Here is a transcript of a 1997 TV news story covering the "L. Ron Hubbard Park" affair:

http://net.unl.edu/~swi/pers/tilden.html They even have a photograph of the sign I mentioned.

According to the web page, videotapes of the original broadcast are available; would this be a good item for XenuTV?

[Begin quote] Tilden Says "No"

Reported by Bill Kelly, STATEWIDE Correspondent Tilden, Nebraska, is split between two counties, a political quirk because of where the boundary lines were drawn. Tilden is also split between two factions battling over the future in funding of the proposed L. Ron Hubbard Park. It all came to a head at this Tuesday's town council meeting.

[Tilden Town Board member] "Is it the policy of Friends of L. Ron Hubbard to force that donation upon these people."

[David Ptak, Friends of L. Ron Hubbard] "There's no forcing at all being done here."

The fuss is over a man who has been dead for 10 years, author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. After a successful career as a science fiction writer, he published his book "Dianetics" in the 1950's.

Advocates claim it is the definitive explanation of the human mind.

At seminars he demonstrated a device claimed to read the human spirit.

He claims to have cured arthritis, blindness, and mental illness. That put him at odd with the medical establishment. That provided the foundation for the Church of Scientology, the belief that technology can be used to advance spiritual progress. Steps to achieve a desired state of "clear" are spelled out in Hubbard's books and taped lectures available for purchase. In sessions with church auditors, the spiritual progress of believers is measured using the electro-psycho meter.

Only recently did the federal government get the church legal standing as a religion. This was the legacy of L. Ron Hubbard born in Tilden, Nebraska, 1911. His family moved away when he was 13. It was just a couple of years ago when Tilden decided it needed a better park.

[Duane Eggers, Friends of the Park] "First and foremost in our minds is the betterment of this community and providing the facilities for our children and grandchildren. Amen."

Money was tight so the Park Foundation formed by the town council went in search of some deep pockets. When the president of Parks Foundation approached the supporters of L. Ron Hubbard, the response was quick and impressive.

[Karen Decker, Friends of the Park] "We were flabbergasted, Bill. We couldn't believe it that someone would want to do this in our little town. So it was quite a shock."

The Friends of L. Ron Hubbard offered $50,000 with a pledge of another $200,000 to pay for the park. It was members of the local foundation who say it was their idea to name the park for Hubbard.

[Decker] "He was a famous author, poet. To us, that's what we went after. He was a famous person, and he was born in our little town of Tilden, Nebraska."

[Bob Coble, Tilden resident] "And I feel that much in the way that Norfolk has recognized Johnny Carson for his contributions that the L.

Ron Hubbard -- the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard should be recognized likewise. They're helping us make a dream a reality."

Time and again the phrase "no strings attached" was used to describe the money.

[Kelly] "Were there any initial conditions?"

[Decker] "No."

[Kelly] "Period?"

[Decker] "Period. There are no strings attached. Everything is up front and truthful."

[Hugh Wilhere, Friends of L. Ron Hubbard] "It just seemed a natural for the friends of Ron to help the friends of the park, and that was really the beginning of it."

Hugh Wilhere and Brent McDaniel representing the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard have spent weeks in Tilden shepherding this project forward.

[Wilhere] "He's one of the contributors."

[Brent McDaniel, Friends of L. Ron Hubbard] "Basically $50,000 were contributed for the trail itself, and in answer to your question, yes, 32 individuals contributed the money."

[Wilhere] "I mean, funds are raised this way all the time. So, I mean, this is an opportunity for us to help the citizens of Tilden get one of the most beautiful parks in Nebraska and probably the whole Midwest."

[David Ciaccio, architect] "It's going to be a very grand city park for Tilden."

They met us at the office of architect David Ciaccio hired to design the Hubbard Park.

[Ciaccio] "The Way to Happiness Trail comes from the Cowboy Trail to the north, and this is The Way to Happiness Trail all down the west side of the park all the way to the ball field area. Along that trail are the 21 Precepts.

"Those 21 Precepts refers to lining the trail, that's the dividing line between the park supporters and an increasingly outraged group of people out to stop the Hubbard project."

[Kelly, on the site] This would become The Way to Happiness Trail. The title is taken from a pamphlet written by L. Ron Hubbard called "The Way to Happiness." It's been distributed by the millions. It lists what he calls Precepts for a Happier Life. "Take care of yourself. Do not murder. Do not steal. Honor your parents." There is no mention of the Church of Scientology in the pamphlet, but there are people in Tilden who are concerned that the Precepts' echo of the 10 commandments could provide the foundation for Hubbard's spiritual order.

