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Archive for September, 2009

There are times in everyone’s lives where we have been bullied.  Whether it’s a racist landlord, a perverted boss, an angry co-worker,  an alcoholic relative,  a fellow student, or maybe someone who was trusted.  Part of growing up is growing a backbone, which to me doesn’t necessarily mean do the same back.  A good friend once told me, “what you allow to remain will continue”.  I’m learning this more and more as the years go by, and how to stop bullies in their tracks.

My secret trick is to do the exact opposite back to them, or ignore them.  Nothing angers a bully into doing something stupid more than not being paid the attention they believe they deserve or crave.  When someone is ruthless to you, don’t do it back.  Sinking to their level is what a bully wants, because bullies are secretly miserable people who put on facades.  They hide behind false bravado, lawyers, muscles, or anything they can do to put up a defensive shield. 

Bullies will cross all of our paths, and the one thing that can be learned is that he bullied often become bullies themselves.  It’s a defensive reflex to do something equally horrible or worse to someone who has tried to push you around.  However, this accomplishes nothing but feeding animosity and true discontent.  The feeling of having revenge, I have found, is futile.  It is short-lived and only makes things worse in the end anyway.

After having learned this, came a rushing feeling to not caring what others think.  Standing a little straighter, extending olive branches when applicable, and knowing when to burn bridges is the freedom I found in overcoming bullies.  For anyone reading this is being bullied, I hope you know you’re not the first or the last. 

Young people have been bullied to death (literal suicide) for their weight, social status, economic status, ethnicity, beliefs, and almost any other small part of a person.  One girl in England who was 13 years old killed herself after being picked on mercilessly for her weight.  I will never forget her face, she looked like a cherub.  There was nothing wrong with her.  I, for one, wish this issue was addressed more often than it is.

Thank you for reading

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Being a Wisconsin native, the past few years of economic decline has lead to social decline.  Friends from the Milwaukee area have told me of entire unemployment benefit checks going to binge-drinking fueled by lay-offs.  I’ve noticed more kids talking to me about abuse they suffer at the hand of their alcoholic parents, noticed the bars have been more filled with people, drunken driving is on the rise, and more are homeless in my beautiful state I begrudgingly call home.

This was no more evident than yesterday evening.  My fiance`s mother was over at 9:00 p.m. to wish me a happy birthday.  About 10 minutes later, my landlady and her drunken-cohort (a neighbor) came up to the apartment to threaten to kick me out because I have friends that come over.  My 71-year old landlord told me that because I had a black friend that I am “peddling drugs”.  I have a clean criminal history, never tested positive on a toxicology screen, good work history, and a fairly good reputation.  By the time everyone had left, I realized that by association, I was a victim of racial stereotyping.  I am so offended and alienated, I would rather stay in a camp ground in a tent than be here. 

In many ways I’ve noticed that when the economy is in ruins, people don’t have as many “things” occupying their time, therefore they start to nit-pick each other to death or drink.  Both have a social impact.  Another good example is my front yard.  In the past two years, 4 signs have been knocked over by drunken-drivers and a young man died after driving drunk into a tree at 5:00 a.m.  Friends have been fired from my company for pettier things than in the past, and unemployment is a factor into all of this.  When people have less responsibilities, they generally act that way too.

With all that said, I cannot wait to move.  I hope I can remain gainfully employed.

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Dear Mr. President Obama

 
My name is Jessica, I’m from Wisconsin, and I am worried about the state of affairs in Scientology. I know it is controversial, and we all want to enjoy the freedom of religion in America. However, I write to you today because of the things I have observed as an critic of Scientology. I would like to begin with Gold Base in Gilman Hot Springs, California. This place is surrounded by numerous motion detectors, cameras mounted in trees, speakers meant to drown out the sound and discourage protesters, and the most disturbing are the large spikes on the top of the fences that face inward. They do resemble knives in their size and shape. If you do not believe me, please visit http://www.angrygaypope.com and look at all the pictures this man has of this place. He stands from the road and can see the spikes. In this place, there is a organization headed by Scientology, the Rehabilitation Project Force. People live in horrible conditions, with less than $20 a week in salary for 12-hour work days. Sometimes they have to work seven days in a row. A man, Uwe Stuckenbrock died in this place of Multiple Sclerosis. He couldn’t even talk and he wasn’t admitted to the hospital. This is human slavery sir, and I don’t think this should be tolerated on American soil. If you want further proof, look at their social security payments. How are these people going to retire? If they want to leave, some do so under duress. There is this thing called a “freeloaders” debt. They have to work off their “religious services”, or be bullied into paying thousands of dollars for “religious services”. There’s is also an “Eagles Nest” overlooking the property. This can be used to keep an eye on followers so that they are not slacking off. Even more disturbing, this could be used to shoot people with a sniper rifle. An Armenian arms dealer has been connected with Scientology and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for dealing arms. Artur Solomonyan was here on a “religious workers” visa from Scientology, then convicted of terrorism. There have  been reports  from Ex-Scientologists that they have more people working for them that are here illegally from other countries. Homeland Security needs to check the documents of all religious workers.
 
