I can't entirely agree with Chris Owen on this issue. While there are points with which I agree, I believe that, properly presented, pickets can serve some useful function.

As much as one would like to be accepted for who one is, the harsh reality is; you don't wear jeans to court, regardless of how righteous the cause. Americans, at any rate, are very image concious. You are just as likely to be pigeonholed by the man in the street as you are from one of Hubbard's disciples. Now, I picket in jeans and a jacket, but I leave the hardware at home. The idea is to appear non-threatening to passersby. Have you ever noticed media coverage of environmental demonstrations? The spokesperson is always some wildhaired, bearded hippie looking guy, which doesn't help the Cause's credibility. Image is everything. If you want to get your message across, you must resemble, at least superficially, the people you are trying to reach, and not scare them.

As to the usefulness of pickets, I have some thoughts on that. During our last picket, literally hundreds of cars slowed down to read our "Scientology-Bait and Switch Fraud" sign.

When people see somebody out with a picket sign, whether it's for a scurvy used car dealer or a kriminally konvicted kult, one thing that pops into their minds is, "Here is someone who cares enough about this to spend time out here." They will also assume that the person knows something about the topic, or he wouldn't be out there.

Seeing a message on a sign may not necessarily sink in, but it does plant a seed of doubt in people's minds. You might be less likely to buy a used car from a lot where someone is protesting shady business practises. You might also think twice about signing up for Scientology courses if you know there's another side to the story.

If nothing else, picketing will demonstrate that there is another side out there to be looked at. Picketing gives us a presence. Where fliers are handed out, it's even more effective. Our flier material is well-written and lucid, of a much higher order than a Jack Chick comic, or some of the HELLFIRE! brochures I've been handed, all capital letters and exclamation marks. The quality of the handouts definately influences people's view of your protest.

If nothing else, a serious, nonthreatening demonstration focusses attention, however briefly, on the issue at hand. You never know, a person being hit up by Scn at a swap meet may think back and remember seeing protestors outside the org and decide that a little more research is needed before signing that billion year contract.

And that's my .02 cents worth.
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC
http://members.home.net/bwarr1/index.htm
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATE $CIENTOLOGY? Sign the petition at
http://www4.PetitionOnline.com/cofs1/
"Every week, every month, every year, every decade and now every century, Scientology does weird and stupid things to damage its own reputation." -Steve Zadarnowski "Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as Scientology." -- ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

"$cientology sees the world this way: One man with a picket sign:

terrorism. Five thousand people dead in a deliberate inferno: business opportunity.

$cientology oozes _under_ terrorists to hide." - Chris Leithiser

Go Back