Note: This post will be updated as I have time.
It's all over the news, and all over blogs. I seem to be in the minority that agrees with Tom Cruise. The media is having a field day over this, since all the public is seeing, hearing and reading is what they choose for us to see, hear and read.
Take this article (and the accompanying quickvote). When I voted, 30504 agreed with Cruise and 68188 disagreed.
I would ask those who have disagreed, have you read any of the DSM? Have you researched the side effects of drugs like Paxil and Ritalin? Did you know that in the Columbine, Springfield OR, and more recent Minnesota school shootings, all of those kids were on psychiatric drugs?
Then there are the frightening statistics...
And with Cruise doing so much work directly with detoxification programs and children, it's not hard to see where his passion comes from--and his passions don't just include fighting the wrongful prescription of psychiatric drugs to children:
(Anyone remember September 11th?)
His areas of contribution range from mentoring and education to detoxification of rescue workers suffering from toxic exposure at Ground Zero.
Tom is the co-founder of the 911 New York Firefighters' & Rescue Workers' Detoxification Program, which uses the Hubbard Detoxification Protocol. Co-founding the first facility and covering costs for many of the patients doing the program, he is engaged in raising money to establish an additional five clinics around New York.
As for his work in education, Tom is an activist and global ambassador for Applied Scholastics International. His work includes helping Applied Scholastics establish their 100-acre international teacher training institute and headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
As well, Tom's relentless support of H.E.L.P. has changed the lives of more than 5,000 young people. For his work as a mentor for youth and as a Founding Board Member of H.E.L.P., Tom was honored by the National Mentoring Partnership with their Excellence in Mentoring Award in 2003. (Source)
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As I see it, Cruise, like so many others I know, has identified that areas of North America are becoming "quick-fix" societies... why else would so many children be put on drugs to control what is deemed over-active behaviour when how these drugs work is not even known?
Tom is the co-founder of the 911 New York Firefighters' & Rescue Workers' Detoxification Program, which uses the Hubbard Detoxification Protocol. Co-founding the first facility and covering costs for many of the patients doing the program, he is engaged in raising money to establish an additional five clinics around New York.
As for his work in education, Tom is an activist and global ambassador for Applied Scholastics International. His work includes helping Applied Scholastics establish their 100-acre international teacher training institute and headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
As well, Tom's relentless support of H.E.L.P. has changed the lives of more than 5,000 young people. For his work as a mentor for youth and as a Founding Board Member of H.E.L.P., Tom was honored by the National Mentoring Partnership with their Excellence in Mentoring Award in 2003. (Source)
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As I see it, Cruise, like so many others I know, has identified that areas of North America are becoming "quick-fix" societies... why else would so many children be put on drugs to control what is deemed over-active behaviour when how these drugs work is not even known?
Yes, there are destructive people out there, yes there are kids who drive their parents up the wall. Yes, I know of a child who is eleven-years-old, a black belt in karate who can play piano by ear and has a ton of other interests, yet who is still on Ritalin because he won't stop go-go-going. But are psychiatric drugs really the answer? Some may say yes, and certainly there are some people who appear to have been cured of their "disorders" by taking these drugs, but if one takes the initiative to think about Ritalin, which is, by definition, a trademark used for the stimulant, methylphenidate, you may stop and wonder what a stimulant can really do to kids who are already over active.
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If you want some idea of the knowledge that Cruise has on psychiatry, check out the Citizens Commission on Human Rights--of which one of the founding commissioners is Dr. Thomas Szasz, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus at the State University of New York Health Science Center and internationally acclaimed as “one of the most important writers in present-day psychiatry”. His book, The Myth of Mental Illness is described by Science Magazine as “bold and brilliant”.
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I find it frightening that so many are so quick to call Cruise "gay" and a "cult freak" because he's passionate about beliefs that, sadly, aren't mainstream.
