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Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 12:39 PM

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/st...toryid=3435998
Cruise 'not welcome' in Paris

From correspondents in Paris
July 12, 2005

THE Paris city hall has pledged not to make US actor Tom Cruise an
honorary citizen - because of his membership of the Church of
Scientology.

In a debate late yesterday, the Socialist-controlled municipal
assembly approved a resolution "never to welcome the actor Tom Cruise,
spokesman for Scientology and self-declared militant for this
organisation".

Last month on a promotional tour for his film War of the Worlds, the
43-year-old star chose the Eiffel Tower to propose to girlfriend Katie
Holmes. He was also made an honorary citizen of the southern French
city of Marseille.

Like many other European governments, the French authorities view
Scientology - founded in the United States in 1954 by science-fiction
writer L. Ron Hubbard - as a dangerous cult.

Cruise was described as a "sect-symbol" by a Socialist deputy.

Goldfinger · Jul 12, 2005, 12:43 PM

Yeah, duh. Sects are illegal.

turtle777 · Jul 12, 2005, 12:58 PM

Right on, Paris. You haven't completely lost your mind

-t

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 12:59 PM

Tom is beginning his downward spiral.

TETENAL · Jul 12, 2005, 01:00 PM

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=169630

Eighth rule of the Political Lounge: No posting and running. Give an opinion, your slant, anything in regards to what you're posting. Simply posting a news story and no context or direction is not conducive to fostering discussion. Avoid it.

ps:
Goldfinger, no, sects are not illegal.

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 01:02 PM

TETENAL, this isn't the PL.

Look above.

turtle777 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Eighth rule of the Political Lounge: No posting and running. Give an opinion, your slant, anything in regards to what you're posting. Simply posting a news story and no context or direction is not conducive to fostering discussion. Avoid it.
.

Well, technically, Zimpi did not violate that rule. He posted in the Lounge, not PL

-t

turtle777 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Zimphire

TETENAL, this isn't the PL.

2fast4me

-t

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 01:06 PM

Yeah and this really isn't about France. Nor it it political.

It's just another excuse to post really funny pics of Cruise.

Eug Wanker · Jul 12, 2005, 01:07 PM

So why is this not in the political lounge?

It's political considering it's about Paris' legislation against a religion and its representatives.

Originally Posted by Zimphire

It's just another excuse to post really funny pics of Cruise.

Post a funny Tom Cruise pic and I may just forgive you...

turtle777 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

So why is this not in the political lounge?

Because it's about a lognut called Tom C.

-t

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Post a funny Tom Cruise pic and I may just forgive you...

Wiskedjak · Jul 12, 2005, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Zimphire

Tom is beginning his downward spiral.

Agreed. I've no problems with his believing in Scientology, but I do think using his career to promote his beliefs will end up hurting his career. Already, people are blaming War of the Worlds poor performance on his proselytizing.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:28 PM

I think he blew a gasket.

nath · Jul 12, 2005, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Zimphire

Wow. It's a bit like watching the video for 'Club Tropicana' these days and wondering how the hell nobody in the 80s seemed to suspect that George Michael was gay.

angelmb · Jul 12, 2005, 01:29 PM

So Parisians are going to love this t-shirt

I found it here

paul w · Jul 12, 2005, 01:30 PM

That's just awesome. I'd like to see US politicians being more outspoken about Scientology.

kmkkid · Jul 12, 2005, 01:32 PM

I thought all cruise posts were to be kept in one thread?

Not that I care, but ibl.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:35 PM

buggsuperstar · Jul 12, 2005, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Yeah, duh. Sects are illegal.

it's illegal to have sects with underaged girls.

mitchell_pgh · Jul 12, 2005, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

Agreed. I've no problems with his believing in Scientology, but I do think using his career to promote his beliefs will end up hurting his career. Already, people are blaming War of the Worlds poor performance on his proselytizing.

No, it will destroy it.

People don't like watching a religious zealot on the big screen. His "Today" interview was what I officially turned on him. The same thing happened to political wingnuts as well. Woody Harrelson, Tim Robbins, etc. etc. tent to top my crazy list.

Hawkeye_a · Jul 12, 2005, 01:42 PM

Im actually surprised someone would find that information. who cares what's up in his head ? he does a good job as an actor, and thats all im willing to judge him on...his personal life and religious beliefs have no bearing on me whatsoever, and i couldnt care less about the personal lives, beleifs and whereabouts of celebrities, politicians, etc.

Goldfinger · Jul 12, 2005, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

ps:
Goldfinger, no, sects are not illegal.

I always thought they were illegal over here, but whatever. Tom's a 'tard.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:48 PM

He should keep his beliefs to himself.

