Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:42 pm by Tru2form
You guys are welcome to deconstruct this however you choose.
However, let me make a few points:
1) I remember Jefferson very well. He was cool as shit, smart as a whip, and seemed really together. Sweet guy. Wonderful person, really.
2) I put that up because Jefferson is right on certain points, and I wanted to make that clear to people: not all Scientology upbringings are abusive. Some kids DO grow up in Scientology just fine. He left. He's trying to protect his family from what he feels is a threat. this is a very valid point of view.
3) People deal with leaving in a lot of different ways. This is one of them. I don't think anyone should attack his choices. He seems to have done very well for himself.
4) Jefferson did not discount any of these testimonies. He very explicitly stated in a letter to me that if that was my understanding of Scientology, then OK.
5) I personally disagree with his disagreement of the protesting. Nobody likes to be protested against. What I don't understand is that if Scientology is facing allegations of child abuse, why they're not throwing the doors open and addressing the issues themselves. Instead, they're sending us nasty threats and what have you. Still, though, it's his perspective. So OK.
But I don't argue with the people who send me stories. I post them, and let people digest them, because all of these viewpoints are valid ones.
I really think he ought to be totally commended for putting his views on this site. I mean, are you kidding me? What a brave, open and honest thing to do! He approached someone he felt was doing something totally wrong, and had an open and honest dialogue with me, treated the site and myself with respect... I can't even imagine how his behavior and attitude could have been any better. Fucking awesome.
This made me miss Jefferson, even though the last time I saw him was like, a decade ago.