Font is GeoSlab703 MdCn BT throughout, with the exception of italics,
which are in Times New Roman Italic, 11 pt., and indicated by [I]. Font
sizes are marked.  Margins are 0.6".  Page is full-justification. Text
has been adapted from the "Scientology and Racism" web pages by Ted
Mayett and Keshet, located at:
http://thingy.apana.org.au/~fun/scn/racism/

[26 pt. bold centered] Scientology and Racism

[14 pt. bold] The Big Lie: "Scientologists have taught some 1.5 million
children in South Africa how to read and learn, based on the educational
technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard"! 

[12 pt. bold] This "fact", from the Church of Scientology's booklet Fact
vs. Fiction, seems to have escaped the notice of South Africa, as
Johan Klopper of the South African Embassy makes clear in his
response to an inquiry by Tony McClelland, president of CultAware.
He states, "I am afraid their claim of teaching 1.5 million
children in South Africa to read is just another fabrication."

[14 pt. bold centered] Just another fabrication?  Why would the Church
of Scientology lie so blatantly? 

[11 pt.] The Church of Scientology (CoS) is seeking to expand within the
African American community -- a largely untapped source of new recruits
and additional revenue. The creed of the CoS begins: [I] "We of the
Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color, or creed were
created with equal rights;..." [11 pt.] A look at Hubbard's work,
considered "Source" by Scientologists, reveals the CoS's inherent racism.
Racism is not a black issue, it is a human issue: it diminishes the human
spirit, offends our sense of morality, and is an attack upon our fellow
citizens. We find Scientology's corporate racism offensive and seek to
expose the hypocrisy of the CoS's attempts to establish itself as a
"friend" of the African American community. 

Scientology describes itself as an "applied religious philosophy",
addressing humankind's mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. The
scriptures of Scientology are based solely upon the works of its founder,
L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986), and consist of writings and lectures for
almost every facet of life: education, marriage, infant formula,
controlling conversations, handling the media, attacking enemies, and
infiltrating organizations.  Scientologists accept Hubbard's words as
gospel, and are quite willing to act on them.  CoS dogma includes lying
to control people and unquestioning devotion to its founder, L. Ron
Hubbard, who expresses his racist views freely in his works. While racial
attitudes have changed greatly in the last 50 years. Hubbard's have not,
and  now cannot be changed: as the CoS's sacred scriptures, they are
immutable.  Scientology is inherently racist - the scriptures express it.
A basic component of the CoS's services is auditing (counseling
sessions), by which Scientologists can advance their spiritual condition.
But Hubbard had a "Big Auditing Problem" with South African natives, who
he says are in a "retrograded" state. 

[Times New Roman Italic 11 pt.]
"The South African native is probably the one impossible person to train
in the entire world--he is probably impossible by any human standard." 

[11 pt.] The CoS claims it opposed the white minority governments yet
Hubbard thought the problem of apartheid was overstated.  In a letter to
the South African Apartheid Government in 1960 , Hubbard praises the
South African government's handling of the black slums in Johannesburg:
"Having viewed slum clearance projects in most major cities of the world
may I state that you have conceived and created in the Johannesburg
townships what is probably the most impressive and adequate resettlement
activity in existence."  

[14 pt. bold] A Disturbing Twist on Proselytization
[11 pt.] The primary goal of the Church of Scientology is to [I] "clear
the planet". [11 pt.] According to Scientology PR, this means to clear
[I] "the planet of insanity, war and crime, and in its place create a
civilization in which sanity and peace exist." [11 pt.] It sounds
philanthropic.  However, those who do not meet Hubbard's standards are
considered valueless, and the CoS would [I] "dispose of them quietly and
without sorrow".  [11 pt.] Hubbard suggests [I] "...it is only necessary
to delete those individuals... either by processing them enough...or
simply quarantining them from the society."  [11 pt.] Those who oppose
its goals are considered Suppressive Persons ("SPs", or enemies), and
deserve the same fate.  This is an entirely repugnant notion in general
but is especially so when put forth by a "church".  

Scientology proselytization is  distinctly different from that practiced
by most other religions.  Scientology seeks to gain influence.   This
goes well beyond normal missionary efforts and has more in common with
politics or intelligence agencies than with religious conversion.  As L.
Ron Hubbard wrote, [I] "The cue in all this is, don't seek the co
operation of groups. Don't ask for permission. Just enter them and start
functioning to make the group win through effectiveness and sanity." 

[11 pt.] The CoS has an extensive history of infiltrations, both
successful and unsuccessful. It is the editors' contention that under
this doctrine, Scientology is seeking to expand within the African
American community (among others) and that the NAACP is currently a
primary target. 

