tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post72865327135529170..comments2023-09-18T04:45:52.991-07:00Comments on Ask the Scientologist: Scientologists: Have You Been Scammed?Just Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-79992463985914864472010-05-24T08:46:16.640-07:002010-05-24T08:46:16.640-07:00@Sylver
Wait, you are claiming that the Church of...@Sylver<br /><br />Wait, you are claiming that the Church of Scientology's "disaster relief organization" is <i>small</i>? You'd better check that with your handlers! The Church of Scientology claims they are the "largest disaster relief agency <i>in the world!</i>" 100,000 volunteer ministers and counting!<br /><br />Well, which is it? The smallest or the largest? I don't think Miscavige would like you disagreeing with him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-89389893967805927082010-05-24T07:09:56.940-07:002010-05-24T07:09:56.940-07:00@Sylver
I really do worry about you. You persist...@Sylver<br /><br />I really do worry about you. You persist in being unable to duplicate and understand the simple words I say.<br /><br />I admire and commend all the hard work that you, and all other volunteers do at disaster sites. You keep thinking I am saying something different. Perhaps you should just reread this paragraph a number of times until you finally break through your mind-blocks and duplicate what I said.<br /><br />And your insults are getting more blatant. If you can't be civil, I'll have to cut you off. I've never insulted you but you can't seem to stop insulting me.<br /><br />The <i>only</i> thing I've said is that <b>the Church of Scientology provided nothing the disaster victims needed but attempted, in their press releases, to take credit from those who <i>did</i>.</b><br /><br />Nothing you are claiming has, in any way, contradicted what I said. Every time you argue that I'm wrong, you add more information that only confirms what I said. The Church of Scientology provided nothing the disaster victims needed but tried to claim credit for what good work was done by real disaster relief agencies.<br /><br />But I doubt you will be able to duplicate this either. You really are not giving Scientology Study Tech a good name, you know.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-58330919183812201752010-05-23T21:50:22.692-07:002010-05-23T21:50:22.692-07:00@JustBill
Funny thing to say, because that infant ...@JustBill<br />Funny thing to say, because that infant whose life we saved with our unskilled assists, he might just grow up with a different opinion on their importance. And that guy who can now move his legs and sleep on his side thanks to another of those unskilled assists? Well, he might just have a different opinion on the necessity of assists.<br /><br />And the doctors of the U of M hospital who came to rely on us for just about anything they needed, including in the operating theater? They thought that our presence made a world of difference for them... but of course you know better, don't you?<br /><br />You are totally unable to admit that the Church of Scientology VMs are doing any good, no matter what we do. <br /><br />You also contradict yourself to a point that it is becoming hilarious: <br /><br />You keep saying that what was needed was food, medical supplies, doctors etc. <br /><br />Right? <br /><br />And I assume that bringing these things on the ground must be a good thing, <br /><br />Right?<br /><br />Well, we did bring food, medical supplies and doctors right on the ground and the IAS paid for it. <br /><br />So we did something good, right? <br /><br />Yeah, most of them were not Scientologists (although for the records, there were a few Scientologists doctors & nurses amongst us), but these guys also didn't have any way to go there. They wanted to go there, but they didn't have the means to until we came along and gave them a ride. <br /><br />And the supplies we brought on the ground, same deal. They were donated to us. Not by Scientologists, indeed, but does it matter? Do you think the people who donate to the red cross are all Christians?<br /><br />Yes, without us, those resources would NOT have made it to Haiti. <br /><br />So, we ALSO did do what you say was needed. And you are still giving us grief about it. <br /><br />Cut the bull. Now that you no longer are a scientologist, (if you ever really were one, which I doubt), do you go on the ground and help when a catastrophe occur? Where were you after the earthquake in Haiti? And if you didn't go yourself, did you donate money to relief organizations to help in your stead? How much?<br /><br />If I had to bet, I would put my money on the fact that you merely watched the thing on TV and did nothing about it.<br /><br />Anyway, it is fairly clear that no matter what we do, you would complain about it. Luckily for us, we don't actually need your approval to do anything. So long.Sylvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-63959350945715622062010-05-23T19:46:53.021-07:002010-05-23T19:46:53.021-07:00@Sylver
By the way, you keep trying to veer off i...@Sylver<br /><br />By the way, you keep trying to veer off into a discussion about "Scientology works". That isn't being debated here either way. It is not a factor in this discussion.<br /><br />The <i>fact</i> is that the victims <i>desperately</i> needed doctors, medical supplies, medical equipment, food, clothing, shelter, etc. <i>That's</i> what was needed, and desperately.<br /><br />Even if "touch assists" actually did something, this is <i>not</i> what was desperately required by anyone. Here are hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of medical attention, food, shelter -- the bare necessities of life. Hundreds of thousands of people were helped in the way they really needed help by the real relief agencies.<br /><br />Do you get an inkling why the subject of Scientology's workability just isn't important to this discussion?<br /><br />Sorry, I'll debate that some other time with other unimportant subjects.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-21840000682461116292010-05-23T19:29:19.792-07:002010-05-23T19:29:19.792-07:00@Sylver
We're not making any progress here.
