Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 23:11:20 -0600
Message-ID: <7814-41C65EF8-153@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net>
The Daily Oklahoman Yours Views Wednesday, December 25, 1991
TO THE EDITOR:
Has a Hollywood actress (and Narconon/Church of Scientology) declared war on Oklahoma? On the Dec. 14 news, Gary Smith, President of Narconon Chilocco, threatened international ramifications and lawsuits because the Oklahoma State Mental Health Board denied certification for Narconon's controversial drug treatment program. Both Smith and the actress, Kristie Allie, vowed a fight to the finish. Then, on Dec. 17, it was reported that another front organization for the Church of Scientology, the Citizens' Commission on Human Rights, had launched an investigation of the Department of Mental Health. These are standard Scientology harassment tactics and must mean the Scientologists aren't going to pick up their marbles and go home.
What role was Allie portraying when she criticized the board for its scrutiny of "our drug rehab"? Was she wearing her international spokesperson for Narconon "hat" or her scientologist "hat"? Or both "hats"? Since the Narconon treatment consists of the Hubbard Method (the same "courses", etc.) the "church" uses for recruitment purposes, one would wonder if Allie were "recruited" at the same time she was "cured" of her drug addiction. Does this mean that Narconon "works" only if one becomes a Scientologist?
The board was accused of having a hidden agenda. Could Narconon be accused of having a hidden agenda? Are they a recruitment tool for the Church of Scientology? Does Narconon need 167 acres for a 75 bed facility? Might the "Church" have plans to relocate their headquarters on sovereign Indian land where they might expect to escape the scrutiny of federal, state and local government?
I informed the National Council Against Health Fraud of the outcome of the Dec. 13 meeting. They congratulated the Oklahoma Mental Health Board for its decision. If, as scientologists claim, Narconon "works", why do so many prestigious people, organizations and publications (and foreign governments) disagree?
Gary Smith, in a Dec. 12 rebuttal of an excellent series on Narconon, implied that Judge Leaman Freeman approved of Narconon. I believe that was from the November 1990 OKLAHOMAN article in which Judge Freeman also stated, "I know nothing about the program. I know nothing about the Church of Scientology." It is hoped that Judge Freeman, other judges and state officials and all Oklahomans now know the facts about Narconon, Church of Scientology and their science fiction writer founder, L. Ron Hubbard, especially their habit of filing numerous, frivolous lawsuits to harass, intimidate and silence their critics. If not, visit your local library and find out.
J. Wilson City
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 07:49:48 -0600
Message-ID: <3533-41C97B7C-449@storefull-3332.bay.webtv.net>
Mr. and Mrs. D. Gratias and Family, Des Moines, Iowa
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
March 16, 1992
TO THE EDITOR:
My family has watched with great interest while Oklahoma has dealt with the Narconon issue. Our mother is still being held by Narconon's parent organization, Scientology. She is thousands of miles from home and has no money. Her communication to us is under Scientology's Disconnect Policy. She is under orders not to see us. She must only write "fair weather and good roads" letters (all her communication is censored). Consequently we hear about beautiful California sunsets. We love her dearly and hope she finds her way home soon.
In this instance your state government took balanced and timely action. They did their homework, they were diligent, they were fairminded and they did not sidestep their duties for an easy way out. So please take a few minutes of your day and thank those in your government, your press, on your Mental Health Board, your neighbors; all those who had the courage to stand up to the rich, vicious, vindictive, destructive group called Narconon/Scientology.
Mr. and Mrs. D. Gratias and Family Des Moines, Iowa
End of quote ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I believe Mrs. Gratias is Dickerson's daughter, "Val", who was on the Sally Jessy show.
Val came to one of the Narconon hearings in Oklahoma to speak, but for some reason, was not allowed to. She had an escort from the Attorney General's office.
I spoke with Val during a lunch break. Among other things, she said her mother needed dental work and eyeglasses and they were very worried about her mental and physical health.
Scientology sent/took Mrs. Dickerson to California to isolate her from her family, surround her with Scientologists and to continue the control they had over her.
Tigger
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 07:54:54 -0600
Message-ID: <7814-41CACE2E-730@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net>
Gary Smith
The DAILY OKLAHOMAN
January 27, 1992
NARCONON HEAD CITES SUPPORT:
TO THE EDITOR:
The state of Oklahoma spends about $40 million on drug and alcohol rehab services each year. There are currently only 1,311 beds available while the numbers of people needing rehabilitation services are many times higher. No one can deny there is a serious drug problem in this state.Drugs ruin lives, increase crime and destroy families. Drugs are a deadly problem. Funding to solve the problem is a problem. Inadequate facilities are a problem.
