Yep. 1.1, all right. It’s about time someone prominent spoke out about this. I grew up Scientologist and the (relatively quiet) anti-gay sentiment is absolutely present.
I went into that assuming it was about spoof involving haggis. Oops! Aside from that, this quote really struck me: In his resignation letter, Haggis explained to Davis that, for the first time, he had explored outside perspectives on Scientology. Emphasis mine. It is mind-blowing to me that, with all the powers of Google and wireless Internet and downright invasive media, someone with his level of access could remain completely oblivious. I’m not saying he’s lying, although maybe he was also ignoring stuff until he decided he wanted to know, but I find it astounding that A) apparently all it took for him was a bit of reading, and B) it still took years to get around to it.
When this showed up on my feeder I had a mental image of anonymous throwing haggis at Tom Cruise. It was awesome.
I think that is one of the more interesting things I’ve read in a long time. Emphasis mine. It is mind-blowing to me that, with all the powers of Google and wireless Internet and downright invasive media, someone with his level of access could remain completely oblivious. I’m not saying he’s lying, although maybe he was also ignoring stuff until he decided he wanted to know, but I find it astounding that A) apparently all it took for him was a bit of reading, and B) it still took years to get around to it. I believe from a literary perspective, we call that a “willing suspension of disbelief.”
Yeah, it’s amazing what we can choose to ignore. We compartmentalize very, very well. I totally get what Paul Haggis went through, and honor him for where he is now. But I still think “Crash” stank. He redeemed himself completely with “Million Dollar Baby”.
Thomas MacAulay Millar: Between the 4channers and Scientology, root for casualties. Seriously…soda out my nose. Haggis casualties….LOL.
Reading that column all the way through, I kept thinking about that famous quote regarding infamous Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada. “…let us not forget that it is partially a deformed image of ourselves Idi Amin Dada reflects back at us.”
It’s about time a prominent Scientologist told the truth about that organization. It was nothing more than an effort by L. Ron Hubbard to make the money he couldn’t make through his wretched attempts at fiction.
But I still think “Crash” stank. He redeemed himself completely with “Million Dollar Baby”. You mean that ableist bullshit about how life as a quadraplegic is not worth living, and it’s great and noble to help your disabled friend kill themselves instead of getting them therapy for their suicidal depression (while of course doing the same for your able-bodied friend would be horrific, since able-bodied people’s lives are of course worth living?)
Had his screenplay for Casino Royale not been above-average, I never would have believed his allegations.
I do believe Scientology offers some practical advice that can really help some people with some problems – and so can therapy, so can religion, so can the self-help industry, so can your friend or your coworker or your favourite TV show. There are lots of possible sources of practical advice to make your life easier and happier, and one’s mileage with each source will vary. The question is, does that practical advice come entangled in a quagmire of useless or harmful crap? If so, is it worth it? In the case of Scientology, is picking up some nice principles on relationship-building and conflict resolution worth being indoctrinated into their elitism-driven payment plan, feeling the pressure to perform your own personal progress, adopting myriad beliefs which are neither practical nor helpful (including homophobic ones), getting tied up with people who will use threats, libel, and psychological intimidation tactics against you and your loved ones if push comes to shove, and contributing to an organization that operates as a cult? Despite Scientology’s branding of itself as practical (versus philosophical) and technology (versus theory/ideas), the actual concrete stuff it offers wouldn’t fill a novella. It’s rather like the seduction/pick-up community in that sense: a lot of bunk and bad habits and elitism and salesmanship, with a very small dose of somewhat-useful things thrown in to entice you and string you along. Of course, it bills itself as being entirely about the latter, and not at all about the former. It reminds me of an exchange between two characters from Six Feet Under, who both attended a Scientology-esque “seminar” called The Plan (based on EST / The Forum / The Landmark Forum, which has common roots with Scientology): RUTH and ROBBIE are eating dinner. ROBBIE continues talking and talking, spouting endless “Plan” rhetoric, and RUTH – despite being initially excited by The Plan – is becoming increasingly annoyed by it. As he sits there droning on, we hear RUTH’s inner dialogue. Robbie: What I’m saying is, yes, definitely, forgive your mother and father. I mean, we’ve all heard that before, but what’s become clear is that my family of origin never really lived in a house! They– they lived in this tent city psychologically, so it’s no wonder that my own house never even felt remotely like it was built on solid ground– Ruth: [in fantasy] Shut up! Shut the mouth! Robbie: It was built on this quicksand of emotional incest, if there is such a thing… Ruth: [in fantasy] Shutting it, now. Shutting it and stopping it! Robbie: Of course there is such a thing, but “The Plan” would call that “old blueprinting”… Ruth: [in fantasy] If you say another word, I will stab you in the heart with a fork! Robbie: …so that’s about the size of it… Ruth: [in fantasy] If there is a God in heaven, He will surely shut your mouth! Robbie: …you never stop renovating. ROBBIE takes a brief pause and RUTH seizes the opportunity to say something before he can start up again. Ruth: Robbie, I have to tell you something now. I do believe I’ve learned everything I needed to learn from “The Plan”, and I no longer feel the urge to speak in building metaphors, or talk about myself or my feelings in this way any longer. Robbie: (stunned silent) Oh. They continue their meal in blissful silence.
norbizness: Had his screenplay for Casino Royale not been above-average, I never would have believed his allegations. Just because the guy’s good (or not good) at something doesn’t inherently make his allegations more (or less) true. At the risk of melodrama, that’s like saying that this one woman was certainly raped when she said she was because of her impeccable character (ie: she was a virgin before; why would she be lying?) while someone else who sleeps around wasn’t actually raped when she said she was because her character wasn’t so impeccable. Or, to put it more simply, just because Roman Polanski directed a high-grossing, well-received film doesn’t mean he can’t also be a total douche. What I mean is, believing this guy just because Casino Royale was good is pretty weak. That being said, I also tend to believe him, and Casion Royale was pretty good, as much as a James Bond movie can be good, anyway.