...@Sylver<br /><br />We're not making any progress here.<br /><br />So, it wasn't Travolta, but some other Scientologist. Yeah? <i>It wasn't the Church of Scientology</i> right? It was a public Scientologist. Same difference. One more thing that the Church of Scientology itself didn't pay for.<br /><br />Were you insulted when I <i>accurately</i> described you as "unskilled"? Why were you insulted? How many trained doctors did the Church of Scientology provide? Hmmm? How many engineers trained in disasters did the Church of Scientology provide? How many disaster-trained medical personnel? What "skills" that are useful in a disaster did the Church of Scientology provide? Answer: <b>NONE</b><br /><br />If you find that insulting, that's your problem. It is just facts. If you find the basic facts insulting, I can't help you.<br /><br />But you continue to miss the point, whether deliberately or not I can't tell. <br /><br />My point isn't that VMs did nothing, I'm sure you did what you could and you worked real hard -- and I commend that kind of volunteerism. I've done that and I admire when others do that.<br /><br />My <i>point</i> is that the Church of Scientology <b>did nothing</b> while writing dozens of bragging press releases attempting to take credit for the good work that the real relief agencies did.<br /><br />You did a good thing, you worked hard. Well done. Your church, on the other hand, <b>did nothing</b> while callously trying to take credit for other relief agencies good work. That is real low.<br /><br />You are <i>now</i> justifying the Church of Scientology's <i>total failure</i> to provide <i>anything</i> needed by the victims by their "newness". Give me a flipping break. <i>That's</i> your excuse?<br /><br />"It's small, so it provided <b>nothing</b> the victims actually needed." Doesn't work.<br /><br />A smaller relief organization brings a smaller number of doctors, a smaller amount of medical supplies, a smaller amount of food... <b>not nothing!</b><br /><br />The Church of Scientology didn't bring <i>anything</i> that the disaster victims needed. It <i>didn't even try</i>. But you have that all justified.<br /><br />Let's try a little mind exercise. What if the Scientology Volunteer Ministers <i>hadn't</i> shown up? What would be different? Since the Church of Scientology actually didn't send any needed doctors, nurses, engineers, etc., that wouldn't change. Since the Church of Scientology didn't send any medicine, food, clothing, shelter, building materials, medical equipment, <i>that</i> wouldn't change.<br /><br />You claim VMs were vital to organization, but the agencies have been doing <i>that</i> just fine for hundreds of years, in fact they train for that -- so you'd be really hard pressed to prove <i>that</i> would have made any difference.<br /><br />In fact, it is pretty obvious that, if the VMs hadn't been there, nothing much would have been different. Other people would have carried the boxed and helped the real disaster personnel.<br /><br /><i>That's</i> my point. <b>The Church of Scientology did not provide anything <i>actually</i> needed by the disaster victims.</b><br /><br />Yet to read their press releases, they were major players in disaster relief, helping <i>hundreds of thousands</i> of victims. Bah!Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-70907627455961043162010-05-23T18:44:26.651-07:002010-05-23T18:44:26.651-07:00@JustBill
First to correct a misconception: The ch...@JustBill<br />First to correct a misconception: The charter planes were not organized by John Travolta. Mr. Travolta flew in his own plane to bring supplies, and I suspect he picked up the tab on that. <br /><br />The charter planes carrying most of the VMs were organized by another scientologist in coordination with the guys and gals of the VM Int office.<br /><br />Re: insults. You claim not to have insulted me. Well, then perhaps you should go back and read again what you wrote. I am a VM. You are describing me and my colleagues as unskilled workers who show up in disaster areas to do photo ops, eat the victims' food and steal the victims jobs and interfere with "real relief efforts". And let's not even go on what you accuse my church of doing.<br /><br />And there you are saying "Oh, I didn't insult you". Are you for real? If those are not insults, then I don't know what are.