The Truth Rundown
Inside scientology
Wow. Wow. Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin: Part ONE of THREE
The leader of the Church of Scientology strode into the room with a boom box and an announcement: Time for a game of musical chairs.
David Miscavige had kept more than 30 members of his church's executive staff cooped up for weeks in a small office building outside Los Angeles, not letting them leave except to grab a shower. They slept on the floor, their food carted in.
Their assignment was to develop strategic plans for the church. But the leader trashed their every idea and berated them as incompetents and enemies, of him and the church.
Prove your devotion, Miscavige told them, by winning at musical chairs. Everyone else — losers, all of you — will be banished to Scientology outposts around the world. If families are split up, too bad.
To the music of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody they played through the night, parading around a conference room in their Navy-style uniforms, grown men and women wrestling over chairs.
Posted by
ben on 06/22/09 at
13:16
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Re: The Truth Rundown
That's what you call damn fine reporting.
Posted by:
Dave
at June 22,2009 21:28
Re: The Truth Rundown
This is how we save newspapers. From the comments:
I'm pissed that these jerks stole all the Sunday papers out of machines. If I find out there are church members in my neighborhood, I'll punch them in the face for stealing the newspapers.
Posted by:
ben
at June 22,2009 22:22
Re: The Truth Rundown
Also, check this. Anonymous folks posting photos of the paper on the web. Like validation.
"It always seems so much more awesome to see it in print on fresh crisp newspaper."
Posted by:
ben
at June 22,2009 22:26
Re: The Truth Rundown
If all other metropolitan newspapers pass away, the St. Petersburg Times will be left standing. And this story reminds us all why.
One of my favorite passages:
If Rathbun's responsibility was as limited as the church says, the Times asked, how did he get people to submit to a reign of terror? Davis, the church spokesman, erupted.
"He's the one who's saying that Dave Miscavige beat these people,'' Davis screamed. "And he's saying that Dave Miscavige beat the exact same people that he beat. And that's what pisses me off. Because this guy's a f------ lunatic and I don't have to explain how or why he became one or how it was allowable.
"The fact is he's saying David Miscavige did what he did … And now I'm getting a little angry. Am I angry at you? Not necessarily. But I'm g-- d--- pissed at Marty Rathbun. Because he knows that he was the reign of terror."
Posted by:
Tom Lake
at June 23,2009 03:21
None
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