Bowdlerization
The key reference that I have found in this area is the
following:
'Edits out all snaps, pops, coughs of audience (where possible) and LRH coughs
(where possible). Cuts out any phrases which might in some way downgrade
Scientology, Scientologists or Central Organizations.'
L. Ron Hubbard. HCOPL 5 October 1959. Tape and Record Production Hat.
I haven't checked the following for myself, but Virginia in March 2001 wrote
that the 1991 edition of PDC tape 20 had a couple of deletions when compared to the 1986 edition.
(I.)
In 1991:
'Therefore, we really do have the remedy before the assault weapon is produced.'
But in the 1986 edition:
'Therefore, we really do have the remedy before the assault weapon is produced.
'Did you ever read poor old George Orwell's 1984? Yes, yes, that's wonderful.
That would be--------could be the palest imagined shadow of what a world would
be like under the rule of the secret use of Scientology with no remedy in
existence.'
(II.)
And
In 1991:
'It's a very simple remedy. And that's-just make sure that the remedy is passed
along. That's all. Don't hoard it and don't hold it.'
But in 1986:
'It's a very simple remedy. And that's-just make sure that the remedy is passed
along. That's all. Don't horde it, don't hold it; and if you ever do use any
Black Dianetics, use it on the guy who pulled Scientology out of sight and made
it so it wasn't available. Because he's the boy who would be electing himself
"The New Order." And we don't need any more new orders. All those orders, as far
as I am concerned, have been filled.'
Possibilities:
(a) The deletions may have been editorial errors of judgement. The tape in
question came out in 1991 - three years before the first volume of the more
accurate new edition of the R&D series was
released. There is
now a new CD
release of the PDC. If
anyone owns a copy of this series perhaps they could have a look and e-mail me.
(b) The deletions were probably done because of that October 1959 reference
above.
I imagine the editor decided that they downgraded (denigrated or sullied)
Scientology or Scientologists.
I consider that Ron was making a light-hearted joke in the second piece; he
didn't actually intend the students to use 'Black Dianetics' on anyone.
However he was talking to his personal advanced course students in 1953. How
will that comment come across to a student listening to
a translated version in Outer Mongolia in 2200? How do both quotes come across
right now to hostile court bodies or governments?
The October 1959 reference provides (for me) sensible textual authorization for
taking out those two short pieces.
The church has been in many court battles over the
years with groups hostile to the use of Scientology. They could well
have been used against us at some time.
Others may not agree and may want to argue the case. I'm not averse to a
somewhat more open policy on disclosing the changes that have been made. I think
it would be helpful in some instances.
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