<br /><br />Different relief organizations bring different things on the table. To an outsider, buying food, medical supplies and clothing may seem to be what relief is all about. But once you have been on the ground a bit, you realize that just paying for stuff & shipping isn't all there is to it. <br /><br />There is a lot more that needs to be done in order to actually bring relief to the victims of a disaster. You get told on TV that you need to donate more and more for food and medical supplies. What you aren't told is that medical supplies and food often arrive on the ground and then sit there in huge warehouses or tents until someone figures out how to distribute the darn things in spite of the fact that the infrastructure is gone, that there are wounded people and mourning people all over. <br /><br />The problems usually faced on the ground aren't the lack of food or the lack of supplies. The problems are usually more in terms of organizing the efforts, getting the right people at the right places, setting up the lines, dealing with throughly confused people who have lost everything and figuring out how to get things done. <br /><br />So we come, find out what needs to be done and get on with it. Back at the tsunami in Thailand, we needed to move corpses and set refrigerated containers, so we did. In Haiti, we had to set up hospital lines as the local infrastructure was gone. So we did. We do whatever is needed. <br /><br />You compare us to other relief organizations. Well, try to be fair, then. The American red cross was funded in 1881. Unicef, 1901. They receive fundings to the tune of billions of dollars a year. In 2008, The American Red Cross spent over USD 140 million in fundraising activities alone and another USD 216,000,000 in administrative expenses. <br /><br />The Red Cross probably receives more donations in a year than the church of Scientology did since its inception in 1954.<br /><br />Trying to compare our relief efforts with that of the main relief organizations on a financial level is a bad joke. I thought you were smarter than that.<br /><br />We are the new kid in town. We are getting better at this. And we definitely have something to bring to the table, as evidenced by the fact that these days, whenever a disaster happens, other relief organisations call us up. They know they can count on us and they want us there.<br /><br />That infant we saved was just one of thousands to have shown marked improvements after receiving Scientology assists. I mentioned it as a (startling) example of the value of a "simple" assist. Most of the time, it's not as spectacular, but always valuable, bringing relief, appeasing the pain, and helping victims to extrovert and start looking ahead. <br /><br />No one claims that VMs do everything or some other such nonsense. We come, we do our best, working side-by-side with everybody else, and we use all we know to assist the victims...and it works pretty darn well.Sylvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-61610954812523294622010-05-23T16:42:41.499-07:002010-05-23T16:42:41.499-07:00Thanks Bill. I do want to make the Scn's on t...Thanks Bill. I do want to make the Scn's on the line aware of one other thing. The Ideal Orgs Scam, and that is what it is, is also not on ploicy according to Ron. Ron said to build a bigger and more successful org all you had to do was sell and deliver services to a happy public.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180601314075113230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-8970621464879663702010-05-23T16:22:37.531-07:002010-05-23T16:22:37.531-07:00Interesting. I read a blog by a young VM who &quo...Interesting. I read a blog by a young VM who "found" some water in a medical tent in Haiti. She couldn't believe her eyes! So she distributed the much needed water. Problematic since the water was actually being used as a barrier for an x-ray machine! <br /><br />Then there was that time at Ground Zero after 9/11 when the VM's main duty was to block any shrinks or therapists from getting to the victums. <br /><br />I love how scientologists always claim they made someone walk again with a touch assist. They clsim they brought a boy out of a coma with touch assists. They brought a baby back from near death with a touch assist. But they somehow never have any real proof to these claims, do they? I figure it's hog wash since touch assists couldn't even cure a headache or cramps for me.<br /><br />The IAS money was from members who donated. I have never seen the COB just reach in his big, fat wallet and pay for a round of medical supplies. Have any of you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-4828475346297057472010-05-23T11:03:50.293-07:002010-05-23T11:03:50.293-07:00@Anonymous Scientology VM
The Church of Scientolo...@Anonymous Scientology VM<br /><br />The Church of Scientology puts out bragging press releases about "how much" they help the victims of disasters. Recently they claimed that their VMs helped hundreds of thousands of victims.<br /><br />Well, I was a VM for many years, I know how that works.<br /><br />All VMs are required to keep stats. So it works like this. A VM is carrying boxes of food for some real relief agency. VM asks, "how many people will this feed?" Real relief agency person says "50". VM notes down "50 people helped" on his "stats".<br /><br />The Church of Scientology didn't supply the food! All that happened was that one VM carried a box, but that ends up adding to the "hundreds of thousands helped" by the Church of Scientology and another bragging press release.<br /><br />The church takes huge credit for the good work of the real relief agencies. Yes, that's disgusting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-63638490189027746242010-05-23T10:20:38.459-07:002010-05-23T10:20:38.459-07:00To anonymous VM:
