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From: Beverly Rice <dbj1120@iag.net>
Subject: Re: SPTimes: Scientologists buy building in Clearwater
[http://www.xenu-city.net]
Date: 1998/12/29
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<19981229163243.00326.00004348@ng-ft1.aol.com>
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That's a lot of property, but the Co$ wouldn't be buying it if they
didn't need it.

But this brings up something in my mind. Now, most people on this
NG have been to CW during the pickets, and at the pickets the Co$
kept all their members tucked neatly away herded into their properties,
AND the CW police were out in full patrol to make sure that there would
be no incidents, so you could walk the streets unhasseled.

But . . . the CW experience I had the week before the pickets when
Garry and I visited to talk with Co$ members, and there weren't police
around to observe, was that I was an invader in their property, and
that's when they were being on their good behaviour because we had told
them that we weren't going to be picketing, and I had even posted before
then that I wanted to talk with Co$ members in general.

We were followed, our every movement and place we went we had guards
reporting on their radios. Everywhere we went we were watched, and
then when we went back to our hotel, we were followed by car to make
sure where we were headed.

Now, let me state that ~I~ didn't feel intimidated by the security at
all, (that much attention was kind of flattering <g>) but I also realize
how Co$ is, and that I would be followed and phtographed. I'm sure
someone that doesn't understand the way the Co$ operates or realize
this behaviour is SOP for the Co$ would feel quite intimidated.

Now, I'm ~sure~ you guys will remember the NG fiasco and flaming
because I actually met with and talked to Brian Anderson, had
coffee and pie (yes, he even eats food just like a real human)
and I told on the NG how I liked him.

And, here comes the part all my flamers will enjoy, it did end
up that I was . . . well, I won't say lied to, but well, let me be
kind and say he was less than forthcoming <g> (I know, "I told you so!
I told you so!") (And I even wrote him a really nice letter saying
how much I enjoyed meeting with and talking with him.)

Anyway, that was one of the reasons I went ahead and decided to
picket after all.

After ~that~, I can tell you that we were followed around even
more, and most of the Co$ guards treated us as uncivil as they could
by law, making certain that there was no doubt that my presence was
not wanted. This was NOT while I was picketing, and was not even
during a time when there was picketing, it was later that evening.

Now, anyone who has met me knows that the very ~last~ thing I am
is intimidating in any way, shape or form, I'm so UNintimidating
it's downright funny (although I have been told many times that
people's vision of me from my writing was that I was kind of
firm and harsh, which I find amazing).

But, while we were there during the picket week, I had people who
were residents of CW come and talk to me, telling me that they
hate what has happened in downtown, that they also feel like they
are intruders.

One guy who had a nice camera talked with me. He happens to do
photography for a hobby, enjoys it, and said that he has been
downtown a few times with his camera, and they were questioning him,
and making him uncomfortable for just being there, and followed
him around too. I believe it was either Valerie or Ina that was
with me when he stopped to talk.

Other residents of CW had pretty much the same stories, and the
difference being they said, that when we weren't there, the side
walks and entire area is filled with Co$ members and Sea Org in
their uniforms, and they pretty much walk around like they own
the place, and you better get out of their way.
But what I'm trying to say, in my overly long and drawn out way <g>,
is that as the Co$ owns more and more of downtown, will they also
own the sidewalks and streets, and make residents and visitors, or
anybody who happens to be on ~their~ property even less welcome?

Once all the buildings are owned by them, which will chase out the
few remaining businesses that are not owned by Co$ and it's members,
and they will literally have made a bastion in CW, will they then
have the right to keep it pretty much so only their members will
be able to have an unharassed presence?

Which gives me to comment further on what you have written below.


This, and the following I am not at ALL happy about, I think it is wrong, ~very~ wrong.


It could be either of the options you listed. Or it could even be
kids (you know how they like to ~prove~ how brave they are by doing
that kind of vandalism).

Of all of the above, I hope it is nothing more than someone
expressing their opinion in an immature way. Of any options,
the one that scares me the most is that it is some nutty Christian
(yes, a Christian can actually say that, most sadly, there are
a few Christians that are "out there").


Yes, I agree that it surprises me. The Co$ have security all over
that area, and I have to say that they are quite good, so someone was
evidently sleeping on the job.

Also, there are cameras all over the place on the Ft. Harrison, at all
angles on the sidewalks and the streets. Is this building near the
Ft. Harrison? If so, I would think that they got the perpetrators on film.


This is what is sad, that many of the residents aren't too happy
about their city being, as they feel, taken over.


Yes, and it is surely not the way to do anything positive to
aleviate a situation you have a problem with.

Of course, trying to talk to a Co$ rep in charge if you have a
problem is about an impossibility as well.

Beverly