Welcome to my new web page: Tory Christman, alias Magoo.
http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/Tory_Christman.htm
Monday, January 12, 2009
Magoo Page
Welcome to my new web page: Tory Christman, alias Magoo.
http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/Tory_Christman.htm
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Magoo's False Justification
Scanning through Tory Christman, alias Magoo, Youtube page, I can only assume that what is below is her answer to the allegation that she lies about presenting only part of the story. It is an assumption that needs to be made since Magoo is actually deleting messages that question her on this point, and bans the posters raising such question!
"I was "in" C of $ for 30 years....and fought the entire "Church" re medication. Yes, I made an affidavit saying I FINALLY won, and the entire "Flag Land Base" was corrected on their confusions re medication. However, it was a 30 year battle, and twice I nearly died.
I don't care what Hubbard says here---he's basically putting down Dr's and always did.
It's ASSumed one *should* be able to "Handle" (Fix) any physical condition, either with auditing, or "Ethics". Ya...right.
Tommy Davis: KMA~
TLCThe above is in reply to the Scios asking me over and over if I listened to Hubbard. Yes, I did. He wrote me and said, "Continue in the HGC (getting auditing) and we'll see you up the line once Epilepsy is fixed" (After I was thrown out of their Sea Org, for being on medication). You KNOW from Dianetics up to OT 7---he speaks of "The tech" and how with it, one SHOULD be able to "Fix" any condition. You deny it? SAY IT HERE.
Tory/Magoo
It's so funny that she writes "you deny it? SAY IT HERE" since she banned the poster she is asking to post there!
Now let's see what she writes more closely:
In 1989 she claims that she appealed the decision of a 15 years old boy to prevent her from doing her OT4 on Flag Land Base. The Senior C/S International allowed her to be audited and to take her medications. Not only that, but a policy was written and the entire Flag Land Base was sent to cramming for their errors in saying she could not be on medications.
What better proof is there that the CoS is NOT against people getting the necessary medication to deal with their seizures?
However, is she saying any of this to the press currently? Read her lies here, here, and here. She is not saying any of this. She is focusing on a small part of the whole story and gives the impression that the CoS is systematically preventing people to take their medications.
So it is false for her to claim that she "finally" won, as if the 20 years before and 10 years after just did not exist.
Besides, if true that the Flag Land Base was corrected, where is her testimony that now Scientology has been supposedly corrected on that? Why is she giving a totally different picture to the press, claiming that the CoS engages in preventing people from taking their medication?
Now lets take a look at the entire paragraph:
It just is another lie, that adds up to the ones she is giving to the press presently, that now adds up to her censorship as she does not want people she is deceiving with her video to be disturbed by the facts.
Sad...
Related blog entries:
Now let's see what she writes more closely:
"I was "in" C of $ for 30 years....and fought the entire "Church" re medication.In 1972 she sent a letter to Hubbard questioning the action of an unqualified staff to force her off her medication and sent her off staff with a huge freeloader bill. Hubbard canceled the expulsion order and told her to get back online!
In 1989 she claims that she appealed the decision of a 15 years old boy to prevent her from doing her OT4 on Flag Land Base. The Senior C/S International allowed her to be audited and to take her medications. Not only that, but a policy was written and the entire Flag Land Base was sent to cramming for their errors in saying she could not be on medications.
What better proof is there that the CoS is NOT against people getting the necessary medication to deal with their seizures?
However, is she saying any of this to the press currently? Read her lies here, here, and here. She is not saying any of this. She is focusing on a small part of the whole story and gives the impression that the CoS is systematically preventing people to take their medications.
"Yes, I made an affidavit saying I FINALLY won, and the entire "Flag Land Base" was corrected on their confusions re medication."The Flag Land Base was corrected (if we assume all this to be correct) in 1989. Between 1972 and 1989, for a period of nearly twenty years, she was allowed to be online and on staff, going all the way up to OT3, all the while still being on her medication in full view of everybody!
So it is false for her to claim that she "finally" won, as if the 20 years before and 10 years after just did not exist.
Besides, if true that the Flag Land Base was corrected, where is her testimony that now Scientology has been supposedly corrected on that? Why is she giving a totally different picture to the press, claiming that the CoS engages in preventing people from taking their medication?
"However, it was a 30 year battle, and twice I nearly died. "The second time she "nearly died" was due to a decision that she and she alone took in 1979, with no prodding from any staff nor official from the CoS. She wanted to see if after OT3 she could do away with the medication. Claiming that "twice I nearly died" without mentioning this tiny detail is again trying to blame the CoS for something they had no part into whatsoever.
Now lets take a look at the entire paragraph:
"I was "in" C of $ for 30 years....and fought the entire "Church" re medication. Yes, I made an affidavit saying I FINALLY won, and the entire "Flag Land Base" was corrected on their confusions re medication. However, it was a 30 year battle, and twice I nearly died."See? She gives the impression that she "Finally won" after she "fought the entire Church" in a "30 year battle" in which she "twice nearly died", and that during all this time she was not allowed to take her medication. She gives the impression that she was only allowed to take again her medication after 30 years. This of course is not true thruth. Not the truth at all!