[page break]

[14 pt. bold] Courting the NAACP
[11 pt.] At the 1997 NAACP Western Regional Conference in Los Angeles,
California, three awards were presented to the Church of Scientology for
its supposed support of and good works in the African American community,
particularly in the area of education: Scientologist entertainer Isaac
Hayes won for his work as the International Spokesman for the CoS's World
Literacy Crusade. Church of Scientology International President Heber
Jentzsch won for his efforts in bringing Scientology "tech" to minorities
A posthumous award went to Church of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard
as the originator of the "tech." 

The NAACP has a long and illustrious history opposing bigotry in the
United States. In the words of NAACP President Kweise Mfume: [I] "Racism,
sexism and anti-Semitism cannot and will not be allowed to enjoy a
comfortable and quiet acceptance. Bigotry, whether black or white must be
deemed as unacceptable and indefensible." [11 pt.] The editors therefore
ask how is it possible that the NAACP honors the inherently racist Church
of Scientology? 

The CoS has a strong interest in aligning itself with charitable and
social-reform organizations to enhance its image and ease its way to
"clearing the planet". Education is one of the Church's main thrusts and,
as W. E. B. DuBois emphasized, it is of great importance to minorities:
[I] "Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought
for five thousand years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most
fundamental." 

[11 pt.] In spite of proof to the contrary, the Church still maintains it
has taught one and a half million underprivileged South African children
to read. An impressive statistic, indeed, and one that the NAACP
apparently accepted at face value. After all, one does not ordinarily
expect a church to lie, and certainly not to this extreme.  

Isaac Hayes is the International Spokesperson for Scientology's World
Literacy Crusade. The goal of the WLC is laudable, [I] "to establish
community-based educational centers, where the people of the community
may gain the basic tools they need to become self sufficient and
employable," [11 pt.] and is particularly appealing in minority
neighborhoods where access to educational resources has traditionally
been limited.  The World Literacy Crusade employs Hubbard's study
technology.  It serves as the foundation of Scientology's educational
organization, Applied Scholastics, whose purpose it is to disseminate
this "technology". Although Scientology claims that it is a nonreligious
program based on common sense, CoS also recognizes education as a potent
weapon for furthering its goals, as illustrated by this quote from Impact
Magazine, a Scientology publication: 

[I] "Why is education so important? ...  The reasons are obvious. By
educating a child into one's own beliefs, one gradually takes over a
whole new generation of a country and can thus influence, in the long
term, the development and growth of that country."  

[11 pt.] Isaac Hayes is undoubtedly sincere in his beliefs, both in
Scientology and the efficacy of the World Literacy Crusade. We do
suspect, however, that the Church is using his celebrity status to gain
wider acceptance in the African American community. In his address at the
NAACP awards ceremony, Mr. Hayes said:  [I] "My real concern is
education. Our people have been held down too long. They have been given
all kinds of tags, by those who want us to believe that we cannot
achieve."  [11 pt.] Apparently Mr. Hayes is not aware of L. Ron Hubbard's
racist beliefs.  

L. Ron Hubbard has left behind a legacy of racism in his many documents
and lectures. One can argue that Hubbard was a product of his 1950s
environment and that his prejudices may be overlooked on those grounds.
Not only is this unreasonable, but the fact remains that the Church of
Scientology is bound by its sacred Scriptures.  As more minorities move
into and beyond middle-class status, the Church acquires new potential
customers to exploit. Scientology benefits doubly from aligning itself
with minorities by gaining wider acceptance among this new customer base
(thus increasing its possible sources of revenue) and enhancing its
visibility in the wider population (thus expanding its influence in
society).  The Church of Scientology's motives are completely self
serving. Its primary purpose is to clear the planet and impose its
authority worldwide. People who oppose its goals are considered
"suppressive" and Scientology would "dispose of them quietly and without
sorrow".  And it lies to accomplish its goals.

[12 pt. bold] And so we return to The Big Lie. 
[11 pt.] One and a half million underprivileged South African children
taught to read by the Church "missionaries". Even as recently as July
1998, the Church continues to propagate this particular fabrication.  It
is the ultimate irony then (and insult) that the Church of Scientology
uses African Americans to further its goals, and indeed is even honored
for it by one of the U.S.'s largest civil rights organizations, the
NAACP.
[12 pt. bold] For more information, please see:
[10 pt.] http://thingy.apana.org.au/~fun/scn/racism/
http://wpxx02.toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de/~cowen/essays/apartheid.html
http://www.xenu.net
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/comments/jrrising.html