As a scientology VM, I went to he...To anonymous VM:<br />As a scientology VM, I went to help during the Cedar Fire in 2003 (San Diego County) and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (Baton Rouge). I was appalled at the lack of concern by the VM I/Cs for the victims of these disasters. It was clear to me that all they wanted were photo ops and new recruits. I was asked constantly for stats -- how many this and how many that and not once was there any feeling of caring. The other thing that disturbed me was the spin that the church put on these activities. When I saw the video of the Cedar Fire (at an event in my org) I could not believe what I was seeing. The video (and some newsletter articles) made it sound like the VMs were IN CHARGE of the entire fire-fighter's base, that they were running the show. It was bizarre. I'd been there and I'd seen what the VMs actually did: direct traffic and hand out clean socks and new razors to the firefighters.<br /><br />I've talked to ex-scientologists who were VMs at Ground Zero in New York and they said the same thing: their purpose was to get good photos and good press, if possible. They were embarrassed by the spin put on it.<br /><br />It's really sad. And, even though I don't know you or your circumstances, I know how hard it is to come out of a deep sleep and see the reality in front of you. It took me a long time to finally put all the pieces together -- for myself -- and acknowledge that the "church" was not a caring, loving, spiritual entity, but a money-grubbing business and a con.cmhttp://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-75629013838585315142010-05-23T09:51:48.482-07:002010-05-23T09:51:48.482-07:00Dear Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister
Wow...Dear Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister<br /><br />Wow! You really can insult can't you? I <i>never</i> insulted you, why do you insult me?<br /><br />And, do <i>not</i> put words in my mouth and <i>then</i> get all insulted by "what I said". I never said the VMs "aren't worth the food they are eating". Those are <i>your</i> words, not mine. If you got insulted, you insulted yourself.<br /><br />Yes, the Church of Scientology didn't <i>technically</i> claim they provided the medical supplies and medical personnel -- they just cleverly worded their press release so everyone would read it that way. "A charter flight organized by the Church of Scientology carried 126 doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians and Scientology Volunteer Ministers to Port-au-Prince". It implies that the church provided all the personnel and equipment.<br /><br />They neglected to mention that they really screwed up, taking the medical supplies but leaving 70 medical personnel behind -- so the people who needed to supervise the whole thing, to ensure nothing was lost, were <i>left behind</i>.<br /><br />John Travolta thought up and organized the charter planes, got a friend to donate the use of another plane. I admire that. John talked the Church of Scientology into funding the fuel for the planes, and that's a good thing.<br /><br />Various Scientologists dropped everything and volunteered to help. I admire that.<br /><br />John Travolta and these Scientologists are good people and I do commend them for that. I've said that many times before. Go ahead and get insulted by that.<br /><br />But what did the Church of Scientology do? Let's compare their actions to real relief agencies. Real relief agencies have disaster supplies -- medicine, equipment, shelters, housing material, food, clothing. Real relief agencies have personnel -- doctors, nurses, engineers, etc.<br /><br />How much of that does/did the Church of Scientology supply. <b>NONE</b>.<br /><br />But they bragged and bragged and bragged in their press releases about all the medical supplies and medical personnel "they" transported to Haiti.<br /><br />The inference is obvious. Above all, it was seen by the church as a PR opportunity. A huge disaster occurs and (unlike <i>real</i> disaster relief agencies) the church hurries out a bragging press release about what they did.<br /><br />The victims needed food, clothing, shelter, medicine, doctors, nurses, engineers, and -- you carried boxes and gave "touch assists". Not to belittle your efforts but if the church wants to claim to be like a real relief agency <i>why doesn't the church supply food, clothing, shelter, medicine, medical supplies, doctors, nurses, engineers, building supplies, etc?