--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, satvadude108 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thank you and I hope your injuries are speedily healing. > > The recent events in UK legal history regarding anti-terrorist legislation > does interest me. While I don't follow it closely, as time and sources are > in short supply, the larger picture has implications on this side of the pond. > The tensions between free speech, civil liberties, and those legislative trends > is troubling. The coupling with religion and the scientologists truly makes > it fascinating. The debates are healthy. > > I too hope the kid gets off. > > Should you ever feel inclined to write about post 9/11 changes in civil > liberties and increased governmental surveillance I would surely read > with interest. Should you encounter articles regarding these issues, > pointing me in their direction would be appreciated. The reports I have > read in our press gives the impression of a very visible rise in video > cameras in public spaces in the UK. My impression is this is steadily > growing on a much less obvious and overt level in the US. These trends > disturb me.
> Observing the differences involved and the tenor of the debate hopefully > gives me some greater degree of cultural perspective. I live in the US. It > is my home. We Yanks like to think we are believers in liberty. I sometimes > wonder if a slowly creeping loss of liberty, on several levels, isn't more > insidious than sudden forfeiture. Mindfully monitoring those changes > may be a way of turning the trend. > > Again, my best healing thoughts go your way. Thanks man, much appreciated. I am indeed healing well and should make be able to make the most of the summer, should we actually get one this year. I'm a bit pushed for time today but will try to reply soonn, especially about our surveillance society, will also keep an eye on the press here for any articles that may interest you. The government is in trouble at the moment, and may have to scale down it's latest anti-terror legislation, or they may make it worse in a bid to win votes by being "tough on crime". If the scientology kid gets actually charged with this "crime" I'm sure there will be demonstrations outside parliament, and I will be there! > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Hugo" <richardhughes103@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, satvadude108 <no_reply@> > > wrote: > > > > > > I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the matter Richard. Any > > reaction to the story? > > > Strong feelings on the issues involved? > > > > Sure Satvadude, I posted without thinking a bit of context might > > be nice. There is quite a bit of back story. > > > > Basically there are two stories here. First is the group > > themselves I find scientologists fascinating, their group > > is actually pretty much the same as TM, a lot of similar > > concepts like enlightenment, which they call being "Clear" > > and techniques to remove deep stress, "auditing". But there > > is a lot that is different to the TMO, they appear to be > > very aggressive towards nay-sayers, particularly ex-members, > > apparently you have to pay to do an exit course or other > > scientologists are instructed never to speak to you again, > > even family members. You also have to have been a member for > > quite a while before you find out the whole of Ron Hubbards > > scripture, namely that we are descended from aliens that came > > to Earth millions of years ago. They deny all this by the way, > > and they would probably contact me threatening legal advice if > > they read it. So all I can say is I don't know if it's true but > > it fascinates me. I'vealways thought there must be something > > to it or why would people learn? If it wasn't so expensive > > I would join just to see what it's like being in a different > > cult. > > > > People don't like being called cult members. That's the other > > story, being allowed to call a closed secretive religious group, > > that allegedly persecutes its ex-members, a cult is apparently > > illegal. This is recent UK legal history that may not interest > > you but it's causing a storm over here. Since 9/11 the government > > have introduced all sorts of anti-terrorist legislation but it > > gets abused to stop anyone doing anything. > > > > Richard Dawkins started a debate on whether religion is > > an outdated concept, and even a dangerous one, and that > > maybe the countries religious leaders may want to explain > > and justify their beliefs and right to teach others what he > > sees as outdated and useless dogma. The government, trying > > to counter rising Islamophobia, then made it illegal to > > criticise religion, hence the kid getting arrested. All > > this has enlivened debate no end, with the religious > > claiming the right not to have deeply held beliefs > > criticised and the athiests saying why not? It's only > > a meme, a collection of ideas isn't it? I think it's > > an essential debate and very healthy. Peoples opinions > > of my ideas doesn't bother me, others get very sensitive > > so the debate is mostly rather civilised and respectful, > > though obviously tense at times. It's all good fun but > > I doubt anyones opinion will change, you can't reason > > someone out of something they weren't reasoned into. > > > > I hope this kid gets let off, it's totally ridiculous. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Hugo" <richardhughes103@> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word "cult" > > > > to describe the Church of Scientology. > > > > > > > > The unnamed youth was served the summons by City of London > > > > police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite > > > > the London headquarters of the controversial religion. > > > > > > > > Demonstrators from the anti-Scientology group, Anonymous, who > > > > were outside the church's £23m headquarters near St Paul's > > > > cathedral, were banned by police from describing Scientology > > > > as a cult because it was "abusive and insulting". > > > > > > > > Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, said: "This barmy > > > > prosecution makes a mockery of Britain's free speech > > > > traditions. After criminalising the use of the word 'cult', > > > > perhaps the next step is to ban the words 'war' and 'tax' > > > > from peaceful demonstrations?" > > > > > > > > Ian Haworth, from the Cult Information Centre which > > > > provides advice for victims of cults and their families, > > > > said: "This is an extraordinary situation. If it wasn't > > > > so serious it would be farcical. The police's job is to > > > > protect and serve. Who is being served and who is being > > > > protected in this situation? I find it very worrying. > > > > > > > > "Scientology is well known to my organisation, and has > > > > been of great concern to me for 22 years. I get many > > > > calls from families with loved ones involved and ex-members > > > > who are in need of one form of help." > > > > > > > > The City of London police came under fire two years ago > > > > when it emerged that more than 20 officers, ranging from > > > > constable to chief superintendent, had accepted gifts worth > > > > thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology. > > > > > > > > Full article: > > > > > > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/20/1 > > > > > > > > > >
