Kofi Annan, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Voltaire, L. Ron Hubbard.
One of these things is not like the other. If you said “L. Ron Hubbard,” then you are correct.
On May 12th, the Youth for Human Rights International organization came to our school and hosted an assembly on human rights. For the uninformed, this may have seemed like an ordinary assembly to raise awareness on an issue that we, as Catholics, should be aware of. Sure, this got the point across that human rights should be protected. If you still have the booklet that was handed out, take a look inside and flip to the second-to-last page. The five men listed above are called “famous human rights leaders”. I was not aware that L. Ron Hubbard was a “humanitarian” who “advanced human rights by working bravely for what [he] believed in.”
Humanitarian? I thought L. Ron Hubbard was the creator of the million-dollar “Church of Scientology”.
As it turns out, Youth for Human Rights International is based at 1332 L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles, California. Also based in Los Angeles is one of Scientology’s “Advanced Organizations”, specialized in delivering higher training to Scientologists. Like Scientology, they are a tax-exempt organization. The group advocates human rights and believes they should be upheld in any situation.
While human rights should be recognized in all situations, is a group so closely linked to Scientology the best way to promote the fair treatment of all individuals? As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The 1976 Scientologist “Operation Freakout” was aimed at ruining the life of critic Paulette Cooper. In 1990, Noah Lottick committed suicide after investing thousands of dollars in Scientology, clutching his last dollars. In 1995, 35-year old Lisa McPherson died while under care of Scientologists. The “fair-game” and “disconnection” policies also segregate and attack people. With a group linked so closely to Scientology, are these the people we want spreading the word of human rights? Furthermore, should we approve of their advocacy of L. Ron Hubbard? There are more prominent humanitarians out there not linked to a dirty cult.
If you are sceptical on the links between Youth for Human Rights International and Scientology, look no further than their website. Under “YHRI Collaborators” (found in the “About YHRI” section), a link to the Church of Scientology can be found. Not convinced yet? In 1995, the Hamburg Senate (in Germany) released a report on Scientology and its structure. In an internal memo, it was revealed that “All organizations and groups form a global network. Each one has its own individual role and responsibilities. But all service organizations have the goal to draw attention to L. Ron Hubbard’s technology and deliver it to the public.”
Don’t get me wrong; the aim here is not to detract from human rights. These should be upheld because everybody has the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s not the point. The point here is to expose the modern day propaganda of Scientology. If the organization didn’t tout L. Ron Hubbard as such a saintly figure, I wouldn’t have written this article. The fact remains, though, is that they do and, as revealed by the Hamburg Senate, their ulterior motive is clear.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
One of these things is not like the other. If you said “L. Ron Hubbard,” then you are correct.
On May 12th, the Youth for Human Rights International organization came to our school and hosted an assembly on human rights. For the uninformed, this may have seemed like an ordinary assembly to raise awareness on an issue that we, as Catholics, should be aware of. Sure, this got the point across that human rights should be protected. If you still have the booklet that was handed out, take a look inside and flip to the second-to-last page. The five men listed above are called “famous human rights leaders”. I was not aware that L. Ron Hubbard was a “humanitarian” who “advanced human rights by working bravely for what [he] believed in.”
Humanitarian? I thought L. Ron Hubbard was the creator of the million-dollar “Church of Scientology”.
As it turns out, Youth for Human Rights International is based at 1332 L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles, California. Also based in Los Angeles is one of Scientology’s “Advanced Organizations”, specialized in delivering higher training to Scientologists. Like Scientology, they are a tax-exempt organization. The group advocates human rights and believes they should be upheld in any situation.
While human rights should be recognized in all situations, is a group so closely linked to Scientology the best way to promote the fair treatment of all individuals? As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The 1976 Scientologist “Operation Freakout” was aimed at ruining the life of critic Paulette Cooper. In 1990, Noah Lottick committed suicide after investing thousands of dollars in Scientology, clutching his last dollars. In 1995, 35-year old Lisa McPherson died while under care of Scientologists. The “fair-game” and “disconnection” policies also segregate and attack people. With a group linked so closely to Scientology, are these the people we want spreading the word of human rights? Furthermore, should we approve of their advocacy of L. Ron Hubbard? There are more prominent humanitarians out there not linked to a dirty cult.
If you are sceptical on the links between Youth for Human Rights International and Scientology, look no further than their website. Under “YHRI Collaborators” (found in the “About YHRI” section), a link to the Church of Scientology can be found. Not convinced yet? In 1995, the Hamburg Senate (in Germany) released a report on Scientology and its structure. In an internal memo, it was revealed that “All organizations and groups form a global network. Each one has its own individual role and responsibilities. But all service organizations have the goal to draw attention to L. Ron Hubbard’s technology and deliver it to the public.”
Don’t get me wrong; the aim here is not to detract from human rights. These should be upheld because everybody has the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s not the point. The point here is to expose the modern day propaganda of Scientology. If the organization didn’t tout L. Ron Hubbard as such a saintly figure, I wouldn’t have written this article. The fact remains, though, is that they do and, as revealed by the Hamburg Senate, their ulterior motive is clear.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
This is a good article. You should make sure school administrators read it, as they've been misled into allowing Scientologists access to your students. What's next?
ReplyDeleteWill Narconon be allowed in to teach its Hubbardian theories on drug abuse?
This year has had some stellar examples of Scientology behavior in the face of criticism, which suggests that human rights is not one of their concerns as it applies to others. Epic Nose guy, Scientology Clearwater trying to shut down free speech, the harassment and demonization of Anonymous, stories coming out with ex-members about human rights abuses in the Sea Org...it's painfully Clear they don't practice what they preach.
Keep spreading the word, Catingub. Parents should be made aware that your school is giving a destructive cult access to their kids. If I were a parent, I'd be deeply troubled by this. School authorities are supposed to protect students from predators, not feed them to totalitarian mind control organizations.
Good for you on speaking out! You got it right!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Barb. Scientology is an insidious cult and your insightful and articulate article should be read by all the administrators of your school.
ReplyDeleteFor some additional good reference here is a link to a commissioned evaluation of another scientology front group:
"Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Program Evaluation
Evaluation of the Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Program, prepared for the California Department of Education by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center, January 2005http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/at/narcononevaluation.asp
Youth for Human Rights is indeed a cynical front group for the Cult of $cientology.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to learn more about how $cientology treats children, go to www.exscientologykids.com.
Also google "astra woodcraft" and "Jenna Miscavige". Both of these young women were recently featured on an ABC Nightline episode about what it was like to grow up as a $cientology child. I believe this interview is still available in full on the ABC Nightline website.
This is an outstanding article. Well done. No doubt the YHRI touted their series of human rights advertisements, created by the Church of Scientology International for YHRI. They are really well done. If only Scientology practised what it preaches.
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple of terrific videos based on the YHRI ones, highlighting the hypocrisy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywk2UdsW9I0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzDqXVLavbU
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePS. If you want some more evidence of the connection, you'll find it here: http://forums.enturbulation.org/73-cold-hard-facts/
ReplyDeletecold-hard-facts-7039/2/#post125771
Outrageous! Thankfully there is at least one student who is awake up there and knows something about the Scientology crime syndicate's fake fronts and human rights abuses.
ReplyDeleteYour article is really good. Congrats on making third page of the Sun!
ReplyDelete