We mentioned on Thursday that we’d been sent the latest issue of Scientology’s ‘Freewinds’ magazine, and shared some of its highlights with you. But what we didn’t tell you was that we were holding back one special treat from that publication.
This week, for our “Scientology Lit” series, we wanted to share with you the poetry of L. Ron Hubbard, raconteur and world traveler, which appeared in the magazine and that we just knew you’d want to savor all on its own.
Grab a cup of something, kick off your shoes, and enjoy the verse stylings of the Commodore. And please, let us know your thoughts after savoring these potent lines.
We are the Free People.
We have grown up.
Grown up to Freedom
Not senility.We are the Free People.
The Scientologist
Has left
Behind the claws
And barriers
Of miscontrol.We are the Free People.
Grown from out
The mud and jungle rot
Of fear,AdvertisementOur unchained minds can reach
Afar and grasp
The idea of ultimate Freedom.We are the Free People
In whom the whims
Of “I’m supposed to”
Has no rule,
On whom the scientist
Can blunt
His weighty arguments
To prove
We are not Free.Be glad, they said
Before we came,AdvertisementThat you are mad, insane,
For there is genius,
So they said.
You cannot change.
Our brand on you is fixed
Your brain is all you are
And fixed like clockwork
In a robot head.
So think, they said,
As we have said,
To think
For thought is our own
Chain and
Your ideas nil.AdvertisementDie, they said,
And live no more
And become dispossessed
So we can own.
Fall down, they said,
And worship clay
Or maybe space,
But of course wrath
And sing
Lugubrious songs
To fear or maybe
International cults that
Specialize in slaves.Believe, they said,
AdvertisementThat Man is just a slimy
Thing
Well meant
To die
Beneath the pounding of
Their bombs,
The mightiest God
They knew.The flesh, they said,
is All and you
Are but a decay
Of yourself.
And so they barriered
All men.AdvertisementThe witch and the pot
The test tube and the scope
The cell and the club
The textbook and the lies
Control!
Control them or we die!
Beat them or they win!
Starve them or we shrink.
We are afraid, afraid,
Afraid!
They said, in that old age
We killed.Freedom becks
And we,
Now laughing at their lies,
Went free.Scientology
The
Road
Sign
Out.We are the Free People.
We LIVE!
We’re Free!(From Ability magazine, November 1957)
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.
Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] When the famous war protester met Scientology: A spiritual encounter in Los Angeles
[TWO years ago] Remembering another Scientology ‘warrior’ — with the help of Mark Bunker
[THREE years ago] Now that Scientology has a TV and radio complex, will it air what Scientology really is?
[FOUR years ago] Listen to Jim Jones root for Scientology against Paulette Cooper in a 1978 Jonestown address
[FIVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology’s latest attempts to get you amped up!
[SIX years ago] Here’s Some Photographic Proof that Scientology’s “Ideal Orgs” Are Killing the Church
[SEVEN years ago] AUDIO: “Touch Me,” Creepy Scientology Goon Repeatedly Tells Protester
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,464 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,593 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,097 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,617 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 637 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 528 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,835 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,703 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,477 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,251 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,597 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,163 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,083 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,250 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,831 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,092 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,131 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,843 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,369 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,458 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,598 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,918 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,774 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,893 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,249 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,551 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,657 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,059 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,931 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,514 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,009 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,263 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,372 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 1, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