</i><br /><br />I'll tell you why. Real relief agencies spend many, <i>many</i> millions of dollars supplying what the victims <i>really</i> need. Your church reluctantly forks out "one million USD" for the PR opportunity, but won't fork over the major money to supply what is <i>really</i> needed by the victims.<br /><br />Your claim to fame is that "someone" gave an assist to "some baby" that was "given up for dead" and this "someone" brought it back to life. If that <i>really</i> happened, well great, but ... that's it? In comparison, real relief agencies were factually saving tens of thousands of lives by supplying what the victims <i>really</i> needed: Food, clothing, shelter, medicine, medical equipment, doctors, nurses, engineers, and so on.<br /><br />If you get insulted by all this, look to the real source of your embarrassment, the Church of Scientology.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-22860282658610849622010-05-23T00:03:33.346-07:002010-05-23T00:03:33.346-07:00The million dollar I was referring to was *actuall...The million dollar I was referring to was *actually* paid by the IAS and a large part of it was to cover the fuel and other expenses related to the charter planes, as well as flying VMs on location (In my case, I wasn't in the US to start with). The person who lent the charter planes was not a scientologist, but a friend of a scientologist who wanted to help out. So he allowed the church to book his planes *at cost*, which is not the same as "free". Not even close when you know the cost of fuels for flying commercial sized jets across the continent and back. <br /><br />The original medical supplies were mostly collected from other organizations who had supplies but no means to get them on the ground. The church does not take credit for donating the supplies, it takes credit for getting them on the ground where they were needed. <br /><br />The medical personnel carried on board of our planes were in large part individual doctors and small organizations who wanted to help but had no means to go on location. So the church contacted them, organized transport for them and got them on the ground. <br /><br />The church does not take credit for donating the supplies or the doctors. It takes credit for getting them on the ground where they were needed. Getting that much supplies and resources flown out into Haiti in the early days took a LOT of work and cash from the church. And in this specific case, that cash came from an IAS grant. And that's a fact. <br /><br />Now, the part about "unskilled workers" who aren't worth the food they are eating, well, thanks for that. <br /><br />I suspect that might have been very true of you, personally, but it sure as hell doesn't apply to most of us VMs. I have had many doctors and nurses walk up to me and tell me how fantastic we were, and that they wouldn't be able to operate at all if it wasn't for the VMs running the lines, organizing the supplies, moving the patients and doing all kinds of other "unskilled" tasks. Us "unskilled" VMs were so much in demand that we were requested to provide our "unskilled" personnel right inside the operating rooms. Why? because we get the job done and that's what's really needed in most disaster zones. Not just "people". People who can get things done. VMs.<br /><br />And now comes a part you are really not going to like. Seeing how efficient we were, several doctors asked us to assist people with... Scientology assists. They knew we had something special and when they were at loss with a patient, they would call us on to do our job. VM job. <br /><br />And that technology which you consider worthless and unworkable? On the ground, it does create miracles. I personally gave a touch assist to a guy who was paralyzed from the knees down for over 3 weeks. 2 hours later, he could feel and move both of his legs, and for the first time since the earthquake, he was able to lie on his side. <br /><br />A day earlier, a VM was sent to get a small body bag for a baby which the doctors thought was beyond hope. It was over, they couldn't do anything for him, so they asked us for a small body bag. While one VM was sent to get the body bag, another VM gave the baby a Scientology assist. And by the time a suitable body bag was found, the baby was alive and well on his way to recovery. <br /><br />This stuff works. I have seen it and I have done it too. <br /><br />Say what you will about LRH and his tech. It saved more lives than I can count. <br /><br />Say what you will about us, "unskilled" VMs. We were there, we helped people and we saved lives, and it was in large part thanks to the grant from the IAS and to the work done by the Sea Org members of the VM Int office. <br /><br />Spew venom all you like. These are facts. Not just opinions or guesses or second hand stories. <br /><br />You want to see something really disgusting? Look in a mirror.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-25964537246944156462010-05-22T10:11:20.001-07:002010-05-22T10:11:20.001-07:00@Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister
