From bogie@xs4all.nl Mon Dec 10 21:06:33 2001
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From: bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Toronto Dec. 8 picket
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 02:06:33 GMT
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On Sun, 09 Dec 2001 05:17:52 GMT, hkhenson@cogeco.ca (Keith Henson) wrote:

Allow me to interject some stuff here. ;-)

>The picket today was the 6th Sat. in a row.  Gregg had a mild cold,
>but between Boudwin van Ingen (Bogie@xs4all.nl) being in town on the
>last stage of his arscc sponsored Canadian tour and Gregg having read
>a poster about this weekend being some kind of event, we could not
>miss today even if it was a bit chilly.  As we have come to expect, it
>did not rain.  It started to rain lightly on the party as we left.

I had a mild cold too. ;-)

But I must say that I did not find the weather really all that cold (it was
chilly, yes, but not anymore than we are used to in Amsterdam). And despite
all the Canadadians (and Keith too) both in Vancouver and Toronto wearing
extensive protection like gloves and hats, I didn't really feel the need for
all that. Such equipment would hamper me in my duty of spreading flyers. ;-)

>The three of us started about 11:20 and put in two shifts, taking a
>break in Starbucks to warm up in between.  As usual I was on the far
>side of the street.  Gregg hung out in front of the org since the org
>had permits to block off both a half block of St. Mary street and its
>sidewalks.  The org is on the corner of Yonge St. and St. Mary.  The
>event was an R6, "there is no Christ," festival.  Actually, they got a
>bunch of kids and adults there to sing Christmas carols.  The org does
>not have nearly enough kids for this, so many of the kids were their
>kids friends (rent a munchkin) borrowed for the day.

I got there early, because I feared trouble finding a parking spot. However,
the tips that I got from Gregg as well as a good look on the city map turned
out to be very valuable. So I had walked around a bit before it all started.


On that walk, I noticed that indeed not merely the street itself but also
its sidewalks had apparently been 'reserved' for the 'event'. I also noticed
that there were two uniformed cops already on-scene while the $cientologists
were setting up their 'display'. 

>At one point early in the picket there were at least 9 cops there.
>Two undercover cops, two uniform cops, a patrol car cop and 4 bike
>cops. This for 2 picketers, three if you count me across the street.

Three of the bicicle cops that were there from the start of our picket until
the end (I'm told they were still there, but I lost sight of them shortly
before we went away) were 'stationed' at approximately the same spot all the
time. These same cops were struggling to get on to the small stage that was
set up when the time came to award all the unsuspecting children with their
'Drug Free Marshall' awards. The stage was almost too small to fit al the
children and the cops...

It is quite obvious to me that the Toronto Metropolitan Police force offers
a chance for charlatans and frauds like $cientology in their attempts to
legitimize themselves in these ways.

>One of the undercover cops became curious about what Gregg had to say
>and asked for the Xenu and Children Sec Check flyers.  After reading
>the flyers and discussing scientology sales tactics, the cop agreed
>scientology was on a par with the Gypsy curse (give me $500 to get rid
>of your curse) scam.  The cop also observed that the city of Toronto
>hardly has the budget to take on scientology for their criminal
>activities, unless, of course, the province or the feds were to
>finance the investigation that Gregg is pressing various government
>officials about.

I think it was while that conversation took place that I was dutyfully
spreading fliers to all the passers-by that were wondering what was
happening there. While I was doing so, moving around from the entry of the
org to the other side of the closed street and back, I noticed two little
girls aged about ten, obviously having discussions of the type 'shall we do
it or not?'. Then when I inadvertantly got closer one of them suddenly ran
up to me and offered me some candy (I still do not know if she wanted to
sell it or what). I politely refused and kept to my business (which does not
envolve children). I noticed a certain sense of relief in the expression of
the little girl, when she turned away to convey her pride for daring to ask
me to her girlfriend. 

Folks, there is a difference between the 'bogie-man' and the 'boogie-man'.
Don't give your children a false impression, lest you end up being a
'boogie-man' yourself!

