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Ear to the Ground

Cruise Not Willkommen in Germany

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Posted on Jun 25, 2007
cruise
AP Photo/John McConnico

The German government has long been aggressive in its stance against the Church of Scientology, and it has thrown down the gauntlet once again by banning the filming of a Tom Cruise movie because of the American’s religious affiliation.  Cruise will play a German military officer who tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler.


Reuters:

The U.S. actor has been cast as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the Nazi dictator in July 1944 with a bomb hidden in a briefcase.

Defence Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said the film makers “will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult”.

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By nelson, July 30, 2007 at 3:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I think that the German government is making taking the right stance on anti-religious groups. It is really there choice if they believe in maintaining dignity among the people by not allowing brainwashing fasciasts to distort the good sense of german people. I am a Christian myself and I personaly believe that everyone has he right to believe in what they want to believe in. However, I also believe that a christian community has the right to keep out perverted doctrines and anti-religious groups in order to keep the faithful from being corrupted by philosiphy, anti-religious theories and all other sorts of devilish practices. It’s too bad that our western world has already been corrupted to a point where there is little hope and love, but we can still learn much from these euroupean countries.
Way to go Germany! May God bless you and keep you on the right path!
Any one who wishes to argue my opinion, Just know this;

IF YOU DON’T WORSHIP GOD, YOU WORSHIP SATAN!

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By David R. Griffiths, July 1, 2007 at 11:16 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

The German Government now welcomes the project
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2833863320070630

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By David R. Griffiths, June 27, 2007 at 10:55 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Prejudice:  A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

Discrimination:  Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice

Freedom: The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

(source wordweb free dictionary)

If you don’t want to be served in a Government office by a black man that is prejudice.  But this is legal in Germany if you belong to some group they don’t approve.

Personally I wouldn’t buy a German car until they change their policies.

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By David R. Griffiths, June 27, 2007 at 10:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Prejudice:  A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

Discrimination:  Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice

Freedom: The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

(source wordweb free dictionary)

If you don’t want to be served in a Government office by a black man that is prejudice.  But this is legal in Germany if you belong to some group they don’t approve.

Personally I wouln’t buy a German car until they change their policies.

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By Xenu, June 26, 2007 at 6:42 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

At it’s core, Scientology is neither a religion nor a cult.  It is a worldwide criminal syndicate masquerading as a quasi-religious group. The Church of Scientology has a long criminal history involving kidnapping, extortion, illegal wiretapping of government offices, and some allege, murder or negligent manslaughter.

Several of the Church of Scientology’s past leaders have been sent to prison after being convicted of serious offenses. Banning scientology in Germany is aking to banning the Mafia. Quite justified based on their history.

For more info on Scientology’s dirty laundry:

http://www.xenu.net/

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By rage, June 26, 2007 at 3:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

LOL!

The German people have spoken. They have put up with enough Leni Refenstahl-esque propoganda. There are too many propaganda films faking as bio-pics and documentaries as it is. They just couldn’t bear the stigma of one more height-challenged, pompous, sanctimonious, pretentious, cultish hypocrit painfully inflicting himself on humanity from a perch on German soil. The poor Germans have suffered and survived enough of that madness with the whole Hitler ordeal and the Dumya assault of Angela Merkel after cussing with his food-filled mouth open at an international state function. German viewers make up a decent demographic of the Oprah audience. THEY SAW THE COUCH TRIP! They likely also saw that bit of revisionist history titled The Last Summerai, und said in unison NEIN! Hell, NEIN!

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By ctbrandon, June 26, 2007 at 3:05 pm #

Sorry but I have to ask….who gives a crap?

Dont we have bigger things to worry about in America right now? Is Tom Cruise’s movie banning in Germany going to help us turn our nation around? Time to move on to real issues.


ctbrandon
http://www.actforyourself.org

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By Jacks, June 26, 2007 at 10:35 am #

Germany is only legitimizing those that it claims to oppose.  For example, the state has criminalized Holocaust denial, which only ensures those damn bigots gain traction.

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By mlevass, June 26, 2007 at 10:32 am #

what’s the big deal about Scientology?  Do a search for Lisa Mcpherson.  Scientology’s methods of physical and mental intimidation those that have spoken out about their methods.  Harmless?  NOT.

http://www.lisamcpherson.org/

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By slave, June 26, 2007 at 12:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

They should of just banned him because he’s Tom Cruise.