Let me ...@Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister<br /><br />Let me emphasize this, because I see you are attempting to forward the Church of Scientology's disgusting claims that <i>they</i> provided "medical supplies and medical personnel on the ground. Close to a million USD just over the first few weeks that I personally know of."<br /><br /><b>The Church of Scientology did <i>not</i> provide "medical supplies and medical personnel" nor "a million USD". Some Scientologists donated the use of the airplanes (not the church) and <i>other organizations</i> provided the medical personnel and supplies (not the church).</b><br /><br />The fact that the Church of Scientology, while doing the very least it can do, takes credit for <i>other organizations' good work</i> is <b>disgusting</b>.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-72456580870551268752010-05-22T10:01:50.300-07:002010-05-22T10:01:50.300-07:00Dear Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister
Nic...Dear Anonymous Scientology Volunteer Minister<br /><br />Nice rant, but <i>completely</i> wrong.<br /><br />First, your <i>ignorant, uninformed</i> assumptions are totally wrong.<br /><br />I was a Scientology Volunteer Minister for many, many years. Dozens of my friends were Scientology Volunteer Ministers for many, many years. I've been to disaster sites as a Scientology Volunteer Minister as have my friends. My information is based on my personal experiences and the personal experiences of my friends. I <i>do</i> know what I'm talking about.<br /><br />Not only that, but I have carefully read the accounts of Scientology Volunteer Ministers who went to the more recent disasters.<br /><br />What I said is <i>completely true</i>, but the true situation is even worse than I said.<br /><br />I do not disparage the good work that any of the volunteers do at the various disasters. I did good things, and I am sure you did good things. If you think I was criticizing the good people who volunteer to help at disaster sites, then you <i>missed the whole point</i>.<br /><br />The point I was making, and it is very, very true, is that the Church of Scientology <i>does nothing</i> but takes credit as if they had done everything.<br /><br />Real disaster relief agencies provide needed medicine, medical equipment, food clothing, shelter, engineers, doctors, nurses, raw material and so much more. The Church of Scientology does not do <i>any</i> of that. All they do is provide <i>unskilled bodies</i>. Sure, these poor Scientologists do what they can, and good on them, but the people already there, <i>who need work and want to help</i> could happily provide unskilled bodies.<br /><br />This is true: The Scientology Volunteer Ministers come without food - so they require food that should be going to the victims. The VMs come without shelter - so they require shelter that should be for the victims. The VMs are unskilled labor - so they take work that could be going to the victims. <i>Don't you see what's wrong with that?</i><br /><br />But what's worse, and this was amply demonstrated by the Church of Scientology's press releases from the Haiti disaster, the Church of Scientology, while only providing unskilled bodies, tried to take credit for <i>other organizations'</i> medical supplies, doctors, clothing, food, etc. That's <i>really</i> disgusting!<br /><br />And, after a short time, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers are ordered by the church to start setting up Scientology and Dianetics Groups at the disaster sites to start getting the victims into Scientology. We know this, you know this, the church itself brags about it. Their own press releases about Haiti brag about how Scientology is "here to stay".<br /><br />So, they don't provide anything disaster victims need, they take resources away from the victims, they take jobs away from the victims, and, ultimately, they see the disaster as an opportunity to get new members.<br /><br /><i>Don't you see anything wrong with this?</i>Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-51654983922078332132010-05-22T09:15:39.892-07:002010-05-22T09:15:39.892-07:00There is a whole bunch of stuff here which I can n...There is a whole bunch of stuff here which I can neither confirm nor deny, as I don't have personal knowledge of it, but your section on VMs is a steaming pile of rubbish. <br /><br />You see, I happen to be one of those guys who actually show up on disaster sites. And from what you write, you clearly have no freaking idea what we do there. Yes, we don't bring food. But guess what, food isn't what is missing in most cases.