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[mefree]

Posted by Sponge on OCMB:

INVITATION

Gerry Armstrong is in Berlin to talk about Rathbun and Rinder
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berlin, September 17, 15.30 - Location will be announced ASAP

Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder were responsible for the submissions to
the IRS on which Scientology's tax exemption is based. These submissions
contain pages of false information and black PR on Gerry Armstrong.

Rathbun and Rinder were also involved in multiple covert operations,
legal actions, frame-ups and black PR against Gerry Armstrong and other
people from 1982 through 2004, when Rathbun says he left the Scientology
Organisation.

Rathbun and Rinder worked under L.Ron Hubbard until his death in 1986,
then under current SO-leader David Miscavige.

Injustices Rathbun perpetrated against Gerry Armstrong and black PR
Rathbun promulgated continue to this day.

Gerry has asked Rathbun repeatedly, since Rathbun began speaking
publicly, for his help to correct these injusticies and black PR.

Rathbun has not only refused to help, but has continued to attack Gerry
f.e. on the blog of Marty Rathbun and in an email to Gerry.

Mike Rinder too was involved in Fair Game against Gerry and has also not
correctetd his actions against Gerry until now.

Gerry will discuss Rathbun and Rinder's parts in Fair Game against him, and
against Gerry's attorneys, and what they can do now to correct the evils
they perpetrated against Gerry and other people.

PLACE: Location in Berlin will be announced
TIME: September 17, 15.30

PS: Bring Your video cameras and all Your questions

Responsible:
Thomas Gandow, President of the Dialog Zentrum Berlin e.V.
Fon: 0157.71.41.96.28 - Fax: 032-12.102.93.93
email: gandow@dialogzentrum.de

http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=38427

[wynot]

Many religions accept, and teach the necessity for atonement, whereby we at least attempt to mitigate the harm we have done to others.

From what I read, I do not think M. Rathbun feels a need to atone to Gerry Armstrong for the real and lasting harm his actions have caused. I am less certain about Mike Rinder; he may have a regret or two. If so, then he would stand a fair bit lower on my `people to ignore' list.

Because Gerry Armstrong is a hero to me. His multi-decade fight for justice is as great a story as any novel, and the behavior of this awful cult toward him is all by itself enough reason to damn Hubbard, Miscavige, Rathbun, and all the rest of them to the lowest rungs of hell for a massive chunk of eternity.

Here's your 98 cents change.

'til next time;
wynot

[skydog]

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder. On the one hand, I applaud the stand they have taken against the church as well as the corroborating evidence they have provided to date. I am hopeful that they will cooperate with law enforcement in any future actions.

On the other hand, it is impossible to ignore the fact that these men engaged in serious criminal conduct including the obstruction of justice over a very long period of time. I am very concerned that they continue to minimize their roles in these crimes and place the blame for their behavior at the feet of David Miscavige.  Their current behavior is similar to the high ranking German officials in WWII who attempted to shift the responsibility for their actions to Adolph Hitler. The international court held otherwise concluding that they were responsible notwithstanding their credible claims that they carried out their crimes under orders from superiors.

The hypocrisy they (Rathbun and Rinder) seem miss is that their so called religion places a premium on "accepting responsibility" rather than "placing blame". They continue to behave the way most criminals behave  in explaining their behavior-i.e., minimizing and justifying their crimes. They attempt to place the blame entirely on Miscavige and, at the same time tout the effectiveness of Hubbard's theories and practice-the same theories and practices that failed over several decades to inform or alert them to the dysfunctionality of Miscavige or the current organization.

Frankly, while I was appalled by Rathbun's assessment of Gerry Armstrong, it did not totally surprise me. Rathbun is attempting to rewrite the history of scientology and he must continue to attack and minimize any claims of abuse that occurred during Hubbard's watch. Anything inconsistent with his claim that Miscavige is "the why" is either ignored, explained, or marginalized.

In my opinion, the testimonies of Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder should be evaluated in the same manner as the testimony of any criminal that becomes a "cooperating witness" against a criminal organization. On the one hand they have direct evidence of the criminal activities of the organization; on the other, their credibility is suspect based on that involvement. If they tell you it is raining outside, look out the window before grabbing your umbrella.

Scientology watching has become the pastime of many because of the implosion of the criminal organization that usually follows when its high ranking members have some form of "epiphany" (usually in the confines of a prison cell). While David Miscavige expends large sums of money to assassinate the character of Rathbun and Rinder, he assassinates his own character and that of the church as well. The St. Petersburg Times, CNN, etc. did not choose Rathbun and Rinder as their witnesses, the church of scientology did. Rathbun and Rinder were two of the highest ranking members of this organization for several decades-not because of anything CNN, the SP Times did but because the church considered them their best and brightest.  If they are lying scumbags, how did they manage that and what does it say about the church and their remarkable administrative tech?





 

[mefree]

....he must continue to attack and minimize any claims of abuse that occurred during Hubbard's watch. Anything inconsistent with his claim that Miscavige is "the why" is either ignored, explained, or marginalized.

^^^^
This!

I guess all of the people who have come forward about abuses suffered during Hubbard's time are to be ignored. It is really outrageous! The censorship of opposing views is concerning.

[Mary_McConnell]

Good comments here. I'm looking forward to the videos of the event. I really like Thomas Gandow. And, of course, Gerry Armstrong.

[mefree]

Video: http://youtu.be/D6XCXPx9yoQ