- Dixie Chicks
- Woody "Where did he go?" Herrelson (sp)
- Tim "wacko" Robbins
- Barbara Streisand
- Jane Fonda

It's when these celebreties who make a living off of patronage, should keep their opinions to themselves. They are going to offend their customers. That is what is wrong with that. They don't understand who is paying their bills for them.

Where is Metalica now btw? They stuck themselves with the Napster thing. Idiots and hypocrits. They made themselves based on shared music.

What you say to people who patronize your work matters.

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Im actually surprised someone would find that information. who cares what's up in his head ? he does a good job as an actor, and thats all im willing to judge him on...his personal life and religious beliefs have no bearing on me whatsoever, and i couldnt care less about the personal lives, beleifs and whereabouts of celebrities, politicians, etc.

He brings his personal life and religion into interviews and belittles others for having a different opinion. Hence his bash on Brooke Shields.

That is what made him unpopular.

ASIMO · Jul 12, 2005, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

No, it will destroy it.

People don't like watching a religious zealot on the big screen. His "Today" interview was what I officially turned on him. The same thing happened to political wingnuts as well. Woody Harrelson, Tim Robbins, etc. etc. tent to top my crazy list.

As a tangent to your "crazy list," (because quite frankly, I doubt that they are even aware of such a list) are they not permitted to espouse their opinions in whichever social status they may be? Are you suggesting that their political views were formed after reaching celebrity status? Stardom should render them mute?

It would be interesting to find out the rest of the "etc. etc." Inquiring minds want to know.

Millennium · Jul 12, 2005, 01:54 PM

I thought Scientology was officially recognized as a benign religion in France, as opposed to a cult. I'd heard that they got official recognition back in the mid-1990s.

Maybe my data is old or something?

Sherwin · Jul 12, 2005, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

he does a good job as an actor

No he doesn't. He does a good job as a movie star - he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. Much like Sean Connery is always Sean Connery, Tom Cruise is always Tom Cruise.

But he's got OK taste in women.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 02:03 PM

Tom Cruise is gay. Just watch "Top Gun" again with that in mind.

/

I have a gay cousin and until he came out of the closet, he always had a 'girlfriend' at events... it was painfully obvious there was never anything going on between them...

mitchell_pgh · Jul 12, 2005, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by ASIMO

As a tangent to your "crazy list," (because quite frankly, I doubt that they are even aware of such a list) are they not permitted to espouse their opinions in whichever social status they may be? Are you suggesting that their political views were formed after reaching celebrity status? Stardom should render them mute?

It would be interesting to find out the rest of the "etc. etc." Inquiring minds want to know.

I don't have a problem when celebrities voicing their opinions. They all do it. But you get on my "crazy list" when you no longer seem teathered to reality.

mitchell_pgh · Jul 12, 2005, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by budster101

He should keep his beliefs to himself.
Where is Metalica now btw? They stuck themselves with the Napster thing. Idiots and hypocrits. They made themselves based on shared music.

They were gone long before Napster... but that was the last nail IMHO.

"We are for the little guy... that's why we support the RIAA"

BasketofPuppies · 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by budster101

Where is Metalica now btw? They stuck themselves with the Napster thing. Idiots and hypocrits. They made themselves based on shared music.

Agreed. I think everything should be free. After all, intellectual property costs nothing to produce or promote.

Seriously, Metallica still encourages people to record and trade its live performances. It's when you make its studio recordings freely available over the Internet that they sue.

Metallica's last album went double platinum in the United States, by the way.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 02:11 PM

Maybe that was their motivation then? They were in the dumpster and needed something to get them going. Maybe they can have a "REALITY TV SHOW" and interview new lead singers or DRUMMERS.... oh wait some other band is doing that. INXS. How were they doing before this proposed show?...

Gotta love it.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

Agreed. I think everything should be free. After all, intellectual property costs nothing to produce or promote.

Seriously, Metallica still encourages people to record and trade its live performances. It's when you make its studio recordings freely available over the Internet that they sue.

Sorry, but music sales were going UP because of Napster, not down.

BS. People where sharing music long ago by exchanging tapes of records, and it increased the sales and popularity of the band.

Who said anything about "studio recordings" ?
On Napster?

What bitrate?
Just silly.

BasketofPuppies · Jul 12, 2005, 02:16 PM

Overall music sales were up during Napster's reign, but sales around college campuses dropped to next to nothing.

Or maybe you're not willing to admit you're a thief.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 02:20 PM

I'm not a thief.

I never downloaded anything from napster, after they were shut down.
I did discover some great bands that otherwise I would never have heard of, and have purchased their entire albums. Why do you think you can get CD samplers for 1 penny at Borders Book Stores. FREE WORKS.

I always patronized the bands that I did download, or deleted the songs that I didn't. I only keep what I PAY FOR.

EDIT: You added the College Campus thing.

