Conference hydra::dejavu

    The File 18 Newsletter was discussed at great length in Religion, note
    192.  I believe it's quoted in the base note.  As discussed therein, I
    have some personal experience with a detective who was investigating an
    incident I had reported; I found him to be every bit a professional.  I
    personally believe a high percentage of law enforcement people in
    America deeply believe in the right of freedom of religion, and do
    their best to enforce that in their jurisdictions. 
    
    That doesn't mean witch-hunts haven't happened or won't happen again.
    
    It also doesn't mean that some practices of some people aren't illegal
    on their face.  For example, black magic, 'though I abhor it, is
    constitutionally protected in the United States, but grave desecration
    (part of the practice of some "believers") isn't. 
    
    Look to the Light; let it shine from your heart.
    
    Donald Reinke

    Reply to .0,                              
    
    Yes the file is in AITG::Religion. Press KP7 and all that jazz.
    
    Latest news is that Laruie Cabot and the WLPA got CCIN's mailing
    list and sent out information to counter their henious campaign.
    
    They seemed to drop the witch hunt for witches and took up a crusade
    against the O.T.O., of which there is more "proof" of a Satanic
    background.
    
    Now the O.T.O. went to court on this same issue recently in Calif.
    and won against some group attempting to discriminate against them
    in some way. I don't have the details on that case.    
    
    The O.T.O is _not_ Satanic at all. However Aleister Crowley did mention
    Satan alot and under different names. This causes some consternation
    among neophytes and the uninitiated. Aleitser's focus was Egyptian.
    
    A study was done by some Thelemites and presented on MagickNet that
    counted the numbers of different names of deities that Al used. Satan
    and associated names was a relatively minor occurance. Please note that
    Aleisters Satan and the Christian's Satan are not the same thing
    although the have the same "look and feel". Of course, your milege may
    vary. 
       
    There is an excellent small newsletter that comes out of Colorado
    Springs. It is the _Cult_Watch_ Response newsletter. It's run by two
    very dedicated individuals on a limited budget. It's generally about 6
    pages long and addresses things like CCIN and BADD (Bothered About
    Dungeons and Dragons). 
          
    There is some stuff going on now. Since I was published in _Green_
    _Egg_ I have received postcards from one Father James Philip Puliam of
    Richmond, Va. He asked for a $2 pamphlete and wanted to be billed. He
    didn't return the money. He then sends postcards to both myself and
    Windfire Magazine asking for one copy of everything we have. Again he
    wants to be billed. We aren't stupid. B^) 
    
    It's kinda' fun knowing that some we know are getting some attention.
    Still sometimes I get concerned about physical well being.

                        JUST THE FACTS
    
    O.K.,I'm a little confused here so if I wander please forgive me.
    
        As I understand it, note 1029 is telling us that we have here
    a group that is out to PERSECUTE any and all groups that do not
    fit into there guidelines. This to me sounds very KKKish and also
    so quite absurd. Why are any of you out there trying to defend the
    validity of such a group? This group is a bunch of assinine idiots
    who sound like their parents should not have spoiled them so much
    when they were younger. 
    
    
    thoroughly disgusted
    

    RE:  .2
    
    You lost me.  Could you expand the acronyms you used?  
    
    RE:  .3
    
    If you were confused by .2, I'm with you.  If you thought .1 (my note)
    was defending the File 18 people, it wasn't.  Let me try to re-state: 
    
    "Just because some people go on crazy witch hunts and publish drivel
    about what it doesn't mean most law enforcement officers believe what
    they say."  "Just because freedom of religion is constitutionally
    protected in the US doesn't give you license to do anything you want in
    that name of a religion." In addition, "Most law enforcement people can
    distinguish between religious freedom and illegal practices on the one
    hand, and reasonable caution and paranoid hysteria on the other."
    Finally, "Just because witch hunts have murdered and otherwise injured
    innocents in the past doesn't mean witches and the black magic they
    practice don't exist." 
    
    DR

RE:
< Note 1029.3 by LUDWIG::SADIN >
-< JUST THE FACTS >-
>    .
>    .
>    .
>    fit into there guidelines. This to me sounds very KKKish and also
>    so quite absurd. Why are any of you out there trying to defend the
>    validity of such a group? This group is a bunch of assinine idiots
>    who sound like their parents should not have spoiled them so much
>    when they were younger. 

Because they are a bunch of asinine idiots who deserve the same protection
under our constitution as any other group of asinine idiots.

Some quotes come to mind (as usual, I can't remember who said these things):

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your
right to say it." (Paraphrased...Voltaire?)

"Defend the bastards." (Accompanying a contribution to the ACLU for the defence
of Nazi activists.)

Perry

    Yes, C.C.I.N., Tex Marr and Constance Cumby have the right to say
    and write what they like. And we have the right to say and print
    what we like, all within the bounds laid out by law.
    
    The way to counter this is to write and say what you think in return.
    Our culture is based upon communication. The silent majority get's
    left out because they are silent. 
    
    Using ones rights, voicing ones concerns all contribute to the
    communication process.
    
    Everyone in this conference has access to a computer. Why not
    communicate to these people your dissatisification with a letter?
    
    I can tell you from experience the more you stand up for your rights
    under law the more you'll experience having those rights. A USSC
    justice said rights don't exist until you use them. Sad but true.

    RE:.3
    I certainly agree with  you that they would have to be a bunch of
    assinine idiots, but you can take *any* organized group of people
    in the world and *someone* will think them a bunch of assinine idiots.
    
    In light of this, I have no problems with defending their right
    to exist and speak out.  I'm not thrilled about it, though.  When
    someone starts a group based on hate, it's always a shame.  There's
    planty of better things to spend time on.