I've been very impressed by the picketers here in Clearwater. The Scientologists have reverted back to their harassment tech, which I thought they had learned was counterproductive after the March '97 Clearwater picket. At that event about 30 of us picketed Flag while about 300 Scientologists picketed along with us while harassing and taunting us, and hiding our signs with theirs. This made great press for us because it showed what the Scientologists are really like and what they really think of free speech. I think when they blew out our candles at the candlelight vigil, that about sums up Scientology to me.

It's not easy for any human being to simply absorb being yelled at and followed for an hour or more while you're simply trying to walk up and down a sidewalk with a sign (a Constitutional right here in the US). Yet all the picketers here have been calm and peaceful despite this abuse. It impresses me greatly.

This also shows the value and wisdom of Gandhi Tech. When people driving by see what is happening to us, what do they think? Do they think the people yelling and harassing us are the Good Side? Or do they think the people who are being abused for practicing their right of free speech are the Good Side? The point of Gandhi Tech is to peacefully protest a bad group. By peacefully confronting the bad group, this gives the bad group the opportunity to show their true colors or what they are actually like under any facade they may have constructed. Scientologists willingly expose to passersby and our cameras just what they are really like by attacking and harassing us.

Gandhi Tech, by clearly demarcating both sides, works on bad groups, but not on good groups. Think, for example, on what would happen if we picketed the Salvation Army? Would they come out and yell and taunt us and stick gum on our camera lenses? Of course not.

They'd bring us water and cookies and try to talk to us like rational human beings. Why is that? Because they are deep down nice people.

Just consider any nice group and what would happen with Gandhi Tech picketing. Just imagine any bad group and what would happen with Gandhi Tech picketing. See? It's a way to show the world what a bad group is really like. And DESPITE Scientology knowing this equation, they STILL come out and act like 11 year old bullies. So is this the end product of Scientology, 11 year old bullies? Lordy I wish not.

But it seems to be.

The civil rights movement in the 60's used Gandhi Tech. They were harassed. They were attacked. They were peaceful. And they won.

I'd like for Scientologists to study that movement and consider which side they are most like, then consider how each side is viewed by history.

When a Scientology staffer used a syringe to force a mixture of aspirin, Benadryl and orange juice into McPherson's throat while others held her down, it was "spiritual sustenance," the church argues.

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