Scientology Boasts Fraudulent FDNY "Medal of Valor"
A scandal has arisen at Scientology's NYC offices. When the local "org" dedicated a new building in 2004, a Scientologist named Stephan Hittman presented Scientology management with the Fire Department of New York's (FDNY) "Medal of Valor."
Hittman, who falsely claimed to be an "Honorary Commissioner" of FDNY, had briefly held an administrative position at FDNY. Prior to that, he had spent more than 15 years as a "special education" administrator for the New York public school system.
FDNY's "Medal of Valor" is only ever presented posthumously to firemen who have died in the line of duty. Numerous Scientology websites boast of receiving this "Medal of Valor" in recognition of the activities of Scientologists on 9/11.
n/t means "no text". In the old days on Short News the posts under the news worked like the forums, where you couldn't read the text of the post without clicking on the title. You could reply in the title and add n/t to tell people they didn't have to open the post because all it contained was "n/t" ;)
Interesting distinction. Comparing speculation of the color of someone hands to possible fraud.
I'm not usually one to shoot down someone else's religious beliefs but I've never seen you comment on anything but scientology. I'm ordinarily not the suspicious type but it does seem like you do "protest too much"
Maybe this is what Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard meant when he wrote: “A thetan from the Fifth Invader Force believes himself to be a very strange insect-like creature with unthinkably horrible hands.”(Scn. 8-8008, p. 132).
Anyway, Scientology's fraud with the Medal of Valor is a lot more significant than Katie's purple hands.
A Hubbard bulletin of 5 November 1967, 'Critics of Scientology', states, '...Never discuss Scientology with the critic. Just discuss his or her crimes, known and unknown. And act completely confident that those crimes exist....' Hubbard policy of 25 February 1966, 'Attacks on Scientology,' ...states, Scientology must respond to attacks by '...attacking the attackers only. NEVER agree to an investigation of Scientology. ONLY agree to an investigation of the attackers. This is the correct procedure: (1) Spot who is attacking us. (2) Start investigating them promptly for FELONIES or worse using our own professionals, not outside agencies ... (4) Start feeding lurid, blood, sex, crime, actual evidence on the attackers to the press. Don't ever tamely submit to an investigation of us. Make it tough, rough on attackers all the way....'
I am not expecting anything close to "true" from gossip sites or sites which allow anonymous spin-doctors to spread their fantasies. SN joined the ranks of these zombie sites a couple of months and this is just another example for it.
No, see, wee don't get that here. We left Irony about 4 years ago when I was the only practitioner. Then I gave it up because I got tired of talking too myself.
Must we go through this same procedure with every single bit of Scientology news? 1. News is posted 2. People comment opinion, negative or positive. 3. Comments then personally attack any positive comment. 4. Comments get closed, no more comments. Have a nice day.
You forgot "Scientology-bot complains that source is biased." That's usually #2 or 3, depending on on your game you guys are. It's a silly little dance, but let's get the steps right.
The above should read, "...depending on how on your game you guys are."
Admins, there seems to be a retalliatory rating here. Just why is the "Title misleading," Luana? Seems to summarize the source, your disagreement with that aside...
Hittman did not award the New York Fire Department's Medal of Valor. He awarded a Medal of Valor from the organization he was CEO of. It is an entirely separate, different organization. It does not fight fires as the NYFD does. The two are separate, independent organizations. And Hittman says so that clearly (my opinion) in his proclamation. But you would want to read the proclamation because the acronym "NYFD" is included. The news author (and the author of this presentation) both mis-state the situation.
Mr. Clarity, you referenced me (and Luna) as "scientology-bots". I assure you, I am a person and not a member of an organization dedicated to convincing you what you should think, do, or say. However, would you enjoy being similarly referred to? Have a nice day.
The guy is posing as an "Honorary Commissioner of FDNY." At that point (Sept. '04) he had already been fired from his little admin job at FDNY. Then he says (quoted from Scientology New York's page:
"THEREFORE: That FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM officially recognize this dedicated service to the citizens of the City of New York, and hereby bestow upon L. Ron Hubbard and the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology, the FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM's Medal of Valor and 9–11 Service Award — on the occasion of the Grand Opening of the New York Church of Scientology."
