COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE | DECEMBER 19, 2017

About Saving the World and Those Who Discourage It

As a kid, I was raised on the principle that part of your inherent duty as a human being on this planet is to help your fellow man. I always agreed with this and feel fortunate to have grown up that way because it has given me a greater sense of purpose in my life and taught me values that, unfortunately, a lot of kids in this new generation are frankly just missing.

Helping others has always been a part of my life and that extends from just being there for someone when they need it all the way to helping strangers overcome the travails and stresses of life, just because it’s the right thing to do.

A Scientology Volunteer Minister helping a girl with a cast — A Scientology Volunteer Minister helps a young girl in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

By the time I was 13 years old, if someone asked me what I wanted to be or do when I grew up, I would’ve told them: “I want to change the world. I don’t know how yet, I just know that is what I want to do. I want to help people and I want to help this planet.” And at 15, I dedicated my life to helping others by becoming staff in my church full time. And it was the best decision I ever made.

Fast-forward 12 years and my passion remains the same but has grown. I live to help others and I do it every day. This planet is in need of change and the news is a constant reminder of this. Take what happened in Las Vegas in October, for example. It’s beyond my imagination how any human could wake up one day and carry out the actions to arrive at the moment where they gun down hundreds of innocent people. It’s horrifying and unfathomable. Yet it happened. These types of disasters break my heart. They also remind me to work harder and faster and to continue to help with the end goal of bringing peace and calm to a turbulent world. I would like to imagine that other people feel the same way—that they would like to help change the world. And yet there are some sour, sad characters out there who have the nerve to attack those who help.

As a Scientologist, I am proud to say that this is who I am and this is what I do. I help others. Every day.

I work for my church and I’m very proud of that. This hurricane season, the Church of Scientology sent hundreds and hundreds of volunteers to Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico to help survivors and victims. They brought food, water, necessities and offered solace, helped clear out debris and gave medical attention to those in need, and continue to this day. Scientology Volunteer Ministers are individuals who answered the desperate cry for help just because they are HUMAN and consider it a human right and duty to aid their fellows in times of need. That’s just simple math, right? Someone needs help and can’t help themselves—well you’re able enough, right? So help. Something can be done about it. That’s our motto. It’s also just the decent thing to do.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers clean up downtown Clearwater in the wake of Hurricane Irma — Scientology Volunteer Ministers help clean up downtown Clearwater in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

While all this disaster relief was happening, right on the heels of Irma, I was shocked to see the hateful commentary of a small minority. One person wrote: “Scientology volunteers—PR STUNT!! Money motivated.” …. Say what? Disaster relief as a “PR stunt?” Really? Anyone accusing someone who helps others remove trees from their homes and provides succor to families as being “money-motivated” must be a highly confused person. But aside from that, what kind of message is this type of person trying to put out to the world? “Help others at the risk of being shamed and accused!” That makes sense.

As a Scientologist, I am proud to say that this is who I am and this is what I do. I help others. Every day. Scientologists hail from across the globe but the one thing we all have in common is that we know the world is a crazy place and that people (no matter who they are) are in need of help. So our help is theirs and we give it freely. If we were called anything else, it wouldn’t matter. Our purpose would remain the same and that is what we would do: help others.

If someone wants to shame the criminal, the pervert, the anarchist, the lobotomist or the terrorist, by all means go ahead. It doesn’t do much of anything effective, but go ahead. It wouldn’t bother me. But don’t attack persons or groups of goodwill who are working to bring the world up into a better and safer condition.

This world is in need of more help, not hate.

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