 The next issue is abuses by David Miscavige. In a Tampa Bay Times article, ex-members have told stories of horrible abuses by this leader. There were stories of him choking, kicking, punching, and humiliating staff members. There are also stories about him encouraging violent behavior among his juniors. Please see the article “The Truth Rundown”. One woman told a story of being screamed at by over 300 of her peers for not producing enough e-meters. Also, the e-meters are supposed to have warning labels that they are not meant for any medical use. There have been several youtube.com videos showing the warning labels missing. I will be contacting the FDA regarding this issue. I will also contact the AMA over the fact that two men’s medical information was released by churchworker Muriel Dufresne. She is a criminal who broke the HIPAA Act and told Riverside County Sherrif’s deputies that they were HIV positive and that she thought they shouldn’t be there because of their “medical status”. I do not have HIV or AIDS, but I find this to be infuriating. Being religious doesn’t give you free reign to break whatever laws you want.

 

 
There’s also a great deal of concern about the critics of Scientology (portion ommitted for privacy reasons) I cannot reveal my name for fear of my own personal saftey. Personally, Scientologists on the internet have threatened to “get me on the streets”, rape me, and get me locked up in a looney bin “like Paulette Cooper”.

 The state of health and whereabouts of other Scientologists have been called into question. Heber Jentzsch has been missing from public eye for a good five years, and no one has heard if it he is still alive or dead. He was last known to be at the Gold Base in Hemet in the SP hall, sleeping under a desk. Mrs. Shelly Miscavige has been out of the public eye for at least 3 years. She is not pictured in Scientology events, which has changed. There’s many other families who were denied the right to speak to their daughters in particular. This is a very disturbing trend. Maureen Bolstad hasn’t seen her twin sister in years, and has been denied the constitutional right of free speech to actually send her a letter.

The subject of human trafficing is being brought up at the Marc Headley lawsuit (Marc and Claire Headley Vs. Church of Scientology) and has been brought up by former Scientologists and critics alike. There are remote sites such as Trementina, the Ranch in Creston, and Petrolia (a large underground vault in Northern California) are the places we know about. Currently, another underground mine to store “spiritual information” is being built in remote Wyoming. Why do they need all these underground, remote facilities? This information is enclosed in glass, written on platinum, steel, and gold. When news stations try to get near these places, they are always met with avoidance. The very minimum amount of information is given and journalists are discouraged from going near Scientology sites or asking questions.

During the making of documentaries and news coverage such as BBC’s Panorama, A&E Investigative Reports, Journalists from Time Magazine, among others have reported getting harassed, followed, and intimidated for their reporting. Two women that are free speech advocates/activists would be Lirra Bishop and Julie Waltz. Other People have spoken to the County Board of Supervisors about concerns that residents at Golden Era Productions do not vote for some strange reason. Also, a man was assaulted by Scientology guards had spoken to police about the incident, they refused to press charges even though there was sufficient video evidence.  All their “No Trespassing” signs are not legal, therefore completely invalid.

I have been thinking and meditating on the matter of Scientology ending, and they aren’t pretty thoughts at all. Basically, it could be numerous human catastrophes. That’s why I’m writing you this urgent letter. You see, my first concern is people of the church, OTs in particular. Of all the levels of Scientology, OTs seem to have the highest suicide rate of anyone in the church, aside from those being pressured for money.  And with the idea of reincarnation, some may harm themselves in the church fallout. Think of all those people that have no job skills, far from family, in remote locations (like Trementina), with over 20 years in the church. Some may have mental breakdowns. Also, there’s DM and his croonies. I’m worried for critics because devoted Scis might do like the people did in Jonestown. With the malignant personality that David Miscavige possesses, he might hurt people.

We all know he is capable and willing. Many things are common with Jonestown. If you want to prevent another catastrophe like Waco, Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate, and the Solar Temple suicides, you’ll have the right people questioned, Mr. Miscavige thrown in federal prison for breaking labor and civil rights laws, and raid all bases of Scientology. When people are kept as slaves, this is intolerable.  Absolutely intolerable and bordering on unfathomable. But it’s very much a reality you need to have looked into. Even ex-Scientologists who were once high-ranking officials seem scared for the safety and well-being of their fellow Scientologists. Don’t wait until this gets out of hand.

This is part of the letter I’m sending the president, along with other state representatives, lawmakers, human rights groups, and many others.

 

 

 

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