March 14, 1998 - Deep Wog

The local Toronto, CANADA cell of the ARSCC(wdne) pulled off a ~5 hour picket of Org on Yonge Street. The mission is complete, the elite corps picket-hardened protestors are now relaxing at home, soothing their aching knees and hips. It is now time to recall the highlights:

1. The picket was 'officially' set to start at 14:00 local. However, our marshall -- the indefatigable Gregg Hagglund -- had notified the local constabulatory a small group would be present from 10:00 local to 13:00 as well. We took the Org by surprise! There was the usual panic, but it didn't last for long. I think of greater impact was on their schedule: I would bet they had re-arranged whatever internal machinations such that the poor 'normal' members would not be exposed to the picket from 14:00 to 17:00. Hence, more than a few members had to endure a taste of our picket signs as they arrived in the morning. Some of them audibly sniffing in derision! But could we have caused an unwashable stain of doubt? One can always hope.

2. Initial Org response was a single female handing out leaflets. She didn't look well; and was somewhat underdressed for the occasion (a ratty looking knee-length grey coat). And she was dreadfully outnumbered: she was up against four highly trained SP's, all well prepared for a lengthy stay. A nasty, brutal pox on the doorknob who assigned her that role! I later photograph her (albeit, after she began receiving some backup), trying to emphasize her isolation.

3. The later Org response team is a frantic female, desperately trying to attract attention by waving around a clipboard, handing them propoganda and if the mark slows or stops, she starts moving to the door to the Org, hoping the person will follow along and take the "free personality test". If these are typical cult body-snatching techniques, we finally have an explanation as to why Operation Foot Bullet is proceeding so well! Backing her up are 4 sullen looking males, who just stand around and glare at people.

4. Excellent public response. Countless acks, thumbs up, etc. Xenu and Dy'n Ethics phamplets are handed out in bulk at times. I think I was doing about 2 phamplets every 5 minutes or so -- maybe ~100 in total for me.

6. Cult attempts to hand out leaflets up and down stream of the Org. I find it makes my job all the easier, so I ain't complainin'!

7. A guy walks by the org. He doesn't look very interested in whats going on, so I leave him alone. But as he passes me, he loudly horks up a huge goober and lets it fly -- landing on the Org/sidewalk border near the main entrance. A fellow SP, who also witnessed this, comments: "He should attest SP1 !!"

8. I spook Gregg a bit when I entertain a nut for too long. But he was justborderline nutcase; I could tell there was something there to find. After five minutes, I finally realize that his argument was that ideologies are not bad, people are. I suppose. But as has been remarked in alt.religion.scientology, "ideas have consequences". If they didn't, what would be the point?

9. Cult members are camera shy! The frantic woman trying to route people into the personality tests didn't like her picture being taken. No sir! Another ARSCC(wdne) member reported to me that one of the down-stream leafleters scurried away at the sight of his digital camera! For some reason, the image of cockroaches running from light leapt to mind. I play a game of chicken with the video-recorder guy. I take pictures of him recording me, while he records me taking pictures of him. A guy with a polaroid thinks he sneaks up on me to get a profile shot of me and my big nose; I let him get away with it. Like, as if I care? How many pictures of me do they need, anyways? Hypothesis: the proclivity of picture taking on the cults part is their attempt to manifest fear in us, on the faulty belief that we will be as terrified as they are when a lens is aimed at them.

10.I take to photographing the cult leaflets people have dropped on the sidewalk. Especially ones that have been stepped on with nice dirty boots. I think I capture some good compositions. The super-wide angle lens helped alot in this regard.

11.Try as I might, I could not locate a Xenu or Dy'n Ethics phamplet that was littering the sidewalk. Whatever could this possibly mean?

12.The north end of the 2nd floor of the Org looks like it is some kind of classroom. Today, the windows were covered in transluscent plastic, preventing a clear view outside. Wonder why? The Rev. Buttnor made an appearance in a feeble attempt to get Gregg to stop using his megaphone. Could this be because sound can make it through the new plastic film just fine? About 10 minutes after the picket, I note a large exodus from the org. All clear finally sounded? I'm beginning to wonder what the reaction would have been had we started picketing at 10:00 with some messages suggested by The Worm back in November: "The entire bridge is on the Internet. You don't have to pay anyone for it" "Scientology. The Rich Person's religion" "Only the idle rich can afford Scientology". "90% of your contributions are going toward legal fees. Outpoint?" Hypothesis: the Co$ doesn't care too much about the impact of pickets on the rest of society COMPARED TO the potentially devastating impact they may have on their current members. Question: if true, would it be ethical to embark on such a picketing campaign?