It just is another lie, that adds up to the ones she is giving to the press presently, that now adds up to her censorship as she does not want people she is deceiving with her video to be disturbed by the facts.
Sad...
Related blog entries:
Magoo Censorship
The following message was posted on Magoo's youtube page:
Another poster confirmed that this is what Magoo does:
Tory Christman claims that she was ordered off her seizure medication by the CoS but she forgets to say that such illegal orders were promptly overturned by higher CoS authorities, and that for the 30 years she was in Scientology she was allowed to take her anti-seizure medicine, as confirmed by her 2003 affidavit.The message was deleted! So it was reposted, with request for Magoo that she comments the allegation. Her "answer" was to delete all such messages and ban the user!
Tory Christman affidavit is the best proof there is that Scientology is not against seizure medicines where needed.
Google "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003
Another poster confirmed that this is what Magoo does:
I too have had my messages either deleted or blocked by Magoo. Seems she only allows those who agree with her to speak.Related blog entries:
I'm not a Scientologist but came upon her video, thinking it was one of genuine sympathy.but, instead, found a lecture to John Travolta.
She wrote to me saying that if I'd lost hundreds of friends then I would understand to which I replied on her comment page, that I'd lost enough loved ones to allow me to have empathy with a bereaved father, a quality her video lacks. In fact, thr video comes across as self-serving and pious, a lecture wrapped in the giuse of a sympathy message.. i asked how she expected John Travolta, a grief-stricken parent, to listen to her message, when even I find its timing sickening.
That message was deleted and I can only assume that all future posts were blocked. So much for free speech!
Anonypubes - Trepassing and Vandalizing in Guise of "Peaceful Protest"
YouTube - Anonymous member covered in pubes runs into scientology building
What would you say if a half-naked nut covered in pubes suddenly enters your house or your office and spread pubes everywhere?
Yet, this is what Anonymous calls "peaceful protest".
Next time I hope they prevent the guy from exiting and charge him with vandalism and invasion of private property.
Check the video above.
R-pubes- related blog entries
What would you say if a half-naked nut covered in pubes suddenly enters your house or your office and spread pubes everywhere?
Yet, this is what Anonymous calls "peaceful protest".
Next time I hope they prevent the guy from exiting and charge him with vandalism and invasion of private property.
Check the video above.
R-pubes- related blog entries
Box Office Predictions for Valkyrie
Now that the new set of movies for this week-end have come out, all the previous contenders have slipped down, though still going relatively strong.
So where do we go from now?
Erik Lomis, who oversees worldwide film distribution for MGM have said that "As the long holiday plays out, high-profile movies can expect to collect total domestic tickets sales of four to six times their first three-day weekend".
Valkyrie's box office result for the first three days was $21.5 million. Say five times 20 is $100 on domestic market alone. with $70 so far, and keeping up to speed in the tail of Marley, the film is slowly reaching that target.
Now this is telling nothing of the International market, where Cruise star power is way more considerable than in the US. To wit, even the "flop", "Lions for Lambs" achieved a stunning $50 on the foreign market, compared to only $15 on the domestic market. With a budget of only $35, that should leave Cruise enough to build a few more bunkers on that "flop" alone.
However, it is very unusual for a film to make three times the cash it does at home. More typically, it would be 2 to 2.5 times.
With this in mind, I think the film should relatively easily reach $200-$250 world-wide, not counting the benefit made through DVD and other sideline outlets. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if it would reach eventually $300 to $350, which would be stupendous.
By all means, even just $200 or somewhat less would be completely unexpected as a result for what was a very risky film from many point of view, and would be cause for celebration on the Cruise camp.
So where do we go from now?
Erik Lomis, who oversees worldwide film distribution for MGM have said that "As the long holiday plays out, high-profile movies can expect to collect total domestic tickets sales of four to six times their first three-day weekend".
Valkyrie's box office result for the first three days was $21.5 million. Say five times 20 is $100 on domestic market alone. with $70 so far, and keeping up to speed in the tail of Marley, the film is slowly reaching that target.
Now this is telling nothing of the International market, where Cruise star power is way more considerable than in the US. To wit, even the "flop", "Lions for Lambs" achieved a stunning $50 on the foreign market, compared to only $15 on the domestic market. With a budget of only $35, that should leave Cruise enough to build a few more bunkers on that "flop" alone.
However, it is very unusual for a film to make three times the cash it does at home. More typically, it would be 2 to 2.5 times.
With this in mind, I think the film should relatively easily reach $200-$250 world-wide, not counting the benefit made through DVD and other sideline outlets. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if it would reach eventually $300 to $350, which would be stupendous.
By all means, even just $200 or somewhat less would be completely unexpected as a result for what was a very risky film from many point of view, and would be cause for celebration on the Cruise camp.
