Tigger Tigger wrote:

Checking up, I found SPTs did print my letter a while back. Wheeeee! And it elicited a grunt from Scientology itself.

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Full Text (830 words)
Copyright Times Publishing Co. Jun 30, 2005

Re: Newspaper is stuck in past over Scientology, letter by Steve Sigal, June 24.

Mr. Sigal and others complain that some who dislike Scientology after all these years are "stuck in the past." The issue is Scientology being stuck in unacceptable policies.

Scientology sneaked into Clearwater and immediately started infiltrating agents into government and newspapers and started harassing critics. It never apologized for these actions. And later the same infiltration tactics popped up again in Canada and Greece. In Greece, it got Scientology shut down.

The same "fair game" tactics are still used. Critics are swarmed with private investigators, harassing lawsuits, libels, smears and dirty tricks to this day.

To get over the past problems, Scientology needs to change. It needs to openly cancel "fair game" and similar policies loudly and openly - not for public consumption, but to set an example and new course for Scientology and Scientologists. It needs to implement new guidelines and policies.

Scientology never apologized for its bizarre "fair game" tactics against people like former Clearwater Mayor Gabe Cazares or author Paulette Cooper.

This is an organization that has argued in two major court cases that "fair game" polices are a core practice and should be constitutionally protected. (These cases were Scientology vs. Lawrence Wollersheim, 1989, and Scientology vs. Gerald Armstrong, 1984.)

An organization with that outrageous attitude and its history is an organization that is not trustworthy. You cannot trust its good judgment, goodwill or intentions. It would be foolish to trust it in anything until major changes are made in management and real policy changes are implemented.

Until changes are made, the attitude of government and government personnel should be that Scientology is just a dangerous cult and any dealings with it should be at arm's length - not as punishment, but to force real and deep change on Scientology. Make Scientologists change, not governments or communities, and let them know that without change they will never be acceptable.

William C. Barwell, Houston, Texas

From: WCB
Subject: Re: SPTimes * SCN Letter to Editor * 7/10/05
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:35:20 -0500
Message-ID: <11d2ti96h8ghje8@corp.supernews.com>

I just sent a reply.

Friends,

Mr. Harney, public affairs spokesman  for Scientology and Flag, one of Scientology's most important and largest institutions has stated here, July 10, in his capacity as Scientology spokemen, that "Fair Game" was cancelled in 1968, an old claim also found on Scientology's official website.

This is simply untrue.  What are we talkng about here?  We are talking about a Hubbard Communications Office Policy letter 23 December, 1965, "ETHICS SUPPRESSIVE ACTS SUPPRESSION OF SCIENTOLOGY AND SCIENTOLOGISTS THE FAIR GAME LAW ".  This HCOPL defines Suppressive Persons .

" A SUPPRESSIVE PERSON or GROUP is one that actively seeks to suppress or damage Scientology or a Scientologist by Suppressive Acts."  Which goes on to describe, as about anything, including almost any sort of mere criticism.  

" A Suppressive Person or Group becomes "fair game"."  "By FAIR GAME is meant, may not be further protected by the codes and disciplines of Scientology or the rights of a Scientologist."     "The homes, property, places and abodes of persons who have been active in attempting to suppress Scientology or Scientologists are all beyond any protection of Scientology Ethics, unless absolved by later Ethics or an amnesty."

 " RIGHTS OF A SUPPRESSIVE PERSON OR GROUP   A truly Suppressive Person or Group has no rights of any kind as Scientologists and actions taken against them are not punishable under Scientology Ethics Codes."

This then is the policy we refer to as "Fair Game", it is the 1965  "Fair Game Law". Was it cancelled in 1968?  No.  Not at all. what Harney is refering to is the HCOPL 21 October 1968.

"The practice of declaring people FAIR GAME will cease. FAIR GAME may not appear on any Ethics Order. It causes bad public relations. This P/L does not cancel any policy on the treatment or handling of an SP." What policy on treatment or handling of SP is not cancelled here?  HCOPL 23 December 1965. Don't use the words, but policy is unchanged.

In the early 70's Scientology started collecting the many Hubbard policies in large volumes, called the Organization Executive Course or OEC.  My copy published in 1976 has in it both of these policies quote from above. Further more, starting in the mid 70's Scientology abstracted out the many Fair Game type policies and  published them as "packs" for use in courses, in this case the Potential Trouble Source - Suppressive Person courses. These PTS-SP packs contained both of these "Fair Game" policies as late as the 1983 PTS-SP packs.  These courses are taught very early in a Scientologists indoctrination. They are mandated for all who become any sort of Scientologist holding some staff position, or membership in the sea org.

This in short, was not cancelled in 1968, but has been mandated policy for decades.  It is also found in numerous other materials, such as GO agent training packs seized by the FBI raids in 1977.  Scientology only 'cancelled' fair game in 1980 under public glare of the sentencing of Mary Sue Hubbard and 10 other scientologists to prison, and cancelled that cancellation in 1983. Its still policy.

As I pointed out, Scientology indeed argued in courts as late as 1988-9 that Fair Game was "core practice" of the church of Scientology and as such should be considered constitutionally protected activity under the first amendment.  The appeals court ruling denying that argument at some length in case of Lawrence Wollersheim,  Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology  of California, reported at 212 Cal.App.3d 872, 260 Cal.Rptr. 331 (1989), is sobering reading.  This ruling is easily found with google on the internet.

"Fair Game was not canceled in 1968.  Nor is it a matter of oversight.  I myself some years ago brought this strongly to the attention of RTC/Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin, that such policies were unacceptable with demands she make this clear to her secretive clients. So Scientology knew 8 years ago that many people had the evidence that fair game was policy and were demanding change from the leaders of Scientology through their lawyer on note at that time.

And this is the crux of the matter.  Scientology not only refuses to change these policies, but to this day repeats the same old falsehoods, hoping that lack of knowledge of the real facts of the matter will allow these official lies to slide by unchallenged. This is the attitude that must change in Scientology. Since all of this is well documented on the internet, they can no longer count on public ignorance anyway, it is not a wise policy.

Fair Game, as policy, and activity, must be finally, officially cancelled, apologized for and made public loud and clear, not just for the public, but to tell Scientologists themselves that there is a new attitude, new policy, fair game type activities for once and for all are forever forbidden. No more OSA agents, no more hired PI harassers, no more tricks and games. No more frivolous lawsuits meant to harass.

Trotting out the same old tired lie that Scientology does not practice Fair Game in face of massive evidence it has been doing so for years, and the tired old claim it was cancelled in 1968 is not adequate.  If people really read the actual policies found in dozens of books, packs, collections of policies and confidential training materials, they would be horrified.

Harney's just a PR spokesman.  We should hear from the church leaders on this issue, starting with David Miscavige, and Rick Moxon.  Its time Scientology end this 40 tear long policy for once and for all rather than hide behind the Harneys of Scientology.

Until Scientology finally does this, they will remain in eyes of all who study the facts, a dangerous cult with dangerous policies.  Perhaps Mr. Harney will pass this on to upper echelons of Scientology to the Miscaviges of Scientology to deal with honestly, not merely dragging out the same old empty claims easily debunked by anybody who cares to study the real history and policies of Scientology since HCOPL 23 December 1965 was published and made policy.

Scientology, the ball is in your court.

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