>At first the female half of the goon squad showed up.  They almost
>sprained their necks "not looking" when Gregg made his announcements
>between the R6 carols.  "This entertainment brought to you by the Cult
>of Greed and Power."  "Scientology processing is guaranteed not to
>rip, run, ravel, or smell bad."  "Next right here on our stage will be
>Xenu the Galactic Overlord and his dancing Body Thetans."  etc.
>
>First time Gregg did the "entertainment" announcement, someone (Al
>maybe) rushed to turn on fill in music, almost knocking over the
>table.

I missed that. I would have loved to get a picture of that. But during the
first half of the picket I was too busy to have my foto-camera out anyway. 

At about that time some $cientologist (it might have been a well known one,
but I don't know them all by sight) tried to engage me in a debate by asking
me why I was protesting these children that were 'doing something about
drugs'. I responded by stating that I wasn't demonstrating against the
children, but against the way that $cientology abuses these children and the
'drug' issue to gain credibility. This short 'discussion' ended when the
$cientologist couldn't answer my repeated question "Why should anyone need
$cientology to get rid of drugs?". 

What was interesting about that though, was that in the second stage of our
picket, when I remained on the other side of Yonge street (because I had
noticed in the first part of it that a lot of people from there were
actually looking with some bewilderment at the goings-on at the $cientology
'event') there was suddenly a man approaching me with comments about my
accent.

Now you should know that I generally am not shouting or advertising my
thoughts in any other way than by displaying picket signs or distributing
leaflets. I will engage in conversation, but only if really necessary. I
tend to think that I should not let my personal skill in communication
interfere in any (be it positive or negative) way to get the message out.

I spoke to Torontians (what indeed do these people call themselves?) and
tourists during this picket, but generally I will not try to initiate a
conversation. I feel that people walking past these pickets are just like
me: most times they do not like to be bothered with it and go on with their
daily business. So I am just there, with my picket sign, perhaps only saying
things like "Would you like a flyer *AGAINST* $cientology?", because
everywhere I go I notice that people turn their head away when they see
mention of the "$"-word. (I've been experimenting with the word "opposing"
in Toronto, because I came to the conclusion that that could be more
appeasing.)

So when I was approached by someone who started off by asking me about my
'accent', I must admit that I was somewhat surprised. But, honest as I am, I
answered his enquiries about where I was from. My answers didn't seem to
make the guy more happy in any way. And my explanations about why I was
there (just on a holiday!) didn't make much sense to him either, apparently.
;-)


>One really amusing thing is that a bunch of dianetics people were
>trapped by Gregg being outside.
>
>The irony of scientologists singing Christmas carols was not lost on
>the locals, many of whom commented to Gregg and Bogie about the
>hypocrisy involved.  They got many words of praise from the passers by
>causing one of the cops to comment how Gregg and Bogie were "real
>crowd pleasers."

There were also a large group of (what I thought) were exchange students
there. They came by in small groups (five or six), recognizable because some
of them wore school uniforms. I generally pay less attention to such groups,
because they have obviously other interests at home (where ever they are
coming from). In fact these groups of students had a great time running
practical jokes on each other while I was there. But at one time, I found
myself surrounded by about twenty of them, explaining a bit about Xenu and
the fraud that $cientology is...

Unfortunately I didn't have the "Xenu" flyer with me at that time. These
guys would have kept me from distributing flyers for at least half an hour
if I would have.... ;-)

[snip]

>Apparently the undercover cops had been brought in because the org
>insisted the picketers would have disruptive people in the crowd.
>From what Gregg could see, the "crowd" which never got very large
>consisted of almost entirely scientologists plus guests the
>scientologists had convinced to come along.  Boy did that backfire!
>Many of these people were listening carefully to what Gregg was saying
>about scientology, reading his picket sign and taking flyers.  Gregg
>didn't even try and people took over 100 flyers.

I'll have the pictures I took developed asap. But I doubt there was a
'crowd' of more than 100. (And I am discounting all the children here, and
the rented cops, they shouldn't be in a battle like this.)

