Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Germany Defense Ministry bars Tom Cruise

No, Tom Cruise is not a terrorist, but I think he is technically a victim of religious discrimination:


BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- Germany has barred the
makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German
military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist, the Defense
Ministry said on Monday.
Cruise, also one of the film's producers, is a
member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not
recognize as a church. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a
charge Scientology leaders reject.
The decision drew a sharp response from
Cruise's film producing partner, Paula Wagner, chief executive of United Artists
Entertainment, who said Cruise's "personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on
the movie's plot, themes or content."
The U.S. actor will portray Colonel
Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the
Nazi dictator in July 1944 with a bomb hidden in a briefcase.
Defense
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."



Interesting... Now in my experience reading Scientologist literature and speaking with practicing Scientologists, the money emphasis has given me the feeling that this group is one of the more exploitative Religions... All accounts that I've heard refer to paid Scientology instruction, as opposed to free bible study groups, open pagan potlucks, etc.

Even if he is a part of a "Cult," I have a problem with a country's Defense Ministry barring an individual from working as an actor on site because of their religion... They cite their desire for an accurate portrayal of the film's protagonist, but of course such reasoning wouldn't have been used if Cruise was playing Hitler! (No, only REAL Nazi's can play him!) Both Tom Cruise and Scientology creep me out for many reasons, but I still don't like this....

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