Narconon Chilocco has invested more than $3 million in the local community, at no cost to the state, for renovating and operating its leased campus and employing, at peak times, more than 100 local residents. We are now forced to incur legal fees in excess of $500,000 for projected litigation regarding certification which may take years to resolve.
These funds should have been directed not only toward additional renovations and jobs for local residents, but toward providing additional life saving substance abuse services to people in need of them.
Meanwhile the state of Oklahoma has invested more than two years of time and an unknown but certainly substantial amount of taxpayers' money in the certification process of Narconon Chilocco. Has this state effort helped solve the drug problem? No.
The Narconon program has been licensed in California for 13 years. Several European governments pay Narconon to provide drug rehab services. We have a safety and effectiveness record spanning 25 years.
Statistics show that the existing means of addressing substance abuse in Oklahoma as much as elsewhere, are not always as effective as hoped for. The state should be enthusiastically encouraging new modes of treatment, not trying to run them out of town.
I recently had one of my staff members review the attorney general'sfiles on Narconon. The staff found five ring binders listed "unsolicited correspondence". These contained more than 700 letters received from the public since Dec. 13, commenting on the Mental Health Board's decision to deny certification to Narconon.
Every single letter was written in support of the positive results attained at Narconon. This was confirmed by Assistant Attorney General Guy Hurst, who admitted to the staff member that the attorney general's office had not received one letter expressing approval of the Mental Health Board's decision.
I receive letters every day from concerned family members of prospective students who have been denied entry to our program due to the board's action.
Gary Smith, President Narconon Chilocco New Life Center
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 18:33:03 -0600
Message-ID: <7815-41CB63BF-214@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net>
J. Wilson
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
February 16,1992
NARCONON UNSAFE
TO THE EDITOR:
Narconon was denied certification by the Oklahoma State Mental Health Board because the Narconon program isn't safe and doesn't work. The reasons (and there are many) why it isn't safe and doesn't work are listed in the "Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law released by the Attorney General's office after the Dec, 13 ruling. It's in the publicrecord. Look it up. You'll be amazed at the type of program trying to get certification in the state of Oklahoma or anywhere.
Gary Smith (Your Views, Jan. 27) is trying to tell Oklahomans that a bunch of support letters should influence us and force the board to reverse their decision. Seven hundred (or seven million) letters won't make a program that isn't safe and doesn't work either safe or workable.
Besides, the Scientologists, as usual, have told only half the story. Those 700 letters, while "unsolicited" by the attorney general's office, were probably solicited by Narconon. Some of them were photocopies of letters which were sent to the governor and other state officials. They were sent from other states, other countries and Narconon Chilocco. All were probably sent by Scientologists and/or people who have a vested interest in keeping Narconon Chilocco operating.
Smith also neglects to tell us that there are only three or four Narconons that remain open in the United States. That in the last 20 years they have closed down more than that. Why, if Narconon works, have Narconon facilities been closed down in California, Denver, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, El Paso and other places? Did they run out of addicts?
No independent, scientific, non-Scientologist study has ever been done of the Hubbard method. One was proposed by two Michigan universities in 1985. It was cancelled when their review board found the program to be unfit for human experimentation.
Der Speigel, in an Oct. 21, 1991 article, "What Germans Think About Their Narconon", stated that the Narconon program is "not only useless, but dangerous". =A0 They quoted German and Swiss doctors and drug experts who described the Narconon program as "absolute rubbish and unsound" and "medieval" =A0 The Munich State Advisory Center said, "We don't send anyone there."
The Oklahoma State Mental Health Board made the right decision. We need good, safe, effective drug treatment programs in Oklahoma. We do not need unsafe programs that do not work. Nor should we allow a training center to teach this unsafe program that doesn't work.
J. Wilson City
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 07:23:26 -0600
Message-ID: <16597-41CC184E-837@storefull-3334.bay.webtv.net>
Marilyn A. Wilson
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
February 16, 1992
NARCONON NO ANSWER
TO THE EDITOR:
It was with much concern that I read the recent letter of Narconon Chilocco Resident, Gary Smith.
Knowing full well where his information to share was coming from, I had to do some detective work.