>Gregg was handing out the children's sec check as well as the Xenu
>flyer today.  One of teen age girls (a guest about 14) took one.  She
>and another wog friend were discussing it with a scientology
>girlfriend of about the same age.  The gist of the conversation went
>that at first the friends could not believe this was for real.  Then
>when the scientology girl confirmed they were subjected to having
>these questions asked them upon occasions one of the Wog girls said
>they would tell parents to "fuck off" if they her asked such
>questions.  After admonishing her wog friend not to swear, the scn
>girl said "my mom doesn't ask the questions, an auditor does and my
>mom has to pay for it."  At this point, Val Hill (last week's boohoo
>clam) jumped on the girls and herded them hastily into the org,
>realizing the wog girls were now PTS.  

I tried to present myself in the most pleasant, in the nicest way I could,
to the $cientologists at the Toronto Org. Not because they are
$cientologists, but because I figure I have to, if there is ever a chance to
bring over my point. Heck, I even shaved! (Look at the Amsterdam
pictures...)

At one time during the picket, when the sidewalk was really crowded (mainly
because the $cientology 'event' was spilling over into Yonge st.) I thought
that this one uniformed cop looked at me as if he wanted to have a chat with
me. But the guy didn't approach me, so I thought he maybe wasn't allowed to
(he was standing pretty much on the same spot at all times) and I undertook
to walk close past him. The cop acted if I wasn't there.

Unlike several visitors of the coffee shop on the other side of Mary's. They
were sitting on the outside terrace and were just moving on when I passed
them with my sign (or otherwise I am very OT, having chased them away). I
will not repeat some of the remarks these guys mumbled when they left for
the Org. Most of them I recognized as being the guys that helped set-up the
displays, before the picket started.

>LIke two previous times, a scientologist came over to photograph or
>tape me.   This time the guy was one of the goon squad, I got a
>complete description of him on tape and Gregg has video tape.  But
>other than knowing him as a goon squad member Gregg didn't know his
>name.
>
>Notably absent form the goon squad were Gwen Jones and Paulette
>Layton.  Doubtless Paulette is working in a cheese factory souring
>milk just by looking at it.  

I don't know any of the names. But there will be some pictures (of
$cientologists making pictures) soon. ;-)

>Talking with Gregg, one officer observed there was a missing age
>bracket.  There were adults of 40 and up, and kids 15 and below.

All the 'sensible' part of society is missing there. No great surprise. ;-)

>Gregg felt today's picket was particularly successful because the
>majority of the scientologist in Ontario, their family and friends
>were exposed at length to entheta about scientology.   Particularly
>effective were the statements "There are no OTs, otherwise I would not
>be here" and "If what I have to say about scientology is not truth,
>they have the money to shut me up and they have failed to do so for 5
>years."

I was very happy with the picket sign I could borrow this time. But I should
make a note about the fact that the side about the 'FIFTY YEAR FRAUD CALLED
DIANETICS' (I don't recall the exact phrasing) was much, much more effective
towards the general public than the side about "XENU.NET, THINK FOR
YOURSELF". This has all to do with the fact that people who pass an 'event'
(any 'event' really) near a $cientology Org nowadays are completely shielded
from all the nonsense $cientology advertises. 

In the eye of the casual observer, extreme measures like walking around with
a picket sign and handing out flyers, is just the kind of annoyance that
$cientology represents for them. And we can't blame them for it. 

I have received many "I support your cause" remarks from passers-by. But I
also noticed that most people just do not want anything to do with you
whenever you drop the word "$cientology". I notice this 'fear' in my own
family, eventhough my activism is the only envolvement there...

I know this is difficult for activists, and hard on people who want an easy
life, but it is a neccessity to make sure that everyone, everywhere, knows
about this scam, called $cientology.

>Keith Henson
>
>PS as an amusing after thought, this was a drug free marshals event.
>There were a mess of sponsors listed, but scientology was not amount
>them.  Of course, scientology does not spend a cent on community
>acclivities since it is "rewarding the downstat."  Still getting
>others pay for their PR seems raw even tor them.

Could someone please pay some attention to any news coverage they might have
gotten with their 'event'?

TIA.

Oh, by the way, I survived this ARSCC-wdne assignment. But just barely. I
hope I never have to do more of these 'repairs'. ;-)


Groeten,
Boudewijn.
"Faith doesn't move mountains: it levels buildings." -- David Rice