And I think logically, if there was a genuine interest in new ideas that were being thrown around, and people wanted to know more about it, they'd go to the source of the data. So why not go to the Scientology home page and form your own opinions. If you are just rebounding off of media reports, then I know what your feelings on it will be.
For me, it’s taught me that I am responsible for my condition in life. I have the ability to do as well or as poorly as I want to do. And that, my friends, is empowering.
Humans are more able than they can imagine, and trusting in someone else to make good things happen in your life is not, I think, any way to live.
Lastly, my boyfriend was raised Roman Catholic, and when he learned that I had been raised as a Scientologist, he was interested in my personal experiences with it, not what the media reported. I had similar questions about Catholocism, and did I get all sucked into the news about alter boys being molested? No. I asked him what Catholicism was like from his perspective and what I learned from him and from being with his parents (who are both awesome people) is what formed the basis of my opinions.
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Re: Brook Shields
From a May 2005 FDA report: FDA has concluded that suicidal thinking or behavior may increase in pediatric patients treated with antidepressants, especially early in treatment. Increases in suicidal thinking or behavior due to drug can be expected in about 1 out of 50 treated pediatric patients. All patients being treated with antidepressants should be observed closely for clinical worsening and suicidality especially during the first few months of therapy and when the dose is modified. Note that, although paroxetine is prescribed for pediatric patients, it is not approved by FDA for use in pediatric patients.
The FDA is not the be-all and end-all source for drugs, but wouldn't you be concerned if someone you knew who was a new mother was taking a drug like that? I would.
It is absolutely right that it is up to people to decide for themselves, but if you have information you think could benefit them, would you not share it?
When I heard that my boyfriend's mother was going to put her child on Ritalin, I went out of my way to talk to her about it and give her information on why it is not a good idea and alternatives that she could try. She appreciated my efforts and the information I gave her. Same story with a landlady I had. I gave her the information on Ritalin and she was appreciative. In both of those instances I did not mind my own business. And I believe both those kids are better off for it. If nothing else, I showed the parents and the kids that they had a choice.
Now, I think Cruise spoke publicly about Shields and didn't talk to her directly, which he should have. But I don't believe his remarks about Paxil were based on his faith. They were based on information he has about drugs, mingled with his belief that they are not the answer.
4 comments:
Tom Cruise has to be gay... how else can you explain these erotic dreams I'm having?
My problem isn't with what Cruise said, it is him not minding his own business. If Brook Shields wants to take a drug, isn't it up to her?
I'm not fully aware of how that interchange happened, nor do I know exactly what was said, but I don't think anyone in any religion should be outright telling others what to do based on their faith. It is up to each person to decide for themselves.
I actually started an entry about Tom Cruise one day and didn't finish it. I've seen him discussed on several blogs lately. My take on it was that I found it a little sad that the greatest movie star of my generation (I guess he's my generation) has become fodder for late night talk shows because of his religious views and his exuberant love of young Katie. I think any celebrity who is public about their religious views is a target for negative attention. Look at Mel Gibson. Sure, The Passion made him a fortune but everyone thought he was crazy too. I think celebrities tend to think that their opinion is probably more important than anyone else's because they are celebrities. If I were rich and famous and everyone loved me, I might feel that way too. I do think he went a little far in pointing out Brooke Shields. Of course, you could argue that Brooke sat herself up for that by publishing a book about her depression.
I feel like I'm straddling the fence here but let me go back to my original point. I do find it disheartening that an actor whose movies have brought me years of enjoyment (and for a girl who never watches movies that's saying a lot) has become a punchline because of his heartfelt convictions.
Phil- post updated re: Brooke Shields and deciding for oneself.
Mindy- Good points. I do find it disheartening that an actor whose movies have brought me years of enjoyment (and for a girl who never watches movies that's saying a lot) has become a punchline because of his heartfelt convictions.
Though, I don't think celebrities consider their views to be more important than others, they are just perhaps very passionate about their views and choose to speak publicly about it. I don't know if its effective or not, but it sure creates an effect (although, it seems, mostly negative).
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