Mr. Smith, we as human beings, Americans and Oklahomans are well aware of today's drug problems.
But, at the same time, your group is not the answer.
The big secret you are withholding from us is why the Church of Scientology must be here in Oklahoma.
Narconon is the Church of Scientology and even one of your famous members, Kirstie Alley, recently appeared here to save the cause.
It really did not seem to matter to those concerned with granting the certification.
The mental health board reviewed the credentials and qualifications of "your" people and they were not adequate.
The legal fees you are "forced to incur" are a mere drop in the bucket for your total organization, which is very diversified.
We who have delved into the practices of the Church of Scientology and its subsidiaries, one of which has already introduced itself into many professional businesses here in Oklahoma as Sterling Management, are aware that Narconon is worldwide. And as to its credentials, I am not privileged.
I visited with Assistant Attorney General Guy Hurst by phone about the key issues mentioned in Smith's letter. The main one was concerning the "700 unsolicited letters" in the possession of the attorney general's Narconon files. Most of these letters were carbon copies and the sender was not identified. Also, the majority came from out of state and country. A lot of this correspondence was faxed to the office of the state attorney general. This is an example of how a dangerous cult such as the Church of Scientology operates to get what it wants.
It is my belief that the state of Oklahoma from the very top to the very bottom have given Smith and his organizations, Narconon and the Church of Scientology, their answer_____ no, thank you!
And by the way, Mr. Smith, in the vernacular of the Church of Scientology,pretend it's a wonderful day and you are experiencing a Tone 4.
Marilyn A. Wilson Norman
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 08:09:31 -0600
Message-ID: <25122-41CEC61B-14@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net>
J. Wilson
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
Tuesday, April 21, 1992
SCIENTOLOGY ON ATTACK
TO THE EDITOR:
The Scientologists are so desperate to get Narconon/Church of Scientology established in Oklahoma, they have accelerated their infamous "fair game" policy of "Aways attack. Don't ever defend." Organize a black public relations campaign to destroy the person's repute and discredit them so thoroughly , they will be ostracized. Focus the attention away from how unsafe and ineffective Narconon is onto the "crimes" of its critics.
Narconon is unable to kill the message, so it must kill the messenger(s). And the Scientologists are manipulating the judicial system in an attempt to do just that. (THE OKLAHOMAN, April 5) Justice is blind, but must she also be deaf and ignorant? Judges, after two years of legal battles, do appear a little ridiculous when they keep repeating, "I know nothing about Narconon".
I also didn't know that presenting or receiving true facts made one a candidate for the "gutter". Perhaps that judge hasn't seen a real "obnoxious, smart aleck so and so" like Heber Jentzsch, David Miscavige or Gary Smith in action with the "manufactured" facts.
Smith's latest battle plan is to get a "fair hearing" by exposing what resembles "a conspiracy". "There are a lot of different players in this, but they are all kind of hooked together". Really, Smith? Are you finally going to expose your connections with the Church of Scientology?
We have known for quite some time that the Concerned Businessmen's Association, who contacted the Indians, ***Alcoholics Beverage Enforcement Commission***, who presented Narconon with $200,000 in a staged ceremony, lawyer Earle C. Cooley and investigator Eugene Ingram, who flew in to intimidate the opposition, Citizens Commission on Human Rights sent in to "investigate" the mental health board, religious front groups, Donald Sills, Kirstie Alley and Scientologists who invaded Oklahoma from all over the United States for rallies, new conferences, hearings, etc.,, 700 letters, petitions, president of the "church" and president of Narconon International, who invaded Okiahoma together to win a battle with the Legislature, the Native American Council of Chilocco (and God knows how many others) just happen to be "all kind of hooked together" with Narconon and the Church of Scientology.
Smith, you are attacking Robert Lobsinger, publisher of the Newkirk Herald Journal and State Representative Jim Reese because they exposed your conspiracy to establish a drug program unfit for human experimentation on Indian land. "wogs', (non-Scientologists), who know how your "church" operates, applaud Lobsinger and Reese for their integrity and courage.
J. Wilson City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday, April 23, 1992
*** SETTING IT STRAIGHT
Due to an editing error, J. Wilson's letter in "Your Views" Tuesday, April 21, should have read......Association for Better Living and Education, who presented Narconon with $200,000......
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 08:38:07 -0600
Message-ID: <12837-41D412CF-697@storefull-3331.bay.webtv.net>
J. Wilson
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
Wednesday, June 3, 1992
WHY IS NARCONON STILL OPEN?