Tory Christman Has Gone Completely Nuts
Scientology ‘in denial’ of illness, says Travolta’s mentor - Times Online
I am worried for Tory. I think she lost all sense of proportion and truth. Does it not disturb her even a little bit that such gross lies will come and bite her in the face once people find the truth about it?
It seems that Tory did indeed black out these 30 years... Incredible...
I think that Mark Bunker, Tory's friend, should tell her to stop making this kind of allegations to the press, or better still, bring her to a psychiatrist urgently. This is forever going to follow Tory Christman, alias Magoo, and is going to discredit whatever else she said. She has gone completely nuts.
Related blog entries:
"THOUSANDS of members of the Church of Scientology may be suffering from untreated mental and neurological conditions, according to a former follower who taught John Travolta, the Hollywood star."Magoo's documented lie is now spreading to "thousands of members who may be suffering form untreated mental and neurological conditions". Where will it end?
"Sufferers are told to cure themselves with vitamins and saunas while it is denied that they have problems such as epilepsy or autism, said Tory Christman, now a fierce critic of the church. "Tory was allowed to take her anti-seizure medicine for the 30 years she was online and on staff at the CoS, but that does not seem to disturb her in the least to claim that sufferers are told to cure themselves with vitamins while denied that they have problems such as epilepsy...
I am worried for Tory. I think she lost all sense of proportion and truth. Does it not disturb her even a little bit that such gross lies will come and bite her in the face once people find the truth about it?
"Christman left after suffering epileptic fits, culminating in a seizure which caused her to fall in the bath, knocking out her front teeth."Untrue. She stayed another 30 years after this episode. Tory was told by an unqualified staff to stop her medication in 1972, according to her own affidavit. After L. Ron Hubbard himself partly reversed the decision, she spent another freaking 30 years online and on staff at the Church of Scientology. She certainly did not leave after suffering epileptic fits unless you want to completely blank out 30 years of active involvement in the CoS, going all the way up to OT7 while still allowed to take her medication...
It seems that Tory did indeed black out these 30 years... Incredible...
"Fellow Scientolo-gists refused to accept that she had a “real” illness, insisting that she work harder studying the teachings of the church’s founder, L Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer, she said. "That may or may not have been the case for the unqualified staff who may have told her that in 1972, but what she forgets to say is that this decision was reversed. What she forget to say is that another similar decision taken in 1989 by a 15 years old boy (!!!) was also reversed by the proper CoS authorities and the boy and his friends were sent to cramming.
I think that Mark Bunker, Tory's friend, should tell her to stop making this kind of allegations to the press, or better still, bring her to a psychiatrist urgently. This is forever going to follow Tory Christman, alias Magoo, and is going to discredit whatever else she said. She has gone completely nuts.
Related blog entries:
Second Counter-Jett Missile Destroyed
I reported yesterday about the Counter-Jett missiles second wave.
The second such missile now is:
Leaked Recording of Scientology Founder Proves That Church Lied
Unfortunately for critics, it did not hit its target, because it was destroyed by a counter-counter missile as a correction published by the same news outlet. Again, it is worth to be quoted in full:
Response to False Allegations About Scientology
Published: January 10,2009
Letter to the Editor
Response to False Allegations About Scientology
You published a letter to the editor on entitled "Leaked Recording of Scientology Founder Proves That Church Lied".
In fact, the article never went down to quote where exactly it proves such. The author of this article makes all kinds of claims based on a lecture given by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, but fails to provide the exact quotes that supposedly disproves the Church of Scientology assertions. It only provides a general reference that in fact does not really say anything one way or the other. It didn't say "you must tell him to come off drugs", it said, "And then you come along as an auditor and you try to audit the pc and you tell the pc that he'll have to go off that drug". That's a comment about what another person might do, not a directive of what action to take.
The best proof that Scientology does not forbid the use of drugs for the treatment of seizure is the affidavit of Tory Christman that can easily be found by googling - "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003. Though this affidavit was initially made for accusing Scientology of putting people off from their medication, it ends up proving the exact contrary. Christman spent 30 years online and on staff, doing almost the complete Scientology "Bridge", while taking her anti-seizure medicine in full view and knowledge of all. Requests by unqualified staff that she stops taking them have been systematically over-ruled by proper Church of Scientology authorities, and by L. Ron Hubbard himself!
Scientology does not oppose the use of drugs like Depakote for medical reasons. It only opposes it when used to treat mental conditions. The author of this article simply fails to make appropriate distinctions between medical and mental conditions, as well as when the same drug is used for the treatment of physical symptoms and when it is used to treat mental conditions.
As for the claim that "Hubbard referred to epilepsy related terms as "gobbledygook", all L. Ron Hubbard says is that much of the medical jargon in general is incomprehensible for the lay man: "Now I've been using a lot of medical words here or chemical words really. Just don't pay any attention to them because they're mostly gobbledygook, and there's an awful lot of gobbledygook words." It does not in the least, as is hinted, means any disrespect towards people suffering of epilepsy.