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By DennisD, June 26, 2007 at 12:07 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

If Germany banned Cruise for his acting ability I could understand it. But Scientology, come on, have they banned comic books too. Who the hell takes either one seriously. OK, the artwork in some of those comics is pretty damn good.

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By Weee!, June 25, 2007 at 11:48 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Why is everyone using this as a platform for their like or dislike of religion?  Did you guys even read the article or did you just see something about religion and start going off?  We’ve got some seriously angry people here.  Holy crap people, let’s talk about how lame Tom Cruise is or like John DeWerd brought up, freedom of religion.  Pull it together people and go pout about religion on a topic that actually asks what you think about “all religion” or “cults” or whatever.

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By RAE, June 25, 2007 at 10:24 pm #

ALL religions are “cults” or at least began as “cults.” Some were just the right “message” at the right time and somehow caught hold with some critical mass (no pun intented) and expanded.

At what point a “cult” becomes a “legitimate” religion (an oxymoron if there ever was one) I don’t know. Does anyone?

Holding a “philosophy of life” OF YOUR OWN MAKING is the ONLY legitimate “religion.” All others are about a nourishing for your soul as a Big Mac is for your bloated body. Might taste/sound great, but there’s nothing there.

It’s just astounding that so many BILLIONS are so emotionally crippled they have to grab hold of some pre-digested clap trap in order to give meaning to their lives. It’s really embarrassing!

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By John DeWerd, June 25, 2007 at 7:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I am a Christian and I think Scientology is a joke; but preventing him from doing a film on the basis of his “religion” could just as well come back and burn a Christian or a Muslim. In America our givernemtn doesn’t make decision on the basis of religion. Therefore, though I don’t like Thomas Jefferson’s comments that led to the Separation of Church and state, politics makes strange bedfellows, so I canlt in good concience say that Tom should be banned from doing a film on the basis of his “religion”.

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By Tony B., June 25, 2007 at 7:59 pm #

FROM EDITOR:
“The German government has long been aggressive in its stance against the Church of Scientology, and it has thrown down the gauntlet once again by banning the filming of a movie starring Tom Cruise as Adolf Hitler’s would-be assassin because of Cruise’s religious affiliation.”

I think this would make a lot more sense to American readers if we had a freer press in this country with regards to the C.O.$.  Unfortunately, the “church” is an entirely different experience for those members whose name is not “Tom Cruise”.  And those Americans brave enough to touch on this subject are usually harrassed, sued into the ground and sometimes imprisoned. 

For more information, please look here:
http://www.clambake.org/
and here:
http://www.xenutv.com/us/broadcast.htm

Now watch as the flies are attracted to the light.
What the response truthdig and you’ll see what I mean.

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By nf, June 25, 2007 at 7:46 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Although all religions are silly, it is surprising that the Germans (a nation that is generally respected for its intelligent populace) would pick on this particular one.

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By Leefeller, June 25, 2007 at 6:43 pm #

Germany should ban Tom Cruse just for his bad acting and divorcing Nichole Kidman,  especially now since has been named as the new face of Nintendo’s latest advertising campaign

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By Weee!, June 25, 2007 at 6:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Nice editorials on your personal views on religion.  Clearly the topic of the article was “what’s your take on religion?”

You guys missed the most important point of all.  This movie MUST be made because I can’t imagine anything cooler than watching Tom cruise attempt a German accent for 2 hours.

Anyone else agree?

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By kevin99999, June 25, 2007 at 6:23 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I do not know much Scientology but the notion that you will your lose your freedom to do certain things, like making a film, if you believe in scientology or any other religion, is not only ludicrous but also a dangerous one.

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By Frikken Kids, June 25, 2007 at 4:28 pm #

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Jews are much more persecuted. 

Even though pretty much all the main religions are about the acculmulation of wealth and power by the elite of the religion, the so-called religion of scientology is much more obvious about it.  As much as I truly hate religion, calling scientology a religion is a gross insult to religions.  All governments should do whatever they can to eliminate it…denying access to a potential filming site is insignificant compared to what should be done to the scientology organization.

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By toc, June 25, 2007 at 4:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Religions and cults are exact synonyms.

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By Tomack, June 25, 2007 at 4:24 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Sounds fair…as long as they ban every other religion as well. Which would suit me just fine.

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By TDoff, June 25, 2007 at 3:50 pm #

In order to make sure we get on the right side of this squabble, we need someone to do a poll, asking:

Which religion’s ‘cultists’ are most persecuted by prejudice, Scientologists or Jews?

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