Clearwater comes to terms. Its Scientology's mecca

[flashl]

Clearwater comes to terms with its status as Scientology's mecca

Sure, says Mayor Frank Hibbard. It can be a little unsettling sometimes - throngs of Scientologists wandering Clearwater's streets in their blue or khaki trousers and crisp dress shirts.

Sometimes, it makes the neighbors a bit uneasy.

"When you come to downtown, no one likes being a minority," Hibbard says.

But mostly, folks in this picturesque Gulf Coast city have come to accept that Clearwater is to Scientologists what Salt Lake City is to Mormons, what Mecca is to Muslims. Though not everybody is happy about it.

"I think there's been a slow shift from a very strong adversarial relationship to a tolerance," says Ron Stuart, who clashed with church officials as an editor of the now-defunct Clearwater Sun in the '70s.

I found this interesting after reading a few DU threads about religion.

[donsu]

1. I didn't realize they wore uniform clothing

nt

[flashl]

2. Oh yeah.

What little I know, if I see them first, they won't see me.

[originalpckelly]

3. They bought everyone off.

The reason they chose Clearwater way back when, is that it had a large population of elderly, and they would die off eventually and the others would slowly get used to them. That, and it's a nice warm place.

I know this from watching 4 or 5 days of testimony before the Clearwater City Council about this, from L. Ron Hubbard's son and a man involved at the highest levels of the "church".

Scientology is only a religion to those poor dear souls sucked in to following it, to the people at the top it is a money making machine. It's roots are no better than any other criminal organizations, in fact the LRH's son even said he participated in roughing up people who were practicing "squirrel tech" (i.e. practicing Scientology without paying the kickbacks.)

I used to just think it was a controversial religion, now I finally understand it's just a criminal org.

The Guardian's Office (now the Office of Special Affairs) participated in the largest infiltration of our government in it's history, even worse than any communist organization. It was called "Operation Snow White" and the head folks were all convicted of crimes in relation to it, save for LRH.

[flashl]

4. That is why I said if I saw them first

I would smarty turn around and head into the opposite direction.

[glowing]

5. On top of that... look at how much money the city loses off of property

taxes. It could be a really cool addition to Clearwater Beach... offering a nightly downtown atmosphere, shopping, restraunts and additional hotels... but, the officials were bought off, and now it is what it is.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

6. Yeah it's a bit of a tourist attraction.

They are primarily seen in downtown Clearwater which is a bit of an oxymoron. Nobody goes to downtown unless the government needs to see them or they are a Scientologist. The business end of Clearwater is located away from the downtown. (West is Clearwater beach and east are some nice office complexes.) You can live decades in Clearwater and never have a reason to visit downtown and see the show.

[flashl]

7. Ignorance alert ...

I thought Scientology chose Clearwater because of its Sea org.

[PDenton]

8. Scientologists can basicly blackmail or bribe

whomever they need in Clearwater. Including medical examiners. Another thing Clinton was wrong about, hounding Germans about their stance on Scientology. If it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it is a money-making cult.