The Demons of Freedom
by Ken Rose 

The other day we were talking to a young man who had recently become a
member of the "Church" of Scientology. This fellow's brother had become
concerned when the new scientologist decided to quit his job and devote
himself to full time study at the cult's "Technical Mecca" in Clearwater,
Florida. We were asked to speak to the young man and help all concerned
with the process of making a decision as to whether or not the family's
trust fund should be used to finance the considerable expense associated
with the training the young man was seeking in scientology.

We spent a couple of hours trying to explain to these two brothers what
had become of us during our many years in scientology, and then, slowly,
the young scientologist began to ask questions. One which we found
compelling was this: was there nothing within the confines of this
extraordinary organization that justified the loss and suffering we had
endured? Was there not the promised freedom? Was it not somehow true that
no matter what the price one had to pay, it was far short of the power and
glory of the state of OT...of the state of Total Freedom?

At first we thought this was an easy question to answer. No...in a word.
Scientology, in fact, offers no such invaluable freedom. But as we looked
into this young man's eyes, it became clear that a further answer was
needed. What of people's dreams of freedom? What of the power and glory
that is supposed to lie behind each more confidential gateway to OT as one
progresses up the "Bridge to Total Freedom?"

We told this fellow that he now found himself at a crossroads in his life.
We made it quite clear that scientology is an all or nothing proposition,
that one cannot pick and choose from it as if it were a "spiritual"
smorgasbord. We informed him that he had a monumental decision to make.
[In order to avoid any sort of climactic value which this story might
otherwise possess, we'll tell you right now that this young man made the
right choice. He is no longer a member of the "Church" of Scientology. Now
we can proceed.]

How do we deal with the subject of freedom? Should you or someone you know
and care about find him or herself in a position of having to decide
whether or not to become or remain involved in scientology, consider the
following argument. It concerns the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Since this is an article of government which is frequently cited by people
and institutions on nearly every side of nearly all issues relating to
individual freedom, it is a statement of principle with which we should
all be familiar.

It states in part:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the government for the redress of grievances." 

Thomas Jefferson, who possessed more than a passing familiarity with and
passion for such freedom, underscored the importance of this protection
saying, "Our most fundamental liberties depend upon the freedom of thought
and the freedom of expression; and you cannot limit either one in any way
without destroying both."

In recent years, scientology has attemped to style itself a champion of
the first amendment and of the liberties and freedoms it promises to us
all. But beyond its protestations of alleged intrustions against it's own
freedom to defraud, coerce and conspire, the cult behaves in a manner
which is inimical to freedom. To support this statement, let us examine
the behavior of scientologists with regard to the subject of the freedom
of speech and belief.

According to scientology policy it is a "High Crime" and a "Suppressive Act"
for a scientologist in good standing to remain in communication with any
person who has been declared to be a "Suppressive Person." What this
means, of course, is that a scientologist's right to freedom of speech is
abrogated... at least it is limited in that one cannot exercise free speech
with respect to declared SP's. Savvy scientologists might argue that they
accept this limitation knowingly and willingly and thereby retain full
freedom of speech. But Jefferson's caveat stands: one cannot limit this
freedom in any way without destroying it. And, in fact, a scientologist
who wishes to exercise full freedom of speech, risks the consequences that
accompany violation of the above cited HCOPL. One can, of course, be
declared a Suppressive Person oneself for continuing communication to
another declared Suppressive Person.

The point here is simply this: regardless of the arguments that can be
made supporting such a limitation of free speech, it must be recognized
that scientology advocates this significant abridgement of this freedom
for its members. Though they cite historical, religious precedents for
strict codes of conduct, etc., this fact remains. When it comes to talking
to people who have been declared "Suppressive" or discussing the faults of
the group, scientologists are simply not free to do so.

To understand the force with which scientology attempts to impose this
limitation of the freedom of speech, one need only consider the
consequences of being declared a "Suppressive Person" and expelled from the
"church." When one is thus declared, one suddenly finds oneself cut off from
everyone with whom one has lived, loved, worked, and played. 

This is precisely what happens (or what is supposed to happen) to a
scientologist who is declared to be suppressive. This is disconnection.
Think about it for a minute. Think of it in terms of your own life.
Imagine that you live in a community heavily populated by scientologists.

For the sake of argument, let's say that you live in a community that has
wholeheartedly embraces the tenets of scientology. After all, it's only a
matter of time before there are such scientology communities? Isn't it?

Picture youself living in a world run by scientology. Let's pretend that
scientology has achieved it's goal of world domination. The Zone Plan has
succeeded. The planet has been "cleared." And while the Sea Org gears up
for Target Two (the expansion of scientology to other worlds), the
administration of Earth continues according to Hubbard's policy.

Remembering that you are an American, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson, et
al, you awaken one morning and decide to test whether or not your most
fundamental freedoms have been in any way abridged or limited. Perhaps you
are suddenly tired of believing that you are possessed [by the spirits of murdered
space aliens]; of auditing [these] entities off your body and off the bodies of
everybody else you know and
off the furniture and the cars as they go by and so on. Maybe you've
decided to change your mind about a few things or you just wake up
angry... for no particular reason other than you're just angry. You decide
to speak out.

