Alanzo,
Your comments at M. Rathbun's blog were dignified and sensitive. The response you received was appalling!
As an 'outsider', I really know nothing about Mr. Rathbun beyond the SP Times articles and what I read here.
This much I do know, Mr. Rathbun is impolite! He was outright rude to you and to several other posters.
We all 'lose our cool' at times, but rudeness, as a first reaction, often goes hand-in-hand with a lack of mental acumen. That being the case, maybe I know TWO things about the ill mannered Mr. Rathbun!
FYI RE: Leftist, Rightist
During the political upheavals of 19th century the terms were used to designate the 'outs' vs the 'ins' with no specific association to any particular political 'philosophy'. Those on 'the left' could be radical Fascists seeking to overthrow a benign monarchy on 'the right'.
"Left" "Left Handed", is etymologically associated with "sinister" -- From Old French: sinistre = "contrary, prompted by malice or ill-will" A left-handed person is 'abnormal' so anyone opposing the existing order is "sinister" or "on the left".
"Right" "Right Handed", a right-handed person is 'normal', "in comformity with nature, reason, truth. Therefore, the existing political order is etymologically "Right" "Sane" "Normal" because it already exists!
It isn't until the end of the 19th century that the terms start to carry the connatation of 'Liberal' and 'Conservative' that is common usage today.
fisherman
Marty's post titled "Noise", and his eulogy to Earle Cooley, have been the first posts that he has written where he has allowed himself to be defined.
It's very clear where he stands now. He stands in a state of pure confusion.
On one stand, he is loyal to LRH. And yet he is setting up independent Scientologists and refusing to flow power to the Church that LRH founded.
On another, he blames all the problems of Scientology on David Miscavige. And yet it was he who helped run virtually ALL of the disastrous covert "Fair Game" and legal battles against critics for the last 26 years, which was exactly in line with DM's purposes, and 100% Standard LRH Scientology. And when old critics who he has fair-gamed and tried to "shudder into silence" show up on his blog to speak, he still treats them as enemies. He calls them names and degrades them, without ever stopping to think about what he has been doing all this time, and the stance these people were taking back then that are some of the same stances that he is taking now. He seems unable to recognize this, no matter how many people point it out.
Another stand he takes is that "everyone should seek justice". But he criticizes the authorities who will administer that justice, and the citizens who have solicited the help of those authorities. Also, anyone who has sought justice in the past, he still treats as enemies as above and speaks about their legal battles in terms that would characterize an enemy.
He's a Scientologist but he's not in the Church. Yet he treats Freezoners, and anyone else who has been practicing Scientology outside the Church before him, with utter contempt.
He is a critic of the Church but seems incapable of acknowledging the parts of LRH that were completely and obviously destructive.
He's out, but he's in.
He's not out, but he's not in.
He's gone to the press about horrific abuse that he's seen in the Church. He's even admitted destoying evidence in criminal cases against the Church. And yet when 7 brave Australians went to the authorities to end that abuse, once and for all, he talked about "the far left" in the "Scientology Spectrum" and how they have screwed up all his good work.
Marty Rathbun is a very confused man.
Hopefully, he will be able to straighten himself out someday.
Until then, the people who are actually going to get something done, once and for all, have weird accents and a Senator behind them.
Unlike Marty, there is absolutely no confusion about who they are, or what they stand for.
Maybe Marty's contribution is over. He had his day. And for a while it looked like he was going to get something done. He did get a few things done, but nothing that would really right the wrongs that have been committed, and make sure they can never happen again.
Oh well, I'd like to thank Marty for his contribution to the cause. And to wish him well on his path as an Independent Scientologist. I hope that he flourishes and prospers.
But more importantly, I look forward to the prosecution of the criminal activity that the Church of Scientology has been waging against citizens around the world, and for justice to really, and finally, be done. For the good of all.