<br /><br />All disasters I have volunteered for, from the Asian tsunami to Haiti, there are piles and piles of food and supplies available. <br /><br />What's needed are organizational skills, hard work and willingness to do whatever needs to be done. Back in Thailand, about a couple months after the tsunami, most IDPs camps were strictly rationing water. Outside of the main camp was a water purification system set up on a small lake. Problem was, in all that confusion, nobody did notice the machine until we came along. Turning the machine on and setting up a cistern truck to go around the camps probably doesn't sound impressive to you, but "details" like these make all the difference. <br /><br />If I had to list all the good we have accomplished on the ground in the different disaster areas, it would take me days. <br /><br />Anyway, the bottom line is that we do show up, and that while you are comfortably parking your ass in front of the TV watching the news, we are on the ground actively helping people. You feel entitled to comment on the quality of our work? Well, come on over and put in a couple hundred hours of work, doing what we do. I assure you, if you have an ounce of honesty, your opinion on our relief efforts will do a 180°. We do what's needed and on the ground, people love us for it. Why do you think we are one of the first organization on call whenever a disaster happens? <br /><br />PS1: My main expenses are usually covered by the Church.<br />PS2: For Haiti, the IAS chartered several planes to transport directly VMs, medical supplies and medical personnel on the ground. Close to a million USD just over the first few weeks that I personally know of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-80027319989711419352009-08-05T19:15:45.667-07:002009-08-05T19:15:45.667-07:00A good point, but more true a few decades ago.
To...A good point, but more true a few decades ago.<br /><br />Today, Scientologists are such a small group that most businesses that relied exclusively on Scientology business have <i>already</i> gone out of business.<br /><br />The smarter ones have expanded to a more general public.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-27389144953043538532009-08-05T16:05:24.586-07:002009-08-05T16:05:24.586-07:00hello
dont forget that many scientologists also ma...hello<br />dont forget that many scientologists also makes a living out of scientologists like doctors, dentist, printers, nannies, vitamins manufacters, fields auditors, fsms, renting rooms or apartments to pcs, then they have to go along with the church and DM if not they will be out of bussines, some of them know the true but they have to look the other way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-66573918037596486872009-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:002009-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:00It is sickening. Over time, the scams have become...It <I>is</I> sickening. Over time, the scams have become more blatant, the lies more obvious as Miscavige becomes more certain of his control and of the gullibility of Scientologists.<br /><br />It appears, to Miscavige, that he can claim anything, demand anything, and Scientologists meekly <I>believe</I> and comply.<br /><br />And that is sickening.<br /><br />But, thankfully, most Scientologists woke up. This is true, most Scientologists have now seen what Miscavige is, and what he is doing, and they <I>have</I> left -- silently or noisily, they have left.<br /><br />The few remaining True Believers <I>are</I> the more gullible ones. Those few remaining Scientologists are still buying Miscavige's snake-oil.<br /><br />But, as Miscavige continues down his personal Road to Total Insanity, they too will wake up. How obvious does it have to get? We will find out.<br /><br />At some future point, the only people still bound to Miscavige will be those few who have followed him into insanity.<br /><br />And that will be the sickest group of all.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-11616235983808612432009-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:002009-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:00I felt sickened reading this. I feel even worse fo...I felt sickened reading this. I feel even worse for the poor scientologists blindly following as mislead sheep to slaughter. <br /><br />Thank you for writing this, hopefully it will help some of the misguided see the light and break free from the cult.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-25673772008685625192009-04-21T16:39:00.000-07:002009-04-21T16:39:00.000-07:00Please, everyone, if you wish to republish any of ...Please, everyone, if you wish to republish any of my articles, please do. You have my permission.<br /><br />I would like credit and a link to <B>Ask the Scientologist</B>, but I do not make a fuss if you forget.<br /><br />I'm quite happy if my articles get read and especially happy if they help in any way.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-18877467437504940262009-04-21T15:02:00.000-07:002009-04-21T15:02:00.000-07:00Hi Bill!
