Chicagoist: Chicago's Scientology Protest

varitos23

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:55:25 -0600

Okay, some you guys make some good points, the rest of you are morons. Lets start with matilda, congratulations on your nomination for this year's "Biggest Douche in the Universe" competition. You sit at your keyboard bitching about people protesting something because you think they should be protesting something else. Well instead of making some retarded blog comment, GO OUT AND PROTEST IT YOURSELF! And not to mention that it isn't always material matters, some of us still believe in principals, and it is upon this principal that we protest such things. The Tax Exemption of the CoS is a gateway to terrible things. In case you weren't paying attention, which judging from your posts, you weren't, this is not a phenomenon limited to Chicago, but rather extending across the whole of the world. Some of us have concerns that extend beyond a single city. This is an organization that destroys the lives and means of those people who oppose it. This protest is more than simple objection, it is a warning to others of the dangers of the path that this is taking, and that the CoS can be a dangerous thing. It wields power recklessly and without abandon, destroying lives of individuals, and in some cases, communities. It is not the first religion to this, and probably won't be the last. But there is a place where a Line must be drawn, and those people have drawn it. They have shown the courage to stand above the complacent masses (aka you) and stand against an organization that they, and I, believe to be fundamentally wrong. Do not condemn those who stand for their beliefs for the simple reason that those beliefs are not the same as yours, or that the reasons are not to protect your little town. So, to all of you who would deride these people, people who are taking a stand for the welfare of people across the world, PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND WIPE THE SHIT OUT OF YOUR EYES, and take a look around you, past the cloud of haze and smog, at the whole of the world, and realize that your little city aint the whole universe.

DESU

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:09:58 -0600

Why does anonymous not protest against Macy's? Because an international organization does not care for a single city's nostalgia. Also, no one was censored, sued, or killed because of the Marshal Fields name change. As for why Anonymous partakes in these protests? We don't hate Scientology as a religion. It's their first amendment rights to believe in Scientology. Anonymous hates the "church" of Scientology. Search up "Operation Snow White" and see what Scientology has done, in an attempt to censor not only the people, but it's own government. As for why Anonymous does not protest the war? Anonymous isn't one-sided. There are possibly many conservative Anonymous. Also, the Anonymous from the UK and Australia doesn't care about America's partaking in the war. Scientology was banned from Germany. Why? Germany feared another group would over throw the government, and replace it with a totalitarianism. What other organization did that to Germany?

matilda

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:24:19 -0600

Macy's protesters are getting results, Ward. No argument there, though I think you overlook the effects of a sour economy. That said, results for what? A retail brand? Nostalgia? Nothing you do will help Chicagoans get to work quicker in the morning; help them hold onto their homes; help them educate their kids; or do anything else that really makes a big difference in Chicago beyond a group of people who indulge in retail nostalgia. But hey, fight the power.

Ward Up

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:44:30 -0600

"...What, they couldn't go protest Macy's this weekend?..." That's another feel-superior, self-boosting, look-down-the-nose comment that is common on Chicagoist. While you type whining words to diminish the hard work of activists, here's what happens: Those activists are getting results. By the way, after the most recent Tribune article about the Macy's situation, there were 207 online comments within 36 hours, with 90 per cent of the comments against Macy's actions.

beanelly

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:03:16 -0600

i don't get it. why are people degrading the efforts of these protesters? this isn't some fashionable excuse. these people are trying to educate in the memory of a dead woman, lisa mcpherson, and my others who's life's were destroyed by this cult in the hopes to avoid others from going down the same path. its their intention to raise awareness of this disgusting establishment that prays upon people many who are lost and are in need of guidance. If you don't feel that this movement deserves attention or validity tell that to families who lost someone they loved. Tell them that you don't think there hurt is good enough to be counted or recognized. yes the world is full of injustices, too many. does that mean we have to wait for the worst to occur before we act? isn't it enough that people have been hurt at all?

A2

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:12:54 -0600

Don't get me wrong what they did with the cover-ups was absolutely indefensible. But there's obviously more to the organization than that.

A2

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:53:42 -0600

Right, the corrupt Catholic Church that runs a hugely disproportionate amount of hospitals, schools, orphanages, soup lines and other charities in this country and around the world. Let's just forget about all that.

Ward Up

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:39:39 -0600

I am the last person who would defend the corrupt Catholic Church. However, here's a point. To the several commenters above who suggested that Catholic Church or "every religion" is as bad as Scientology, you are sorely mistaken. You are apparently unfamiliar with the damage done by Scientology to individuals and their families. There is absolutely no comparison to other religions. Scientology uses celebrities who are doing well to act as product-endorsers, while bleeding the average, vulnerable Scientology member dry---financially, socially, and psychologically. That is the tragedy that the public does not see. If you encounter a family who has lost a loved one to Scientology, you will realize why some people were out there in the freezing cold yesterday. Again, I disagree with their strategy, but I understand their sentiment.

A2

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:27:31 -0600

Oh, yeah, Catholic priests are really rolling in it. Why stop there? Every religion I can think of asks for donations and/or charges certain fees. I'm not sure how you think they could operate if they didn't.