The article assertions about autism are just as absurd.
Joey Travolta is not qualified to make a snap diagnosis of autism, nor can such a diagnosis be made through viewing a few minutes of a video footage. The process for diagnosing autism is complex and generally requires not just one professional, but often multiple professionals. No competent medical professional would just look at someone and make a snap diagnosis!
It is also false to claim that autism is not accepted by the Church of Scientology. The article does not provide evidence for such a claim whatsoever. Scientology may not agree with psychiatric treatment of mental illnesses but has not made any comment about autism, which, by the way, is not considered as mental illness by the medical profession themselves.
Nor does the article offer anything in evidence to its innuendos that a two years old was subjected to a dangerous level of niacin. It only indulge in unwarranted speculations to that effect, speculations that almost certainly are false knowing the obvious love the Travolta's displayed for their children..
Given what critics demonstrated by jumping in the middle of mourning comments with rumors (later on proven false) and heartless accusations towards the Travolta family, they are not very credible when they claim, as they do in this article, that the circumstance of Jett Travolta's tragic death should only be discussed with the utmost respect of the family.
This article only attempts to cover with a layer of apparent researches, pseudo-science, and a lot of obfuscations, the same kind of hatred and prejudice they engaged at the time, but even a superficial examination is enough to blow such a layer away.
The second such missile now is:
Leaked Recording of Scientology Founder Proves That Church Lied
Unfortunately for critics, it did not hit its target, because it was destroyed by a counter-counter missile as a correction published by the same news outlet. Again, it is worth to be quoted in full:
Response to False Allegations About Scientology
Published: January 10,2009
Letter to the Editor
Response to False Allegations About Scientology
You published a letter to the editor on entitled "Leaked Recording of Scientology Founder Proves That Church Lied".
In fact, the article never went down to quote where exactly it proves such. The author of this article makes all kinds of claims based on a lecture given by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, but fails to provide the exact quotes that supposedly disproves the Church of Scientology assertions. It only provides a general reference that in fact does not really say anything one way or the other. It didn't say "you must tell him to come off drugs", it said, "And then you come along as an auditor and you try to audit the pc and you tell the pc that he'll have to go off that drug". That's a comment about what another person might do, not a directive of what action to take.
The best proof that Scientology does not forbid the use of drugs for the treatment of seizure is the affidavit of Tory Christman that can easily be found by googling - "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003. Though this affidavit was initially made for accusing Scientology of putting people off from their medication, it ends up proving the exact contrary. Christman spent 30 years online and on staff, doing almost the complete Scientology "Bridge", while taking her anti-seizure medicine in full view and knowledge of all. Requests by unqualified staff that she stops taking them have been systematically over-ruled by proper Church of Scientology authorities, and by L. Ron Hubbard himself!
Scientology does not oppose the use of drugs like Depakote for medical reasons. It only opposes it when used to treat mental conditions. The author of this article simply fails to make appropriate distinctions between medical and mental conditions, as well as when the same drug is used for the treatment of physical symptoms and when it is used to treat mental conditions.
As for the claim that "Hubbard referred to epilepsy related terms as "gobbledygook", all L. Ron Hubbard says is that much of the medical jargon in general is incomprehensible for the lay man: "Now I've been using a lot of medical words here or chemical words really. Just don't pay any attention to them because they're mostly gobbledygook, and there's an awful lot of gobbledygook words." It does not in the least, as is hinted, means any disrespect towards people suffering of epilepsy.
The article assertions about autism are just as absurd.
Joey Travolta is not qualified to make a snap diagnosis of autism, nor can such a diagnosis be made through viewing a few minutes of a video footage. The process for diagnosing autism is complex and generally requires not just one professional, but often multiple professionals. No competent medical professional would just look at someone and make a snap diagnosis!
It is also false to claim that autism is not accepted by the Church of Scientology. The article does not provide evidence for such a claim whatsoever. Scientology may not agree with psychiatric treatment of mental illnesses but has not made any comment about autism, which, by the way, is not considered as mental illness by the medical profession themselves.
Nor does the article offer anything in evidence to its innuendos that a two years old was subjected to a dangerous level of niacin. It only indulge in unwarranted speculations to that effect, speculations that almost certainly are false knowing the obvious love the Travolta's displayed for their children..
Given what critics demonstrated by jumping in the middle of mourning comments with rumors (later on proven false) and heartless accusations towards the Travolta family, they are not very credible when they claim, as they do in this article, that the circumstance of Jett Travolta's tragic death should only be discussed with the utmost respect of the family.
This article only attempts to cover with a layer of apparent researches, pseudo-science, and a lot of obfuscations, the same kind of hatred and prejudice they engaged at the time, but even a superficial examination is enough to blow such a layer away.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Counter-Jett Missiles Second Wave
The first wave was critics jumping on mourning comments, shooting speculative rumors with both barrels, and massively putting critics in a very bad light.