But, they were mass downloading and keeping the music. SO WHAT? Sales were UP. UP. UP.
Who cares if college students downloaded their music? What do you think they'll do when they graduate? It's called an investment in a future BUYER. It works. The model of giving away now for future sales and patronage.

YOU KEEP EDITING YOUR POSTS.

So, Metallica's last album went double platinum. I guess Napster worked eh?

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by budster101

Maybe that was their motivation then? They were in the dumpster and needed something to get them going. Maybe they can have a "REALITY TV SHOW" and interview new lead singers or DRUMMERS.... oh wait some other band is doing that. INXS. How were they doing before this proposed show?...

Gotta love it.

Yeah... wonder if they will make him choke himself to death while masturbating.

Eug Wanker · Jul 12, 2005, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

I thought Scientology was officially recognized as a benign religion in France, as opposed to a cult. I'd heard that they got official recognition back in the mid-1990s.

Maybe my data is old or something?

This is not a politics thread. Consider yourself warned.

Originally Posted by Zimphire

I mean funny haha, not funny odd.

Originally Posted by angelmb

That's more like it.

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 02:37 PM

Better?

Eug Wanker · Jul 12, 2005, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Zimphire

Better?

Yes, quite.

DeathMan · Jul 12, 2005, 02:43 PM

I'm not a Metallica fan, but most people I know hated St. Anger. Lots of sucky albums go double platinum. Metallica is establishment, and its fans are anti. Its hard to keep a fanbase happy that way.

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 02:45 PM

I remember when the "Master of Puppets" album and tape came out.

On the cover it had a sticker that said "Not one MTV hit or video"

And they were proud of it.

Ah, how times have changed.

Weyland-Yutani · Jul 12, 2005, 03:00 PM

Scientology can help you with...

*Unhappiness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression
*Trouble Thinking Clearly
*Personal Well-being
*Marriage
*Children
*Helping Others
*Integrity, Honesty, Right and Wrong
*Communication
*Job Productivity, Achieving Goals, Financial Success
*Living in a Dangerous Environment
*Drug and Alcohol Problems
*Education and Learning
*Personalities, Emotions and How to Deal with Others

I think we have a winner here folks!

cheers

W-Y

Zimphire · Jul 12, 2005, 03:01 PM

Yes, it can help you get rid of all those things listed.

budster101 · Jul 12, 2005, 03:02 PM

Looks like he needs to work on that list for himself some more.

- Marriage (How many times has he been married?)
- Thinking Clearly (Oprah show)
- Dealing with others...

Weyland-Yutani · Jul 12, 2005, 03:03 PM

On a sidenote, what the heck is the connection with the Christian Cross and scientology??

seems like a cheap shot

cheers

W-Y

James L · Jul 12, 2005, 03:46 PM

Not to detract from the Tom Cruise bashing, which is always fun, but:

Metallica is anything BUT gone or washed up:

Their last album sold millions of albums worldwide.

Their last tour was sold out.

Their Some Kind of Monster DVD, released last year, has also sold extremely well, and was an official selection at dozens of festivals and movie events, such as the Sundance Film Festival.

Sorry, but anybody who pays any attention to the record industry at all knows that Metallica is far from over, and that it has one of the most loyal fan bases out there.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Tom Cruise bashing....

Sherwin · Jul 12, 2005, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Weyland-Yutani

Scientology can help you with...

*Unhappiness, Stress, Anxiety, Depression
*Trouble Thinking Clearly
*Personal Well-being
*Marriage
*Children
*Helping Others
*Integrity, Honesty, Right and Wrong
*Communication
*Job Productivity, Achieving Goals, Financial Success
*Living in a Dangerous Environment
*Drug and Alcohol Problems
*Education and Learning
*Personalities, Emotions and How to Deal with Others

* Getting hot chicks who're taller than you.

sanity assassin · Jul 12, 2005, 04:10 PM

It's the nature of the films for "stars" to have a certain longevity. Over promoting religious or political views can be the death of you, but not always.

Johnny Depp keeps going from strength to strength in view of his very anti-American opinions. Same with Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, etc. Tim Robins is also doing fine, he just happens to be in movies that many might not consider mainstream.

So, if one person thinks they are "wackos" because they can't square up with their opinions, many will show you the door and say you are the nutball.

Here's my list of those who trod on the religious/politicalk path but to the dismay of the public.

Charlton Heston
Stryper (fcuked up Christian band)
Jonny Hart (cartoonist who became a fundamentalist Christian and ended up getting the boot from the papers due to the overt Christian tone his pieces took on)
Ted Nugent.

etc.

Millennium · Jul 12, 2005, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

This is not a politics thread. Consider yourself warned.

It wasn't my intent to get into a political argument; I'm honestly curious. If France still recognizes Scientology as a benign religion, then it would seem very unusual of the French government to someone this way based on being a Scientologist. Have they reversed their position on Scientology or something?