[Marcie Sextor, Tilden Concerned Citizens] "I want no religion in the park, period. I think recognition to individuals that gave money, I have no problem with that. But I think that religion needs to be out of the city park."

It's one of the things that lead to the creation of the Concerned Citizens of Tilden.

[Rich Johnson, Tilden Concerned Citizens] "You know, we don't want anybody to be confused that we're against the park, because that's not the case. We just do not want religion involved in the park because the park is city property."

[Mike Albin, Attorney, Concerned Citizens] "Basically someone's offering money, and we've got a large group of people that are saying, we don't want your money. They don't want it. Then I guess why should someone have to be forced to take a gift they don't want?"

Mike Albin is the attorney obtained by the Concerned Citizens.

[Albin] "L. Ron Hubbard seemed to be so entwined with Scientology and his beliefs and his quote, religion, that we believe it creates a problem that could then raise to the level of what has been suggested as separation of church and state."

[Decker] "Well, we don't even think of that, Bill. We stuck with our original plan, and we're going to see it through to the end."

[Kelly] "Should you be thinking about that, that the city could get sued on this, on a church of state separation issue?"

[Decker] "I don't think we as a foundation need to worry about that. I think they need to take care of that. That's their problem."

Park Foundation members and project supporters think making this a church and state issue does not make sense.

[Coble] "The only people making this a religious issue are the opponents. No one on the park side of the issue has -- religion has not been discussed."

The issue was on the mind of Kay Connelly, the director of the L. Ron Hubbard Foundation. She wrote in a letter to the editor in the Norfolk Daily News, "Religious bigotry is threatening the very dream of the Tilden community of a family park. How anyone could think this project is offensive is beyond me, not to mention the thousands of members of the Church of Scientology... ...who have willingly given their time and money."

[Wilhere] "It has nothing to do with the religion of Scientology. I mean, some of these precepts are the most common sense."

[Kelly] "Could those be considered the 10 Commandments of Scientology, though?"

[Wilhere] "Not at all. Not at all. They're just basic common sense moral guides or rules."

The more park planners went about surveying and preparing the blueprints, the more people in Tilden questioned the funding of the park. No one could independently verify who or what organizations donated, because the Park Foundation would not open the financial records for inspection. Opponents of the Hubbard money passed out neon- colored fliers the night of the town council meeting quoting newspaper articles and court cases critical of Scientology practices, accusations the supporters deny. Nonetheless that history of controversy and lingering questions about who is calling the shots on Tilden's park brought out 200 people, most would stay listening intently until a vote was taken just before midnight.

[Albin] "The public really does need to be educated about the influence that L. Ron Hubbard, the Friends of Scientology, hence the Church of Scientology really indeed can have in a community."

The people behind the $250,000 hired their own attorney from Norfolk to make their case.

[David Ptak, Attorney, Friends of L. Ron Hubbard] "Yes, there are scientologists who are the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard, but there are a number of individuals... "

Many in the crowd were skeptical of the group's intentions. Some members of the city council felt too much pressure from outside of Tilden.

[Person in the audience] "I guess I would like to know why it is you feel it necessary to come in and help push the issue rather than let the people of Tilden decide this on their own?"

Repeatedly the mayor of Tilden asked if the money would still be on the table should the city decide to drop Hubbard's name and his moral code from the park plans. The donors and the audience remained silent.

Members of the City Council did not.

[Tilden Council member] "I don't want any part of the park to be named after any person." [The audience applauds] Most on the council agreed they wanted their park without naming it for L. Ron Hubbard, without his 21 Precepts, and without calling the trail "The Way to Happiness" knowing full well that could mean losing a quarter million dollars.

[Sextor] "Oh, I felt good about it. This is what we had wanted allo along, which is to have it be no recognition except donors."

Friends of L. Ron Hubbard talking through their attorney made clear that the no strings attached money was now very much in doubt.

[Ptak] "Now it seems that the rules have been changed as far as the conditions placed on it, and the money wasn't raised under those set of circumstances, so that's why we need to talk with the Friends of Park Foundation to determine where they are at with this and where we need to be with it, too."

[Kelly] "The funding is in doubt now?"

[Ptak] "Certainly."

No one here is sure this settles the issue, but it's clear to everyone that it was a lot easier paying tribute to Tilden's other favorite son, Richie Ashburn, Baseball Hall of Famer inducted 1995. His name hangs over the ball diamond, and he never had to promise a dime. For Statewide, I'm Bill Kelly.

[End quote]
--
Love and encouragement,
The German Paymaster
(well, half-German... on my father's side)
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/ "In Scientology, litigation is a sacrament."

-- Scott McLemee <http://www.inthesetimes.com/mclemee2415.html>

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