The second wave are more researched articles, trying to rationalize and justify their pet arguments, that Scientology caused the death of Jett Travolta. Check for example this article:
Tragedy and Conflict Between Medicine and Scientology in the Death of Jett Travolta | BuzzFlash.org
Unfortunately for them, they don't seem to be that more successful in their attempt than during the first wave, and I post here in full one of the comments to that article:
Armchair Diagnosis Unsuccessful to Prove Assertions
Submitted by sunude on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 9:44am.
The author claims to be a medical physician but declines to give his name. At this price, I too can claim to be a medical physician, but let's assume that he really is.
Unfortunately, though claiming to be an MD, he does not succeed to substantiate his claim that Jett Travolta's death was "very preventable"
I agree with his assertion that "it is easy to see how an anti-medication culture might develop within Scientology". Obviously, Scientologists, like anybody else, need to have a pragmatic approach to their religion, and I think the Travoltas have beautifully illustrated that pragmatism.
The CoS demonstrated that they have this practical approach too. The best proof that Scientology does not forbid the use of drugs for the treatment of seizure is the affidavit of Tory Christman, that can easily be found by googling - "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003. Though this affidavit was initially made for accusing Scientology of putting people off from their medication, it ends up proving the exact contrary. Christman spent 30 years online and on staff, doing almost the complete Scientology "Bridge", while taking her anti-seizure medicine in full view and knowledge of all. Requests by unqualified staff that she stops taking them have been systematically over-ruled by proper Church of Scientology authorities, and by L. Ron Hubbard himself!
The author is speculating as to what method have been followed to stop medications. We may never know, and the parents have a right to keep whatever medical information private. As for his allegation that he would keep the patient in the hospital, I doubt this is very practical or a common practice. The seizures are only occasional, and what would a teenager who is otherwise healthy, and who loves outdoor activities, do in an hospital all day long for weeks on end just waiting for a seizure to come?
By all means, this is irrelevant to the point the author wants to make about Scientology. What does it have to do with Scientology? We could spend months speculating as to what the parents should have done or not, it does not seem very productive.
The question as to whether Jett's supposed autism was improperly treated as a result of the couple's adherence to Scientology is irrelevant. As an MD, the author should know that there are no treatment able to cure autism, that there are no medicine for it, and that it also is not deadly by itself.
His speculation that if jett did not talk then "it would be highly likely that Jett had autism" does not strike me as very professional either. The process for diagnosing autism is complex and generally requires not just one professional, but often multiple professionals. Almost all of the symptoms of autism which must be established also occur in other, similar disorders, so all these other possible diagnoses need to be eliminated as well. There are also many marginal cases where something could be autism or something else, and it isn't easy to decide even after gathering all appropriate diagnostic information. A diagnosis of autism is something which follows someone for life. No competent medical professional would just look at someone and make a snap diagnosis.
This being said, I agree with the author that the defiance of Scientology practitioners towards psychiatry would preclude them from getting a psychiatry opinion. However, given the fact that there are no medicine for autism, nor test to detect it, I doubt this is very relevant. Treatments are at best aimed to improve the patient quality of life, and in that respect we can safely assume that Jett had the best there could be had on this planet.
I also agree with him that so far the Church of Scientology has failed to explicitly pronounced itself on autism. This may reflect indeed some ambiguity. But again, given the above, it really has no importance. The key point are the seizure, and there was no failing on the Travolta/Preston family to at least acknowledge these.
"Scientology has a reputation for aggressively and personally attacking its critics, which is probably why the major anti-Scientology internet group goes by the name of 'Anonymous.'"
This is false. The group known as Anonymous were already known by that name long before their encounter with Scientology.
"But in examining Jett's story from a medical perspective, it certainly appears that for some reason Jett did not receive the medical care he needed and the results were indeed tragic."
I disagree with the assertion that the author as showed anything the like in this article. He pointed out to the possible lack of medical care a Scientologist may be guilty of for distrust towards drugs that would treat seizure, but it appears the travoltas did use them for Jett. He speculated as to whether these were properly stopped, and we know nothing about that. He engaged in a pop psychological armchair diagnostic of autism when no competent MD would do such a thing, suggesting that treatment of the condition may have avoided the drama, when in fact there is no treatment for the condition as such, and the real problem were the seizures.
I don't see where in the least he engaged in an valid examination of Jett'story from a medical perspective. Quite on the contrary, I have reasons to think that this author is as much a MD as I am the Queen of England, and that he may simply be a Scientology critic just posing as such.
His assertion that "Jett did not receive the medical care he needed and the results were indeed tragic" is completely unwarranted and unproven.
This being said, I must admit the article is well-written and each point is nicely developed. The content, however, appears to be influenced by a strong bias, leading the author to draw unwarranted conclusions based on weak arguments.
Finally:
"Sadly, Jett Travolta may have been the innocent victim of a decades old conflict between the ideas of Scientology and medicine."