I would like to get in touch with you. ...Hi Bill!<br /><br />I would like to get in touch with you. I am working on an article on the CCHR affair at Concordia Univ in Montreal and want to post material from your articles on thought control and why silons believe on my blog For Great Justice.<br /><br />Your lucid explanations are invaluable. I have grown in compassion for scilons. Poor, poor babies. They are the most victimized of all.Athanasius Kircherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08879825959488518839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-7861913909879730492009-04-20T17:36:00.000-07:002009-04-20T17:36:00.000-07:00Awesome as usual! Seriously, if co$ tech could gua...Awesome as usual! Seriously, if co$ tech could guarantee that everyone would become as good at communicating as you are, they would have a lot more takers...Unfortunately, it apparently teaches them only how to run and hide (and smoke and cuss).Anonomomilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-42073631217328873392009-04-20T10:36:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:36:00.000-07:00Thanks Jack!
You know, I think this list could co...Thanks Jack!<br /><br />You know, I think this list could continue to be expanded for a long while. Is there any time when today's Church of Scientology demands money from Scientologists and it <I>isn't</I> scammy?Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-82320793042164208722009-04-20T10:12:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:12:00.000-07:00There was another scam called "Mission Starter Pac...There was another scam called "Mission Starter Packages." These were VERY expensive packages of books, course materials, E-Meters and anything else they could throw in. Supposedly "everything needed to start a Mission." But in fact, far more than anyone would ever need. As people wanting to start missions often couldn't afford it, the Pubs Orgs started getting "donations" from wealthy Scientologists to buy a Mission Starter Package so "someone else" could start the mission. Hundreds of these "Mission Starter Packages" were sold, the money banked, the big fat commissions paid. And the books and materials? Never delivered anywhere, still sitting in the warehouse. <br />Scamming thousands of dollars from Scientologists and getting fat commissions? Definitely! Actually starting Missions? Not so much.Cactus Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588150109003847843.post-49698376721105729052009-04-20T09:33:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:33:00.000-07:00There has been some discussion elsewhere about the...There has been some discussion elsewhere about the ownership of the new buildings. It has been alleged that the ownership <I>does not</I> transfer to "International Landlord".<br /><br />Yes it does. To understand how this works, you must understand the very complex and convoluted way that the corporation of Scientology works. There is, of course, what is publicly visible, which is <I>fairly</I> straightforward, and then there is the behind-the-curtain stuff.<br /><br />You might, in actual fact, see, in public documents, that the local church, or some other "local" entity is listed as the owner. This is done when there are legal or tax requirements that this is so.<br /><br />If this is so, then behind the curtain there will be legally signed, often undated, documents ensuring that International Management (or its puppet) is given full ownership and control of the property. Period.<br /><br />In addition, internal Church of Scientology policies ensure that de-facto control always resides fully and only with International Management.<br /><br />No local church could, for instance, sell their property without approval. On the other hand, International Management could sell the local church's building out from under them at any time.<br /><br />Yes, that <I>is</I> the way it is.Just Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700571144527474381noreply@blogger.com