH’s technology! The truth is that this LRH policy was Lisa McPherson’s death warrant.

Now, to be fair, there are a couple of points of the Code of a Scientologist that Marty has achieved:

“19. To set an example of the effectiveness and wisdom of Scientology.”

Marty gets a VWD (“Very Well Done”) for this one, because he has done a great job of showing that Scientology is ineffective and exceptionally unwise.

“20. To make this world a saner, better place.”

More kudos for Marty, because he has exposed Independent Scientology as something other than the kooky but relatively benign practice that many people (including myself) once thought it was. Thanks to Marty, we have a constant reminder that Church-affiliated Scientologists aren’t the only problem. Marty has made me come to realize that Independents and Free Zoners are every bit as dangerous as the Church of Scientology, because they believe 100% in the lies and oppression that LRH imposed on his followers – and wanted to impose on the entire world. He reminds us daily that independent Scientology is just as dangerous as Church-affiliated Scientology. And by doing that, he has indeed helped to make the world a better, saner place.

Thanks, Marty, for making that “crystal clear.”

ML,
Caliwog

Omitted by Marty: Heber is alive and well

Back in April, Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder co-authored an impassioned blog entry entitled “Free Heber.” Heber Jentzsch, like Mike Rinder, is a former Church spokesman and a favorite among Scientology protesters (including me) for his method of drowning out dissent by being louder than the other guy. Heber in his heyday was the living embodiment of L. Ron Hubbard’s order to “don’t ever defend, always attack.” Yep, Marty, we love and miss Heber just as much as you do.

Anyway, Mike said that Heber was being imprisoned by David Miscavige in “The Hole.”

Mike seems to think that Heber was being hidden because of dirt he has on DM: “Imagine the nightmare for Miscavige if Heber was ever freed and able to speak his mind?” Mike also expressed concern over Heber’s age and health, saying, “He is 76 years old, has served LRH and Scientology with distinction and dedication…and in the winter of his body’s life should be living a peaceful existence, pursuing activities that give him pleasure.”

It turns out that three days after that blog entry was written, it was proven that Heber was alive and well! Today’s blog post was a lengthy missive from from Karen De La Carriere, Heber’s ex-wife, in which she mentions the effectiveness of Marty’s “Free Heber” post:

Within 36 hours of that posting, Heber comes down to Los Angeles and spends 8 hours with [his son] Alexander for the first time in 6 years. Heber has a cell phone number he gives Alexander and promises to attend a family re-union of his brothers and sisters in August with Alexander.

That’s wonderful! Just 3 days later and Heber was allowed to leave the base and see his loved ones. Surely Marty would have reported that, right?

Wrong.

Today’s blog entry, nearly 3 months after the fact, was the first mention of Heber’s well-being. Oh, Marty has talked about Heber since then – but he never mentioned that Heber had been out and about and visiting family.

In fact, on April 7th, the same day Heber went to Los Angeles, Marty posted Heber Proof of Life. Now, from the title, you’d think he’d be talking about proof that Heber was alive, right? Wrong again. All Marty did was to predict that Heber would either be forced to sign some sort of anti-Marty statement or would be dusted off and sent to some public meet-and-greets to show that he is alive. There was no mention that Heber was actually visiting his son that very day. Did Marty know?

If he did, he kept his silence. Heber is mentioned in posts and comments on May 12, May 19, and June 24, and while Marty wrote all the blog entries and approved all the comments, he never mentioned anything about Heber’s April trip to L.A.

Maybe Marty didn’t know? That seems questionable, since “Proof of Life” cites “reliable OSA sources” who said that David Miscavige “has become apoplectic over being called out on his denigration and degradation of Heber.” Surely those same reliable sources would know that DM was so apoplectic that he let Heber go to Los Angeles to see his son.

Now, the obvious Independent answer is that DM sent Heber to meet with his son as a patch-up PR job. And maybe that’s true. But if Heber was being mistreated, surely he would have said something to his son? He gave his son a cell phone number – couldn’t Heber have used that cell phone to call someone, maybe one of the dozens of media contacts he had from his days as a Church spokesman? At the very least, if Heber’s own son was as worried as Mike and Marty seem to be, wouldn’t he have called the cops?

I think the truth is a bit more simple and a lot more sad: Whatever Heber is going through in the Church – and I’m sure it isn’t good – he’s staying of his own free will.

Why don’t we see Heber in public? That should be obvious to anyone who has seen or heard Heber in the media – except, it seems, for Marty and his Independents, who seem to think Heber is the Best Scientologist Ever. I’m not one to agree with David Miscavige, but let’s give credit where credit is due: Heber was a public-relations train wreck, and if I were DM, I wouldn’t let the guy within a hundred feet of a camera or a microphone either.

But let’s not miss the bigger issue: Marty devoted 1,500 words to an outcry for Heber’s freedom, and not one single word to the fact that Heber was out and about just three days later.

Independents, ask yourself: Why would Marty hide the truth from you?

The way I see it, Marty Rathbun is perfectly willing to rewrite history and withhold facts in order to prove his point – to quote Marty’s hero – “by any means necessary.” LRH said “What’s true is what is true for you,” but in the Church of Rathbunology, it seems that what’s true for Marty is what’s true for you.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Unlike Marty, David Miscavige, or L. Ron Hubbard, I invite you to seek out the truth yourself. Check out Marty Rathbun’s original blog entries and decide for yourself if things do or don’t add up:
Free Heber
Heber Proof of Life
LRH-trained Class XII C/S Karen De La Carriere/Jentzsch

Oh, and I’m not the only one talking about this – check out this blog entry written four days ago on a pro-Church, anti-Marty blog.

ML,
Caliwog

P.S. If you’d like to hear a classic example of Heber in action – including the famous yell of “YOU!!!” – give a listen to this radio program from 1991.

ML
Caliwog