TO THE EDITOR:
Has Narconon Chilocco president Gary Smith had a sudden personality change (Your Views, April 22 & 30)? No, not really. Narconon teaches drug addicts , "It's all right to harm another if your cause is just", but Scientologists will do most anything to get what they want, even buttering up the media!
Oklahomans didn't believe Narconon's fantasy about a conspiracy of "evil" psychiatrists, "biased" doctors, "crooked" politicians, "obnoxious" newsmen out to "destroy a successful drug treatment program. So, now Oklahomans are being fed a dose of: we, at Narconon, are the "good guys" and the state is not treating us "equally" or giving us a "level playing field". (Meaning: All we're asking is that the court overrule the mental health board's decision that Narconon is unsafe and ineffective , certify us and stop interfering with our noble task of treating drug addicts our own "special" way.
Smith, Narconon has probably been treated more fairly than any other business in the history of Oklahoma. Perhaps we Oklahoma taxpayers should be asking why. Is there some hanky-panky going on? =A0 Is it because the Church of Scientology spends $20 million a year for lawyers and has spent the last forty years learning how to manipulate the judicial system? Or is it because our judicial system is scared of the mighty Church of Scientology?
Why is Narconon still operating, still accepting new patients and making $200,000 a month by training staff from all over the world in violation of state laws, court orders and its own lease?
J. Wilson City
end of quote ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Narconon Chilocco "Letters War" ended here when the OKLAHOMAN notified the combatants via letter that no more letters about Narconon would be accepted, but to please feel free to submit letters on other subjects.
There were other letters re: Narconon submitted during this six month "war", which were not published by THE OKLAHOMAN.
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From: Tiggerinthebox@webtv.net (Tigger Tigger)
Subject: Re: The Letters War * NarCONon Chilocco
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 07:16:30 -0600
Message-ID: <29920-41D945AE-115@storefull-3332.bay.webtv.net>
J. Wilson
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN
Friday, September 4, 1992
SCIENTOLOGY DESERVES SKEPTICISM
TO THE EDITOR:
Well it appears that the rich, powerful, unscrupulous Church of Scientology is not going to be satisfied with having coerced our state mental health board into letting Narconon stay at Chilocco. It is now trying to convince us that critics of cults are criminals. I hope Oklahomans are astute enough to realize what's really going on.
I attended the mental health board hearing and heard the deal with Narconon made. Basically it was "Leave us alone and we'll leave you alone". Most of us don't know about the intimidation and harassment the Scientologists have directed at the board. Could Scientology's Citizens Commission on Human Rights be behind the lawsuits and allegations directed at Griffin Memorial Hospital? The CCHR is always here to "investigate" mental health facilities whenever Narconon is about to get kicked out.
Then along comes Stacy Ballard (Your Views, Aug. 16) to "attack" the Cult Awareness Network, a national, non-profit organization that promotes public awareness about the unethical and illegal practics of cults. Scientology is obsessed with destroying the network.
Members of the network are concerned about the damage destructive cults do to individuals, families and society. The president of CAN National is Patrick Ryan, whose father, Congressman Leo J. Ryan, was murdered by the Jim Jones cult in the 1978 suicide-massacre in which 911 people died, including 276 children. I joined Oklahoma City CAN in 1991, after I attended the Narconon hearings. But my concern about Scientology began long before I ever heard of CAN. I have been following the crimes, deceptions, trials and tribulations of the Church of Scientology for almost two decades.
I am appalled that Oklahoma is allowing such an organization to operate here. Our state will be condoning and supporting (if it gets Oklahoma patients and state money) a religious cult, the Church of Scientology, which was recently convicted of crimes against the Canadian government.
Out government won't protect us. We must protect ourselves. Get informed. Be a good consumer and consult outside sources whether the product be self-improvement, business management, drug treatment or religion. The public library has three books about the true story of Hubbard and Scientology. The church has sued for five years to suppress the latest one, "A PIECE OF BLUE SKY" by Jon Atack. =A0 The "church" lost.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And the more grandiose the claims, the more skeptical we should be.
J. Wilson City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN Friday, September 11, 1992
Setting It Straight
In a letter "SCIENTOLOGY DESERVES SKEPTICISM" (Fri. Sept. 4) the president of CAN NATIONAL should have been Patricia Ryan. We regret the error.