This too, the author failed to prove. Simply asserting that Scientologists are cautious towards psychiatrists is hardly enough to prove that point. To date, it has not been proven conclusively that Scientology had anything to do with this tragic event at all.
The second wave are more researched articles, trying to rationalize and justify their pet arguments, that Scientology caused the death of Jett Travolta. Check for example this article:
Tragedy and Conflict Between Medicine and Scientology in the Death of Jett Travolta | BuzzFlash.org
Unfortunately for them, they don't seem to be that more successful in their attempt than during the first wave, and I post here in full one of the comments to that article:
Armchair Diagnosis Unsuccessful to Prove Assertions
Submitted by sunude on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 9:44am.
The author claims to be a medical physician but declines to give his name. At this price, I too can claim to be a medical physician, but let's assume that he really is.
Unfortunately, though claiming to be an MD, he does not succeed to substantiate his claim that Jett Travolta's death was "very preventable"
I agree with his assertion that "it is easy to see how an anti-medication culture might develop within Scientology". Obviously, Scientologists, like anybody else, need to have a pragmatic approach to their religion, and I think the Travoltas have beautifully illustrated that pragmatism.
The CoS demonstrated that they have this practical approach too. The best proof that Scientology does not forbid the use of drugs for the treatment of seizure is the affidavit of Tory Christman, that can easily be found by googling - "Tory Christman" affidavit 2003. Though this affidavit was initially made for accusing Scientology of putting people off from their medication, it ends up proving the exact contrary. Christman spent 30 years online and on staff, doing almost the complete Scientology "Bridge", while taking her anti-seizure medicine in full view and knowledge of all. Requests by unqualified staff that she stops taking them have been systematically over-ruled by proper Church of Scientology authorities, and by L. Ron Hubbard himself!
The author is speculating as to what method have been followed to stop medications. We may never know, and the parents have a right to keep whatever medical information private. As for his allegation that he would keep the patient in the hospital, I doubt this is very practical or a common practice. The seizures are only occasional, and what would a teenager who is otherwise healthy, and who loves outdoor activities, do in an hospital all day long for weeks on end just waiting for a seizure to come?
By all means, this is irrelevant to the point the author wants to make about Scientology. What does it have to do with Scientology? We could spend months speculating as to what the parents should have done or not, it does not seem very productive.
The question as to whether Jett's supposed autism was improperly treated as a result of the couple's adherence to Scientology is irrelevant. As an MD, the author should know that there are no treatment able to cure autism, that there are no medicine for it, and that it also is not deadly by itself.
His speculation that if jett did not talk then "it would be highly likely that Jett had autism" does not strike me as very professional either. The process for diagnosing autism is complex and generally requires not just one professional, but often multiple professionals. Almost all of the symptoms of autism which must be established also occur in other, similar disorders, so all these other possible diagnoses need to be eliminated as well. There are also many marginal cases where something could be autism or something else, and it isn't easy to decide even after gathering all appropriate diagnostic information. A diagnosis of autism is something which follows someone for life. No competent medical professional would just look at someone and make a snap diagnosis.
This being said, I agree with the author that the defiance of Scientology practitioners towards psychiatry would preclude them from getting a psychiatry opinion. However, given the fact that there are no medicine for autism, nor test to detect it, I doubt this is very relevant. Treatments are at best aimed to improve the patient quality of life, and in that respect we can safely assume that Jett had the best there could be had on this planet.
I also agree with him that so far the Church of Scientology has failed to explicitly pronounced itself on autism. This may reflect indeed some ambiguity. But again, given the above, it really has no importance. The key point are the seizure, and there was no failing on the Travolta/Preston family to at least acknowledge these.
"Scientology has a reputation for aggressively and personally attacking its critics, which is probably why the major anti-Scientology internet group goes by the name of 'Anonymous.'"
This is false. The group known as Anonymous were already known by that name long before their encounter with Scientology.
"But in examining Jett's story from a medical perspective, it certainly appears that for some reason Jett did not receive the medical care he needed and the results were indeed tragic."
I disagree with the assertion that the author as showed anything the like in this article. He pointed out to the possible lack of medical care a Scientologist may be guilty of for distrust towards drugs that would treat seizure, but it appears the travoltas did use them for Jett. He speculated as to whether these were properly stopped, and we know nothing about that. He engaged in a pop psychological armchair diagnostic of autism when no competent MD would do such a thing, suggesting that treatment of the condition may have avoided the drama, when in fact there is no treatment for the condition as such, and the real problem were the seizures.
I don't see where in the least he engaged in an valid examination of Jett'story from a medical perspective. Quite on the contrary, I have reasons to think that this author is as much a MD as I am the Queen of England, and that he may simply be a Scientology critic just posing as such.
His assertion that "Jett did not receive the medical care he needed and the results were indeed tragic" is completely unwarranted and unproven.
This being said, I must admit the article is well-written and each point is nicely developed. The content, however, appears to be influenced by a strong bias, leading the author to draw unwarranted conclusions based on weak arguments.