So, Terryeo, your incredibly weak argument is totally deflated.
"The news author (and the author of this presentation) both mis-state the situation."
Well, then perhaps you'll provide some evidence to that effect, because the printed word has a bit more authority than your say-so. Until then, the author has summarized the source accurately, and that is what we do here.
"Mr. Clarity, you referenced me (and Luna) as "scientology-bots"...would you enjoy being similarly referred to?"
I don't know. If the day should come that I'm in the midst of blazing a trail across the internet, promoting on behalf of a single entity (whatever their stated purpose, whatever my stated affiliation), I'll get back to you. For now, it would seem you two have one function and perform it more or less with mechanical precision, so I stand by my characterization.
To clarify, the term Scientology-bot could refer to your unwavering defense of Scientology in the face of criminal accusations.
That, and the fact that you never seem to address the actual story. Considering the declaration was taken straight from Scientology sources and you still claim it's false, lends itself to the behavior of a so-called Scientology-bot.
We have no doubt you're a human being however programmed you may be...
Joybucket has quoted the article. It says: "...and hereby bestow upon L. Ron Hubbard and the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology, the FDNY and the 911 PROGRAM's Medal of Valor".
Whereas if the FDNY were to bestow a medal of valor (of their own, you see), the announcement would read: "...and hereby bestow the FNDY's medal of valor".
We have different organizations, differently named, performing different functions. Both organizations have "FNDY" as part of their name. But they are different organizations.
Two different companies having four letters common to both of their names. They perform different services, they were created for different purposes. It follows that one organization can not act for the other organization. Awards from one are not awards from the other. If you wished to explore how, why, and past Valor Awards by the FDNY, you would find they usually include cash. -Your "evidence" is a VERY weak argument of semantics- I am not attempting to convince you. I am pointing out an error made by the author of this news' original article. Myself, I find it amusing when psychiatrists make such errors. Re:your search string, MomentofClarty, it made for entertainment. There, as here, no matter how politely I phrase, some become emotionally incited. Have a nice day.
Wow, Terryeo, just stop. Really. That lie was so bad it embarrassed me to have provoked you to type it. Save some face by providing a source to back it up or pretend to forget about this topic as you so often do when asked for proof.
It's why they keep on allegating "medals" to their "heroes", even after these people are arrested and led to jail. That's what happened to Hubbard, the scientology guru: he got 4 years unsuspended jail for fraud in Paris, 1978, lots suits in USA, UK, and elsewhere, but he fled, and the cult fabricated lots of new "books" presenting the old criminal guru as a "humanist", a "poet", " a musician", a "writer", a "photographer" and so on. Problem: most of his productions were between bad and VERY bad.
This isn't the first time scientologists have faked awards and honors. What about L. Ron Hubbard's mail-order Ph.D? I wonder how long before the government realizes it's only a religion for tax purposes.
"Make money. Make more money. Make others produce so as to make money . . . However you get them in or why, just do it." "Make sure that lots of bodies move through the shop," - L. Ron Hubbard.
The New York Fire department awards a few medals of valor. Very few, but it does, and those are always awarded posthumously and have usually been accompanied with a cash award to help the fireman's family. From the FDNY website, here is a photo of a few of its medals. http://home2.nyc.gov/ However, 9/11 and its recovery, involved cooperation among many organizations.
It might be historically interesting to compile them all.
This news article author, from which this short news springs, was too illiterate to understand that his conclusion is not valid.
The FDNY Medal of Valor is awarded posthumously to an individual, his family receives it and a cash award (not much, but something).
Irrelevant noise - we know they give out a medal of valor, but it's been clearly established this is not one of them. In fact, it's been so well established that you, yourself, have been trying to argue that no one ever said the FDNY awarded this medal, but a group which by some amazing coincidence happened to be using their name.
"This news article author, from which this short news springs, was too illiterate to understand that his conclusion is not valid."
Meaningless slander - you've evidenced nothing of the sort, you've just talked and talked in the hope that the reader will leave with uncertainty. When I see a dishonest defense like that, it tells me that the accuser must be on to something to provoke such a response.
Ok, I get it. You are utterly, totally convinced the articles says something that I am utterly, totally convinced it does not say. <shurg> Have a nice moment.
