Tuesday, June 26, 2007
A German Sense of Free Exercise of Religion
You chuckle a little at the thought of the German government banning Tom Cruise from filming on military bases there because...he's a scientologist. Yeah, it's a scary pseudo religion (although there are a few Ron Hubbard books I quite enjoyed). But there's a hidden tragedy to this. Cruise was going to play the Inspector Clouseau of anti-Hitler conspirators, Claus von Stauffenberg, whom Tom quite resembles. Now we won't get to see that person recreated in a movie tentatively titled Valkyrie (the name the conspirators gave their coup attempt).
Von Staufenberg not only muffed the famous failed bombing at the "Wolf's Lair" on July 20, 1944, but also failed in an earlier bombing attempt. In his defense, he had lost an eye, his right hand and much of his left in Africa (strafed by the RAF in 1943), so he surely was not as dexterous as he formerly had been.
Von Staufenberg not only muffed the famous failed bombing at the "Wolf's Lair" on July 20, 1944, but also failed in an earlier bombing attempt. In his defense, he had lost an eye, his right hand and much of his left in Africa (strafed by the RAF in 1943), so he surely was not as dexterous as he formerly had been.
Labels: German Religious Intolerance, Tom Cruise, WWII history; European theater
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 10:44 PM 
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"...a scary pseudo religion..."
By all appearances, Cruise and many other Scientologists hold their beliefs sincerely. Why should their beliefs be categorized as a pseudo religion, simply because you (and I) find them risible? Let's just say that that brush paints a bit wider than you seem to assume.
None of this is to say that the tactics that I've seen them quite credibly reported as using should be tolerated in a free society, but that's certainly not a comment unique to the Scientologists.
Finally, I know it's popular to hate Cruise, but I actually rather like him as an actor. His earlier movies, at least, tend to tell a story that I still care about at the end of the movie about people that I still care about at the end of the movie. Empirical proof that you don't need to be sane to be an enjoyable actor, I guess.
By all appearances, Cruise and many other Scientologists hold their beliefs sincerely. Why should their beliefs be categorized as a pseudo religion, simply because you (and I) find them risible? Let's just say that that brush paints a bit wider than you seem to assume.
None of this is to say that the tactics that I've seen them quite credibly reported as using should be tolerated in a free society, but that's certainly not a comment unique to the Scientologists.
Finally, I know it's popular to hate Cruise, but I actually rather like him as an actor. His earlier movies, at least, tend to tell a story that I still care about at the end of the movie about people that I still care about at the end of the movie. Empirical proof that you don't need to be sane to be an enjoyable actor, I guess.
It was sarcasm, Doug. I also said truthfully that I liked some of Hubbard's writing. Cruise's acting ranges all the way from A to B but it's a solid A and B. I still quote from Risky Business as the spirit moves me. Thanks for the comment. Tolerant, we MUST be tolerant.
Regarding the 1944 bombing, von Stauffenberg was going to arm 2 bombs in his briefcase but due to bad luck was only able to arm one. Hitler was shielded from that blast by a heavy oak table under which the briefcase had been place. Von Stauffenberg was later executed. A very brave man. And he does resemble Cruise.
# posted by 
: 5:57 PM
: 5:57 PM
In the earlier attempt the bomb in a wine bottle just didn't go off. He had the devil's time breaking the little flask of acid because of his injury, which slowly ate through metal and, when through, was supposed to blow up the bomb. It ate through OK--just didn't go off. He had to retrieve the wine and was sure he was going to be arrested when he did. He wasn't. Pretty brave indeed.
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