Finally:
"Sadly, Jett Travolta may have been the innocent victim of a decades old conflict between the ideas of Scientology and medicine."
This too, the author failed to prove. Simply asserting that Scientologists are cautious towards psychiatrists is hardly enough to prove that point. To date, it has not been proven conclusively that Scientology had anything to do with this tragic event at all.
Celebrities Attend Jett Memorial
Fresh Intelligence : Radar Online : Celebrities Attend Jett Memorial: "The following celebrities were among the 100 people who attended the memorial service for Jett Travolta:
Lisa Marie Presley; country music singers Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood; Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker; Sopranos lead James Gandolfini; Cheers star Kirstie Alley; and baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
A source told the Star-Banner in Ocala that the only person who spoke at the service was a female minister of the Church of Scientology. The guests came into the tent for the service and after they were seated, Travolta, Preston and their 8-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu, arrived.
After the service ended, both parents kissed the photo of Jett displayed behind the podium."
Lisa Marie Presley; country music singers Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood; Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker; Sopranos lead James Gandolfini; Cheers star Kirstie Alley; and baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
A source told the Star-Banner in Ocala that the only person who spoke at the service was a female minister of the Church of Scientology. The guests came into the tent for the service and after they were seated, Travolta, Preston and their 8-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu, arrived.
After the service ended, both parents kissed the photo of Jett displayed behind the podium."
Carice van Houten: How I learnt to Love Tom Cruise for Valkyrie
Caprice van Houten stars as Nina, the loyal and long-suffering wife of Cruise's German colonel Claus von Stauffenberg - the mastermind behind the failed plot to assassinate the Führer in July 1944. Here is what she has to say about Cruise and Scientology:
Carice van Houten: how I learnt to love Tom Cruise for Valkyrie - Times Online: "She will later add, for the record, that Cruise was a perfectionist, a pleasure to work with, and that the rumours of German political opposition to Cruise himself were unfounded (the German Defence Ministry was allegedly reluctant to allow filming of Valkyrie on military sites because officials view Scientology, Cruise's belief system, as a cult). “Nobody on set was talking about that, and it didn't feel like a topic that was relevant to anyone who was making the film,” she says."
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Anatomy of Manipulation
I explained earlier how Tory Christman - Bezazian - Magoo - lies about her seizure history by focusing on a small part of the whole story that can be found in the affidavit she wrote in 2003.
She now made a video to add an emotional dimension to the lie. In it, she describes the incident in full drama mode, with the obvious intention to exploit the wave of emotion in the wake of Jett Travolta's tragic death. This makes the video particularly ominous.
I saved this video, should Magoo chose to delete it some day, as a perfect example of how fanatical Scientology critics try to manipulate public opinion.
Related blog entries:
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tory Christman Lies About her Seizures
Tory Christman claims that she was ordered off from her seizure medication by the CoS but she forgets to say that such illegal orders were promptly overturned by higher CoS authorities, and that for the 30 years she was in the Scientology she was allowed to take her meds.
Check the following statements Tory Christman made to the press recently, and compare them with the full story based on her 2003 affidavit.
This is a typical example on how anti-Scientologists will stretch the truth (in this case blatantly lying) to make it fit with their agenda.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/07/earlyshow/main4703989.shtml
http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/01/08/Church_of_Scientology_hits_back_at_Jett_Travolta_drug_claims
http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/01/05/Scientology_banned_my_epilepsy_meds_ex_Church_member_?id=163282
Related blog entries:
Check the following statements Tory Christman made to the press recently, and compare them with the full story based on her 2003 affidavit.
This is a typical example on how anti-Scientologists will stretch the truth (in this case blatantly lying) to make it fit with their agenda.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/07/earlyshow/main4703989.shtml
One ex-Scientologist says when she suffered epileptic seizures 30 years ago, the church told her to stop her medication.
"So I started having grand mal seizures," recalls Tory Christman, "and I wasn't even off the medicine. I was only off part of the medicine, and I started having very bad grand mal seizures."
http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/01/08/Church_of_Scientology_hits_back_at_Jett_Travolta_drug_claims
In an exclusive interview with LIVENEWS.com.au on Monday, former Scientologist Tory Christman added fuel to the fire, claiming the Church told her to stop taking drugs for her epilepsy via an unqualified medical advisor in the late 1990s
http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/01/05/Scientology_banned_my_epilepsy_meds_ex_Church_member_?id=163282
Tory Christman, who reached the upper echelons of the church, claims she was told to stop taking the drugs by an unqualified medical official, which led to her seizures returning and to her knocking her teeth out in the bath.
“It was a nightmare,” said Christman.
“I had grand mal seizures, I fell in the bathtub just like Jett did, and knocked out my front teeth. It was really bad. I was losing my memory.”
“My mother saved my life and realised it was really kooky and said either you get back on your medicine today or I’m going come out there and Scientology will never forget me.”
