One Clear Dot

Even the United States government recognizes people’s right to protest peacefully. It is one of the great freedoms of our wonderful country.

However, the church of Scientology thinks people should not have the right to protest against them. Typically arrogant of this organization, if you ask me. The church (and I use that term lightly) asked a judge to keep protestors at least 500 feet away from their property. Thankfully, even in this day of judges who all too often make bad decisions, the judge rejected the petition.

Now the Scientologists are tying to claim that the group called Anonymous (a loosely joined front of PEACEFUL protestors) is dangerous and they are seeking to get a restraining order against the protestors. So, not only does this organization get to call itself a church and claim church tax status while they eat up most of downtown Clearwater’s real-estate, they also want to try and take away rights from everyday citizens.

Do they have nothing better to do with all the cash in their coffers than to try and keep people from enjoying downtown Clearwater? It’s not like their expenses here arte that high. They pay Sea Org members about $50 a week and then let the public welfare system pay for their healthcare and such.

Undeterred, Anonymous plans yet another protest this weekend, to coincide with Scientology’s annual celebration of L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday on Thursday. The group has protests panned in 50 cities worldwide. Here in Clearwater, they will gather Friday night outside Ruth Eckerd Hall, where Hubbard-ites will hold a gala for Hubbard’s birthday. They will also gather Saturday at 10 a.m. in Coachman Park.

The recent actions taken by the church of Scientology have enraged Clearwater locals, only spurring many more people on to join in on the protests scheduled by Anonymous. People on discussion groups all over the internet are vowing to take back Clearwater. It’s fascinating reading. I stumbled on the info while looking at the website for one of our local newspapers. People are stirred up beyond anything I have seen of late.

Posted on March 12th, 2008 by onecleardot
Filed under: The Way People Think