Biased Experts Masquerading

Question answered by honorarykid in Scientology

blank24 asked this question on 9/1/2000:

In the US, don't citizens have a right to talk freely, assemble peacefully and practice their religion freely and not be subjected to enforced false accusative rantings from avowed hate-filled critics with destructive motives that in general act like the KKK or any other hate-filled group?

honorarykid gave this response on 9/1/2000:

Hi Anonymous,

You're really asking two distint questions, here, so let's individually examine it's various components.

In the first part, you asked, "in the US, don't citizens have a right to talk freely, assemble peacefully and practice their religion freely?"

Yes, you do have these rights in the U.S. And they seem to be alive and well. I have seen nothing submitted by any expert on AskMe.com which prevents you from assembling and practicing your religion.

But then we get to your main point. You hint that your right to practice your religion freely includes some right to "NOT BE SUBJECTED to enforced false accusative rantings from avowed hate-filled critics with destructive motives that in general act like the KKK or any other hate-filled group."

What you're really claiming here is that you have the right to suppress and censor speech about Scientology. That's flatly false. You have no such right. Your right to freely practice your religion does not preempt my freedom to speak freely. You have no right to squelch or censor the speech of others, simply because you disagree with it, or because it hurts your feelings.

I have no idea what an "enforced false accusative ranting" is. If you're trying argue that the anti-Scientology critics who voluntarily answer questions here are AskMe.com are somehow forcing you to particpate, that's a bunch of crap. No one is holding a gun to your head, and forcing you to read anything. You are here voluntarily. You can turn off your computer at any time, or surf to any other web site. So the idea that you are somehow being "forced" to confront our criticisms of Scientology, then you are deluding yourself.

So make no mistake, I am here to divest you completely of any beliefs that Scientology has a divine right to control what content others may be allowed to see or read on the subject of Scientology.

Such beliefs are misguided, and corrupt. When acted upon, your beliefs endanger everyone's freedom, because you and your fellow cult members seek to consolidate political power behind a force which desires that no one ever again disagree with or oppose it, and which has shown that it will willingly break the law to achieve that fascistic end.

The U.S. was formed by people who dissented against the political status quo of the time, and they understood that the ability to speak and believe freely is the cornerstone of freedom. That is why it is our obligation (including YOURS, Anonymous) to tolerate and defend people's right to peacefully speak their mind, even when we disagree.

The right to speak freely and to DISSENT FREELY is a precious thing. It protects my freedom from someone who would clearly oppress me and take that freedom away (i.e. you and your church), and it protects you as well, from forces that would seek to squelch what you say.

Free speech allows both of us equally to stand up and say what we believe to be the truth. Then, our competing versions of the truth will win or lose based on their merits.

Finally, I don't believe I am acting like a KKK member when I criticize the Church of Scientology. I believe I tell the truth when I criticize. I don't hate anyone.

I simply want to persuade your group that the wrongdoings of your group must stop. So instead of demanding that I shut up, why don't you instead try and point out my inaccuracies, point out the things I say that make you believe I am a hateful person. Then we can talk about them, and you can get to know the truth of my words, and you'll then have an equal opportunity to understand that Scientology lies not just to outsiders, but to it's members as well.

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