Minneapolis Mini-picket report 10/26/97

First, since this is my first substantive de-lurk, a little
about myself.  I've been interested in cult activities since my
early college days (1978).  Back then, the Moonies were active
on my campus, and I was in the midst of a great deal of soul-
searching regarding religion, life, the world, etc.  I was break-
ing away from my Methodist upbringing and looking for answers.
Perfect fodder for a cult.  Chatting it up with the Moonies and
the bible-thumpers on the mall became something of a pasttime for
me and I learned a great deal.  Luckily for me, common sense and
a wariness about the feeling I got from the Moonies, that they
were hiding their true nature for marketing reasons and taking
advantage, emotionally and financially, of their believers kept
me away from them.  That inoculation against the cult modus
operandi, coupled with a solid college education, lead me to
a happy, stable belief system founded on atheism and the scientific
method.  

Many years have passed since then.  I was first drawn to a.r.s by
news reports in the popular media about the spam attack by the
tchurdch (spit) and their attempts to silence critics.  Since then
I have been lurking and learning here  (well, I did give up for a
while until the spam settled down).  Athough I haven't earned my
stripes by going through the Scieno system and breaking out, the
issues that are operative here are dear to my heart.  Logic, reason,
the scientific method and the bill of rights; these are the foundations
of my world.  Scientology (tm) is an insult to all of these.  So
that's a small taste of my motivation for the following.

Here in my neck of the woods, I'm unfortunate in that there are no
scieno orgs nearby to pester.  (Would that the rest of the world
were so unlucky)  However, I was recently invited to a party in
Minneapolis.  On the slate of activities for the weekend was a visit
to the "Dianetics Center" downtown - my friend said that she and
some others wanted to go down to pester the clams, since they were
unhappy about their cars constantly being littered with IQ tests.

Finally faced with the opportunity to put my mouth where my beliefs
lie, I printed out 200 copies of the Xemu leaflet and headed for the
Twin Cities.  

Sunday noon was overcast and cold, mid 30's F and windy.  The org
is right on the downtown pedestrian mall and my friend had assured
me of plenty of foot traffic.  I don't think she counted on the un-
seasonably cold weather.  There were a few passers-by, so I happily
took my position right outside the entrance to the org/bookstore and
began trying to interest the pedestrians in the Xemu flier.  My
activities immediately drew the interest of the clams inside.  There
was a fluster of activity in the doorway as they seemingly tried to
decide what to do.  Soon one of them came out and asked for a copy
of the leaflet, scanned the headline and then repeated it as a question,
"Who _is_ Xemu?" as if he didn't know.  I suggested he read it and
find out.  

I had a few moments of respite from the clams, and I continued to try
to interest the pedestrians enough to take the flier.  I was having
some difficulty until one of my friends, who is a marketing professional
suggested that I try the line, "Scientology doesn't want you to read
this!"  I adopted that and quickly began having more success.  Still
quite a few of the peds seemed to think I was a clam and did their
best to ignore me.  I probably got up to about a 40% acceptance rate.
Coupled with the weather-depressed foot traffic, I probably passed
out only 15 copies all told.  But for me, there is more of the story
to be told:

An older woman (late 40's to 50's?) exited the org, and on her way
past, demanded my name.  I was reluctant to give it, and she gave her
first name, saying, "_I_ don't have anything to hide."  Soon after,
a man, who seemed to be in charge came out and made contact with me.
He started with the same thing, "What's your name?"  Feeling like I
should have the courage of my convictions, I gave him my real name.

Was this a mistake?  I know quite a bit about the efforts the clams
will go to to harass critics.

When we got the names out of the way (he gave me his, but it went
in one ear and out the other - I was too distracted by trying to
hold a converstation at the same time I was trying to deal with the
foot traffic), he set off on a virtual interogation of me - who did
I work for, what group was I with, why was I doing this, had I ever
taken a clam course or read a book.  He was incredulous at my answers -
seemed impossible for him to believe that I could be doing this at
my own behest, not having ever been "into" Scientology (tm).

After he was done "vetting" me, he leaned in and said, "you know, we
consider this a suppressive act, and you a suppressive person.  Do
you know what that means?"  With a great deal of glee in my heart,
I assured him that I was aware of the term.

I think I just earned my SP1!!!  Could I please have confirmation
from the ARSCC (wdne)?  It would be a real badge of honor for me to
wear.

During our talk, I noticed that a couple with a video camera had come
around the far corner of the building (apparently not from the main
entrance) and taped us briefly.  I would guess it was the clams, but
that's just supposition on my part.

Our clam spokesman, after calling me an SP, said that I would have to
leave now.  I of course informed him of my belief that I was within
my 1st amendment rights and on a public sidewalk.  That put him off
for a while.  He made several trips in and out of the building during
all of this, and at several points I saw him speaking with a man in
what seemed to me to be an usher's uniform - black topcoat with a
silver chain.  But the "usher" was also wearing a rack of campaign
ribbons on his chest.  Could this have been a SeaOrger?

Eventually, Mr. Spokesman came out with Mr. Usher.  They approached
me and and he said to Mr. Usher, "he needs to leave now."  I again
said that I felt that I was well within my rights and that it would
take a lawful order from a police officer to get me to move.  He said
something along the lines of, yes, that's a good idea, and went back
in the building, not to reappear again while I was there.  

A couple of other younger men then came out and it seemed like they
were trying to surround me with new racks of literature - a rack of
"A New Slant..." and one of (I think) ASI magazine with the face of
L.Ron Hoover himself leering at me like a jaundiced October moon.

I did my best to stand my ground for a bit, but I was getting cold
and my friends soon suggested we move on - we had a few errands, and
then the airport to get to for another friend.  So after perhaps 30
to 45 minutes, I moved on.  Not too many fliers given out, but in
terms of enturbulation caused and (hopefully) earning my SP1, I was
ready to call it a minor success.  

The clams lack of respect for my free speech rights and their attitude
in general have guaranteed that I will be back for more.  Maybe in
the spring when warmer weather and more pedestrians beckon.

Oh, and by the way - if there're any clams reading who are already
aware of my little picket, I want to assure you that your threats to
call the police had nothing to do with my exit.  

I'll be back.  Hail Xemu!!!

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What are we going to do tonight, Brain?
Same thing we do every night Pinky - try to take over the world!

Warner Bros and Scieno - mere coincidence?  You make the call!
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