I Think, Therefore It's True

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/20/travolta.drugs.ap/index.html

As always, more and more Scientologists are doing a great job of painting a great picture of themselves, at least partially. Let's say half of the numbers have been colored in. John Travolta had a few things to say, in an interview mind you, about psychotropic drugs:

"I don't disagree with anything Tom says," Travolta says in the July issue of W magazine, on newsstands Friday. "How would I have presented it? Maybe differently than how he did, but it doesn't matter. I still think that if you analyze most of the school shootings, it is not gun control. It is (psychotropic) drugs at the bottom of it."

"I don't want to create controversy; I just have an opinion on things, and there is nothing wrong with stating your opinion if you are asked," he continues. "Everyone wants that right, and because you are famous doesn't mean you have less of a right."

He's right. He does have an opinion. But what needs to be looked at, again and again, is how so many Scientologists are filled with and love to express OPINIONS rather than scientific fact. He said "I still think that if you analyze most of the school shootings... it's drugs at the bottom of it." Fine, I think that if you analyze the Earth's composition, you'll find a gooey marshmallow filling.

Descartes never said "I think therefore it's true." But that seems to be the tenet of famous Scientologists who, for whatever reason, be it a balance of the spiritual or fiscal nature, want to believe something and express it as fact because L. Ron or one of his closer disciples determined it to be so. It's unfortunate that the "E-Meter" they use to judge stress started out as a medical tool, because I'm sure that's something they use to feel legitimate.

John Travolta, like Tom Cruise (as much as he's trying to distance himself from Tom's image) is blatantly irresponsible. Not to say that he shouldn't be able to speak. But he shouldn't be speaking unless he understands the science of what he's saying. It's reckless, like Tom Hanks coming out and telling the world "You shouldn't be wearing cotton, because I believe it to be a fact that cotton causes AIDS." No, Tom, you're wrong. You should do your research.

Has John Travolta ever read a paper? I won't say you should always believe what you read, but it seems obvious that the most deadly school shooting in history was perpetrated by a kid who was mentally ill, who wasn't on psychotropics, and who, had he found Scientology, would at some point have gone off the deep end somewhere in Hollywood. You can't save everyone by talking to them. Me, in high school, with fantasies of fake school shootings (my daydreams consisted of me, pre-Columbine, in my trenchcoat, pulling out a toy shotgun and scaring everyone), you could have saved by talking and proper attention. I was, in fact.

But some people need extra help. Not all psychologists will flat-out dope up their patients. Yes, it happens. Yes, it can be irresponsible, as in the times many friends and relatives of mine have been diagnosed with depression and given drugs that made them arguably more suicidal. But if you find a responsible psychiatrist, you'll find someone willing to talk, to explain the problem, and to medicate only if necessary, only for balance, and only along with regular therapy, aka "Talking shit out."

Ruling out everyone in one group just isn't right. Which is why I choose to deal with some Scientologists. They aren't all retarded. But for one group to reject any other whole group so effusively implies that they feel threatened by psychologists. Let me illustrate my point thusly. If I were to go around telling everyone that "Dentistry Kills" that means I can take care of my own teeth. It doesn't mean that no one else should get fillings. And actually, upon closer inspection, I'd eventually realize I need fillings, too. Unless I try to do it myself. And making your own fillings is pretty much nuts.