Related blog entries:
Tory Chrisman Proves CoS Not Against Seizure Medications
(Tip of the hat to Monica Pignotti for pointing this out in her blog.)
Tory Christman claims that she was ordered off from her seizure medication by the CoS but she forgets to say that such illegal orders were promptly overturned by higher CoS authorities, and that for the 30 years she was in the Scientology she was allowed to take her medicine, as confirmed by her 2003 affidavit.
You will hear from the press allegations that Tory Christman, a notorious anti-Scientologist, claims she was ordered off her seizure medications by the Church of Scientology and that she nearly died - something that is presented as a "proof" by anti-Scientologists that this is really what the Scientology teaches. Innuendoes, of course, directed at the tragic death of Jett Travolta.
Unfortunately for Tory Christman (also known as Tory Bezazian, or Magoo), she made in 2001 an affidavit, that she revised in 2003, where she states the exact opposite.
Notwithstanding what she may proclaim today, this affidavit is one of the best proof, if there was, that Scientology does not require people to abandon their seizure medicines if these are necessary.
Reading this affidavit, you will see that indeed some zealous young Scientologist told her that she could not be in Sea Organization if on meds, and she was given a leave to stop them. She tried but could not. She was routed off staff with a huge debt. However, L. Ron Hubbard himself canceled this absurd decision (at least partly) and told her to get back on line and get auditing. He never said she should lay her medications off as a condition! She went up all the way to OT 7 while everybody knew perfectly well that she was on full seizure medications!
Speak about "being ordered to stop her meds", when L. Ron Hubbard himself didn't ask her to do it, knowing full well of the situation!
She spent a freaking 30 years in Scientology after this incident, going up the bridge and working on staff, all the while people being fully aware, as is also clear through that affidavit, that she was epileptic and taking medication for it!
In 1989 (that's three years after Hubbard's death), she was told by another fool (a 15 years-old boy for God sake!) that she was not allowed on Flag Land Base to do her OT 4, presumably because of her epileptic condition. This decision was again overturned by a higher authority within the Church of Scientology, giving her full clearance to go all the way up the bridge while still being on medication!!! This authority even sent all the fools who told her otherwise back to revise their material!
So, Christman's own affidavit totally contradicts any claims that she was ordered off her medication. Some ignorant young fools, did, but these decision were systematically overturned by the proper authorities in the church.
If anything, that affidavit is quite on the contrary a good example that the claims Scientology prevents people to take medicine against seizure are absolutely false!
Now you can watch what she is now saying in the press, or what others are saying on her behalf, and compare it with her own affidavit!
Related blog entries:
Tory Christman claims that she was ordered off from her seizure medication by the CoS but she forgets to say that such illegal orders were promptly overturned by higher CoS authorities, and that for the 30 years she was in the Scientology she was allowed to take her medicine, as confirmed by her 2003 affidavit.
You will hear from the press allegations that Tory Christman, a notorious anti-Scientologist, claims she was ordered off her seizure medications by the Church of Scientology and that she nearly died - something that is presented as a "proof" by anti-Scientologists that this is really what the Scientology teaches. Innuendoes, of course, directed at the tragic death of Jett Travolta.
Unfortunately for Tory Christman (also known as Tory Bezazian, or Magoo), she made in 2001 an affidavit, that she revised in 2003, where she states the exact opposite.
Notwithstanding what she may proclaim today, this affidavit is one of the best proof, if there was, that Scientology does not require people to abandon their seizure medicines if these are necessary.
Reading this affidavit, you will see that indeed some zealous young Scientologist told her that she could not be in Sea Organization if on meds, and she was given a leave to stop them. She tried but could not. She was routed off staff with a huge debt. However, L. Ron Hubbard himself canceled this absurd decision (at least partly) and told her to get back on line and get auditing. He never said she should lay her medications off as a condition! She went up all the way to OT 7 while everybody knew perfectly well that she was on full seizure medications!
Speak about "being ordered to stop her meds", when L. Ron Hubbard himself didn't ask her to do it, knowing full well of the situation!
She spent a freaking 30 years in Scientology after this incident, going up the bridge and working on staff, all the while people being fully aware, as is also clear through that affidavit, that she was epileptic and taking medication for it!
In 1989 (that's three years after Hubbard's death), she was told by another fool (a 15 years-old boy for God sake!) that she was not allowed on Flag Land Base to do her OT 4, presumably because of her epileptic condition. This decision was again overturned by a higher authority within the Church of Scientology, giving her full clearance to go all the way up the bridge while still being on medication!!! This authority even sent all the fools who told her otherwise back to revise their material!
So, Christman's own affidavit totally contradicts any claims that she was ordered off her medication. Some ignorant young fools, did, but these decision were systematically overturned by the proper authorities in the church.
If anything, that affidavit is quite on the contrary a good example that the claims Scientology prevents people to take medicine against seizure are absolutely false!
Now you can watch what she is now saying in the press, or what others are saying on her behalf, and compare it with her own affidavit!
Related blog entries:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