You go to the window and, remembering how effective it was in a movie, you
stick your head out and start yelling, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going
to take it any more." What happens next?

By noon, you are reading the "Knowledge Reports" which your neighbors have
written and forwarded to your Ethics File. Of course they sent carbons to
their own files as evidence of their adherence to standard policy.

By 12:15 you are being interviewed by your Committee of Evidence.
(Remember, this is a scientology world, so everyone is required to be
extremely punctual and efficient.) The Bill of Particulars is read out by
the Committee Secretary. The witnesses are called and heard. The Committee
reviews the evidence and directs some questions towards you.

Seeking to establish the truth, you honestly report that you were simply
fed up with the BT's and clusters and just wanted to exercise your first
amendment right to tell your friends and neighbors so.

The committee members nod and half-ack as you talk on for a few minutes.
By 12:30 the Findings and Recommendations are published along with Ethics
Order 12,375,894,995,863... declaring you to be a Psychotic Person, a
Suppressive Person, etc. and directing all scientologists (which,
remember, constitute the entire population of Teegeeack, or, as it was
briefly known in the late 20th century, Earth) to disconnect from you.

Now it's 12:45. You're hungry. This sort of thing always makes you hungry.
So, you step out into the sunlight and head off towards the local
McDonalds. There, you figure, you can drown your sorrows in a Big Mac (a
Big Ron?), fries, and a chocolate shake.

However, to your chagrin, your ethics order has been published
electronically all over the world. It has arrived at the order desk just
before you. And the young woman who works there will not talk to you or
take your order. Her senior won't talk to you either. No one in the place
will talk to you. You head for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

They won't talk to you either. The clerk at the supermarket does speak,
but only says that he won't talk to you. The other shoppers seem annoyed.
They won't talk to you. You wander home along streets that fall strangely
silent as you pass, and when you finally arrive home, you find that your
landlord has thrown your things into the street, including your parrot.
Even he won't talk to you.

Your mother's voice on the phone is cold and distant. She tells you,
somewhat reluctantly, that she won't talk to you. Your wife is gone with
the kids. Or your husband's gone with the kids. The next morning, your
boss has ordered the company's Ethic's Officer to inform you that since no
one at the office will talk to you, you can't possibly do your job and
so... no job.

Your doctor won't talk to you. You definitely don't feel well. The
District Attorney won't talk to you. Only the International Justice Chief
will talk to you. And all she will say is that you need to do steps A-E of
HCOPL blah de blah.

OK. That's enough. But ask yourself does it really matter that this
tyranny was perpetrated against you by a "church" rather than an agency of
the state? Is there any difference at all?

How do we reconcile scientology's claims of championing the First
Amendment with its practice of disconnection and of limiting the right of
free speech of its members?

For instance, we were declared to be Suppressive. One day nobody we had
known for many, many years would talk to us. Were they all simply
exercising their individual liberties? Or were they acting out of
fear... the fear of being similarly put in Coventry and denied this most
fundamental freedom?

The world we woke up to this morning is not one which is dominated by
scientology. But it is one in which people have, indeed, become reluctant
to exercise the freedom of speech on the subject of scientology. Among
those who are most reluctant are former members. For they know the
"church's" actual position on this freedom. They know that declared SP's do,
indeed, become Fair Game (meaning that they can be lied to, cheated,
embarassed, attacked or even destroyed by other scientologists).

Former members, particularly those who have been declared Suppessive
Persons, know what all this is supposed to purchase: the silence of those
who would be critics of scientology. Some of us were raised with the
notion that "I might not agree with what you have to say, but I will
defend to the death your right to say it."

So, here we find Rev. Heber Jentzsch, "President" of the "Church" of
Scientology, International, proclaiming himself and his "church" to be the
real champions of the freedoms of the First Amendment. And here we find
the workaday scientolgists, the Ethics Officers, the Auditors, the
Directors of Processing, The Technical Secretaries, and scientologists in
general, engaging in what amounts to wholesale destruction of those very
rights. 

They say it is designed to "keep a safe space" for the expansion of
scientology. And what does scientology do when it expands into some new
area? More of the same. 

Will the earth ever enter in a post-"cleared" era like the one described
above? We don't intend to wait and see. But if it does, you can be assured
that you will no longer have the protection of the First Amendment (or any
other amendments or constitutions for that matter). In its place will
stand the Substance and First Duty of HCO, as diligent scientologists
gather up the copyrights and trademarks of dianetics and scientology and
ensure their safety and security against infringement on the infinite
numbers of worlds that lie beyond the stars and which, in the days after
the earth has been cleared, will fall, one by one, beneath the boots of
Sea Org members as they make their way back to the stars from whence they
believe they came.

These are the demons of freedom. These are the lads and lasses who
threaten us while we sleep with their dedicated service to mankind. Make
no mistake about it. If you are a citizen of planet earth, you are
represented on the Battle Plan of scientology. If you are still a wog
(i.e. a non-scientologist), even if you've never even heard of
scientology, it is really only a matter of time before you have your
status clarified. If all goes as scientology has planned, sooner or later,
you will know.

And if you do wake up one fine morning and begin to realize that no one is
talking to you, at least you'll know what's going on.

You probably just voiced the wrong opinion about the wrong "defenders of
freedom". Right?