Somebody I work with commited suicide last night. I didn't know him very well though. Some people were pretty bummed, and a few people went home when they found out. Personally, if it was what he wanted, I don't see any point in feeling bad about it. If he felt bad enough about his life to make the decision to end it, who's to say it wasn't the right decision.
However great a man's fear of life, suicide remains the courageous act, the clear-headed act of a mathematician. The suicide has judged by the laws of chance-so many odds against one that to live will be more miserable than to die. His sense of mathematics is greater than his sense of survival. But think how a sense of survival must clamour to be heard at the last moment, what excuses it must present of a totally unscientific nature.
- Graham Green
Today I ran into Deborah Jurt, the Director of Special Affairs of the Church of Scientology of Alberta, and we had a bit of a chat.
It seems they've recently found about about my Everything Alberta site, I'm suprised it took them so long. She mentioned that somebody had shown her the site recently and she had seen a post I made on the site about the American Family Foundation conference that's happening in June. She wanted to know if I was going and I told her I was. She said she was thinking of going but wasn't sure if she could afford it.
Then she asked if I had posted anything on the internet recently about Scientology, and I mentioned the review I wrote on this site of A History of Man. I mentioned how bizarre I thought the book was, and she actually agreed with me that it was "really out there, isn't it?". Yes, she really said that. She dismissed the book as being not really a part of Scientology's teachings, just L. Ron Hubbard's opinions on evolution. She did admit that she could understand how people may not have a good impression of Scientology after reading the book.
Then I mentioned that I saw a book on display in the front window that I wouldn't mind buying. It was a very old printing of Introduction to Scientology Ethics, and they were selling it for $3.50. She recommended that I read the newer version that is in the Library instead, as it has had things added to it. However apparently it has also had some controversial statements removed as well, so I wouldn't mind reading the older copy. She said she'd think about weather or not she would be willing to let me buy a copy, and suggested I give her a call in a week or so.
Here's a few quotes from Introduction to Scientology Ethics:
"Suppressive acts are clearly those covert or overt acts knowingly calculated to reduce or destroy the influence or activities of Scientology or prevent case gains or continued Scientology success and activity on the part of a Scientologist. As persons or groups that would do such a thing act out of self-interest only to the detriment of others, they cannot be granted the rights ordinarily accorded rational beings"
"If you were to weed out of your past by proper search and discovery those anti-social persons you have known and if you then disconnected, you might experience great relief.
Similarly, if society were to recognize this personality type as a sick being, as they now isolate people with smallpox, both social and economic recoveries could occur. "
"Don't let your party down. By whatever means, keep them on the route. And they'll be free. If you don't, they won't."
"People have following the route mixed up with 'the right to have their own ideas.'
I saw a good movie today called Goodby Lenin. It's about a proudly socialist woman in East Germany who, in October 1989, has a heart attack and falls into a coma for eight months. During those eight months, the Berlin wall comes down and capitalism takes over the country. When she awakes, the doctor tells her son Alex that his mother's heart is so weak than any shock could kill her. So Alex takes his mom home and sets up an elaborate plot to keep her from finding out about all the changes that have taken place.
There was only about five people in the theatre, which is pretty pathetic for a Sunday matinee, and it being the only screen in town the movie is playing at. It's a shame more people aren't interested in movies like this.