For the most part, previous exposure of the church's evil has been brought about by outsiders -- ex-Scientologists, reporters, critics and various victims. Marty and the Independents have been exposing carefully selected abuses (making sure that nothing is exposed that might reflect badly on L. Ron Hubbard himself) but they are, by their own statements, outsiders to the church.
With Debbie Cook's email and subsequent reactions, we have exposure of abuses coming from inside the church. The battle is now also between the Church of Scientology leadership and people who still consider themselves members of the church.
In addition, there are, today, a number of other very serious actions going on. There are serious books about Scientology, serious newspaper, TV and magazine exposés about Scientology and other serious court cases involving the church.
All this is good and necessary to the exposure of the Church of Scientology's crimes and eventual bringing to justice of David Miscavige and other Scientology criminals. Pop the popcorn and pull up a chair, this show is getting very interesting.
But I don't think we should take any particular event too seriously. No one court case is that important. Inevitably, the church will still win some while it loses others. It will be the mass of exposure and court losses for the church that count. Bit by bit the crimes and abuses are being exposed and documented. Things proven in court cannot be "unproven".
However, speaking of all this serious business reminds me: Let us not forget what was key in helping destroy the myth of the "great and powerful" Church of Scientology -- laughter!
It was, more than anything else, Anonymous and their monthly protest-parties that destroyed the Church of Scientology's mythical shield that protected them for so long. It was Anonymous that showed us that the church had no answer to laughter, happiness and fun.
Certainly, the seriousness is important in the court and in well-researched book, newspaper or TV exposés -- but if we become too serious, we will have abandoned our best weapon against the Church of Scientology and David Miscavige.
Happily, the irrepressible Tony Ortega at the Village Voice and a few others continue the tradition of laughing at Miscavige, Hubbard and the Church of Scientology. And, yes, some Anonymous are still protesting. With all this seriousness going on, we shouldn't forget to also keep laughing -- it's good for the soul and bad for the church.
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