Marika, you don't sound flip to me. That is a legitimate question and I will try to answer it seriously.
I for one will never sign an affidavit that accuses people of unprosecutable crimes. But hey, that is me. I have been doing my thing for almost as long as there has been a here and am a very active program critic. I just don't choose to reduce to writing things that I don't see helping my cause or my direction.
Since you are new around here, I will answer the inevitable question; What is my direction?
Prevention of the Seed copycat programs.
Historical references and facts.
Two way dialogue between me and current incarnations of the cult.
Media contacts and stories.
Editorial responses and Message board responses.
Helping parents understand.
Helping recent graduates and drop outs come to terms with what happened to them.
Stopping the abuse of teenagers thru education.
Helping victims of the cult that find my forum 30 years later.
Finding answers.
Helping survivors find direction.
Exposing the program as a cult in the open media.
I am happy to do these things to the best of my ability at my own discretion. I give and so far have got back more.
Your direction may be to call amnesty international, write your senator and to prepare affidavits. Go ahead.
You are also free Write a letter to BCBS and outline why they shouldn't do business with SAFE. When and if you are sued for Libel, the court is going to ask you what DIRECT evidence you have that these things occured. All heresy will be disallowed. Occurances at corporations unaffiliated will not be allowed. Accusations of cultic behavior will have to be proven with a perponderance of the evidence. Defending yourself could cost you untold thousands of dollars. I say these things not to discourage you but instead to help perhaps get people off of the wrong track.
I sat in federal court recently for a motion to dismiss at the bequest of a parent of SAFE that had filed a lawsuit for the very things we alleged happened at all of the programs. Another close friend of mine filed a friend of the court legal brief that resembled a book explaining the connections to the Straight the Seed...all the way back to the synanon. This was good research... the best we have. The judge acknowledged he was in receipt of it, said it was "strange" and nevertheless inadmissable.
The very same research the judge refused to look at has spawned countless media outlets to know the truth. If you doubt this, type Mel Sembler,DFAF, or The Straight into your web browser. See all that negativity? It did not exist before this effort started. It is the direct result of a handfull of people that have relentlessly worked to spread the word. This documentation, mostly gathered and organized by Wes Fager and Ginger, is very carefull to not accuse places like SAFE with crimes and behavior that cannot be documented but rather introduces the reader to the docuemented evidence and draws a correlation between the methods and genesis of these programs. This is the power of the truth and the correct way to proceed. If you further doubt the effectiveness of the truth, keep an eye peeled to the horizon because something special is coming soon to your favorite magazine rack. I feel honored to have played a part in that effort.
Back to the topic at hand, Something I have always said is don't do anything without your eyes open. Sending a letter with the intent on interfering with a business relationship in my opinion is an invite to serious legal issues. You damn well better be prepared to defend what you write and demonstrate why you did it in court and be prepared to either hire an attorney and/or defend yourself.
Maybe you don't care and have nothing to lose. That describes several people I know that are stirring the pot to the best of their ability. If this describes you, I say have a ball. If it doesn't, think carefully before doing anything.
That my friend is free advice. Take it for what it is worth to you.
BTW, my attorney friend Fuelaw gave some serious advice about the affidavits, one being that in their current incarnation they are legally worthless except as a weapon against you in a libel suit. It kind of reminds me of the time I collected 500 signature for a new ball field (I was the founder and commissioner of the local little league) only to find out I did it wrong and the county wouldn't accept them. These are tough lessons to learn but denying the fallacy of your ways is even more foolhardy.
I think that all right-thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary, decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I'm certainly not! But I'm sick and tired of being told that I am!
-- Monty Python