Ward Up

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:52:51 -0600

While some of you commenters sit behind keyboards trying (emphasis on "trying") to make fun of people who are out doing something, guess what? Those people are out doing something.

spookhatespuppies

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:08:37 -0600

@mike thoms: They're called "indulgences" and it caused a little thing called the "Reformation". Look it up.

Eamon

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:39:04 -0600

Also as an Irishman, let's just say that's not fucking funny, asshole.

mike_thoms

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:38:09 -0600

ChiTown...while I agree with you that Catholicism has many, many problems, as do many organized religions, the difference is that salvation, understanding, nirvana, whatever you want to call it, is technically free. In Scientology you have to pay for it. And not just making donations to help with church upkeep or for starving children. Someone, maybe on Slate, made the comparison between Catholicism and Scientology. Image if the Catholics actually made you pay a fixed sum, or increasingly larger sums as you go along, to learn about the Crucifixion and the resurrection. That's what Scientology is.

spookhatespuppies

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:31:26 -0600

This weekend I was probably jacking it... a lot. Which is about as productive as what they're doing. As an Irishman, let's just say my version of protesting involves a detonation switch.

Prescott Carlson

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:09:01 -0600

Hey, give the protesters a break. Maybe they were enjoying some hash brown skillets over at S&G, someone said, "Hey, I have some extra poster board," and things just took off from there.

matilda

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:06:50 -0600

Yeah, the Scientology tax break really is ruining this country and this city. Hell, I might move out of Chicago because of Scientology (well, that and the invasion of the East Coast rat know as Macys). Man, I can't tell you all the times some Scientologist has tried to kidnap me off the street and force me into the cult. I mean, it happened this morning on my way to work. Thank buddha I can run pretty fast. All I saying is that some people should take more care about what battles they fight if they actually want to make a meaningful difference. In the real world, some causes are, unfortunately, more vital than others. That's unfair, I know, but that's reality. As for the bank account statement, that concerned taxes and where your money is going, and the services you get in return, and one's ability to afford to live in Chicago. My apologies for being unclear.

ChiTownMama

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:34:34 -0600

Ha. Could they have turned to the left a bit and protested the crap going on in the Catholic church, too? Like, the one across the street from where they were? The extensive "fees" for religion and the tax loopholes they take advantage of there? I'm looking at you, Father Drives a Nice New Car. Ahem.

ChiTownMama

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:33:48 -0600

Scott_Frazer

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:22:20 -0600

Yeah, yeah.... And you folks were out protesting what, exactly this weekend? And if the bottom line for deciding if you should protest something is your bank account, I feel sorry for you. Scientology has a special rider in our tax code because they basically blackmailed the heads of the IRS into putting it there. They abuse the legal system to silence their critics and harass not only people who disagree with them, but people who have simply parted ways from the "church." They run organizations such as Narcanon (not to be confused with Narcotics Anonymous, although they'd love for you to confuse the two) that do little besides indoctrinate people into their cult. Read a little about their practices and what they do and maybe you'll get a better feeling why there are people out there who are outraged enough to go stand in the bitter cold to illuminate others. http://xenu.net for more info. Bravo, Anonymous.

matilda

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:14:53 -0600

Yeah, Ward, that's why we see all the protests from relatively affluent white people and white kids about city corruption or mass transit or TIFs or crappy schools or the other local issues that really fuck with people's ability to live in this city. Sorry, but I'm not buying what you are trying to sell. And don't assume I am an anti-war protester, either.

Ward Up

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:08:51 -0600

I assume by the above comments that some of you were out saving the world, curing cancer, and inventing cold fusion during the few hours that these people protesting. You were doing some heroic, it seems, while these people wasting their time. You people don't seem to understand the fact the citizens can work on more than one issue. How do you know what these anti-Scientology people are doing the rest of the day, let alone the rest of the year? From being active with a number of activist and volunteer causes over the years, what I have seen is that people who stand up for ONE thing are EXACTLY the type of people to stand up for OTHER things. And guess what? Some of those OTHER things might be a cause with which Chicagoist readers agree. Think of it, Matilda, at your next anti-War protest, you just might bump into one of these Scientology protesters. By the way, I happen to agree that this worldwide protest is not productive. Sure, I'd like to see Scientology (a con-game taking advantage of vulnerable people) disappear, but I don't think this is the way for that to happen.

spookhatespuppies

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:57:01 -0600

Isn't there still a war on? Or did I miss something?

matilda

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:46:59 -0600

What, they couldn't go protest Macy's this weekend? The trivia people choose to protest always amazes me. What on earth does this cult have to do with daily life for people in Chicago? I can think of at least a dozen protestable issues that have a far greater effect on our bank accounts and other more important things than this cult/religion/whatever.

chiflyguy

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:32:05 -0600

I love this. A bunch of yahoos standing around in two degree weather so that they can inform another group of idiots that they're crazy. Awesome.

mike_thoms

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:24:25 -0600

As much as I dislike Scientology this is bordering on something ugly. Of course if you don't think Scientology is a religion then I guess you're just protesting their tax exemption.