Original source: http://www.scientology-kills.org/celebrities/cruise_news.htm
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The Cruise-Lauer Interview Transcript (Parody)
Lauer: Welcome to the show, Tom. You've sure been in the news a
lot lately, proposing to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower,
jumping around on Oprah's couch, getting squirted in the face by
guys with fake microphones...
Cruise: What are saying, Matt? Are you saying I've gone
bonkers...I mean, that allusion to 'couch' is pretty subtle but
I get it. I'll tell you something, Matt. I'm just fine. Sure, a
bunch of jealous people are saying maybe I've gotten a little
weird but they don't know me. I've always been this way. Those
Hollywood producers used to tell me, 'don't talk about this,
Tom' or 'don't talk about that.' Well, I'm sick of it. I'm the
richest movie star alive and the American people wouldn't have
made so rich if I were a crazy man, now would they?
Lauer: Of course not. I'm not saying that, Tom, I just mean
you've been very busy...
Cruise: See, now you're implying that I'm manic. Maybe you think
I should take some ritalin like they're forcefeeding children in
our schools. Do you know the history of ritalin? Do you know
what it does? I read the research papers. I'm not just some
pretty boy Hollywood dummy.
I was just browsing through Ramos, Bakhtier, Majumdar, Hayes and
Tse's "Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization tandem mass spectrometry enantiomeric separation of
dl-threo-methylphenidate using a macrocyclic antibiotic as the
chiral selector" paper this morning. Have you read it? Of course
you haven't.
I haven't finished it yet but there some pretty scary stuff in
there. Did you know that ritalin can cause panlobular emphysema?
Did you know it can make you vulnerable to decreased dopamine
brain activity? Smarten up, Matt. Read the literature.
Lauer: Well, now that you mention drugs. There was some
controversy about your remarks about Brooke Shields taking
antidepressants for post-partum depression.
Cruise: No controversy, Matt. I'm right and she's wrong. What
does she know? She was married to that tennis player and she
hasn't had a hit movie since she was naked in that French guy's
picture when she was twelve-years-old and don't get me started
on what kind of mother...
Lauer: Okay, okay, let's talk about a safe subject. Your new
film, "War of the Worlds," is based on H.G. Wells' great science
fiction masterpiece...
Cruise: There it is again, Matt. You're saying that Scientology
is some kind of wacko cult just because it was started by a
science fiction writer. Well, Christianity was started by a
crazy guy with a beard who walked around in sandals turning
water into wine.
I really feel sorry for you, Matt. You're just a glib guy who
sits here every morning and pretends to know stuff. Have you
read "Effects of Methylphenidate on Paired-Associate Learning
and Porteus Maze Performance in Emotionally Disturbed Children?"
I swear to God, Matt, you wouldn't be able to eat lunch at Per
Se after you read it. Don't you care what all this stuff is
doing to us. Scientology is saving the world, man.
Lauer: Tom, please, lighten up a little...
Cruise: Okay, that's it. Now you're saying I'm gay. I'm out of
here.
Full Version: The Cruise-Lauer Interview Parody
Haha. Not too far off from the clip I watched.
Tom Cruise whispering desperately... "Matt... Matt... you don't know the history of psychiatry... I do."
What a freakin' dork.
Tom Cruise whispering desperately... "Matt... Matt... you don't know the history of psychiatry... I do."
What a freakin' dork.
Matt should have made him give a 20 minute presentation on the history of psychology on the spot. I mean, it would've been boring as hell, but at least it would've called him out on his crap.
I've read the transcript. I've read the parody. The main difference is that the transcript is longer.
Other people are giving Tom crap over being a pompous celebrity ass, or his undignified behavior, or (occasionally) the ick factor of his pairing with Katie Holmes, greatly boosted by the TomKat mystery. What bothers me is his apparent belief that everyone with a mental illness would do better if they quit their meds, took proper vitamins, and studied Scientology instead.
If I were to quit my meds, I'd likely make a still bigger mess of my life, but chances are I'd be able to slog along an erratic path for a few more years before something realized I REALLY needed help. I know other people who aren't quite so fortunate. Chronic major depressives who cannot get out of bed without help, who lose the will to chew, who retreat into catatonia. Friends whose mania is awesome in its destructive power. A schizophrenic relative. Self-injurers who have endangered their lives. Friends with seemingly inescapable eating disorders which have relented in the face of SSRIs. To have this admired member of the american film community say all of psychiatry is an unscientific scam risks certain individuals dropping their lifesaving psychiatric medications, and could easily damage the public understanding many MI individuals have worked to further.
I appreciate the value of natural medicine, but for many disorders it isn't enough. I've tried it. My friends have tried it. We've concluded that we feel better than when we live "normal" lives, but our various disorders defy nutritional treatment. There is no supplement which will even out the debilitating mood swings of bipolar disorder. You cannot yoga your way out of mania. If we could, we would, because we very well know the risks associated with our medications. There are risks associated with other illness' treatments, as well. When it comes down to the choice between sanity or insanity, (sometimes) dangerous medications and a high risk of suicide, we choose sanity and life. Alternative treatments can help, but they aren't the whole (or even the central) cure.
Meds are imperfect, and they certainly aren't the only component to healing, but they are very important and very necessary for many of us. Cruise's belligerent ignorance is offensive and dangerous. Will a one-woman boycott make much difference? No. But I can't stomach the thought of furthering his success by one more penny.
Other people are giving Tom crap over being a pompous celebrity ass, or his undignified behavior, or (occasionally) the ick factor of his pairing with Katie Holmes, greatly boosted by the TomKat mystery. What bothers me is his apparent belief that everyone with a mental illness would do better if they quit their meds, took proper vitamins, and studied Scientology instead.
If I were to quit my meds, I'd likely make a still bigger mess of my life, but chances are I'd be able to slog along an erratic path for a few more years before something realized I REALLY needed help. I know other people who aren't quite so fortunate. Chronic major depressives who cannot get out of bed without help, who lose the will to chew, who retreat into catatonia. Friends whose mania is awesome in its destructive power. A schizophrenic relative. Self-injurers who have endangered their lives. Friends with seemingly inescapable eating disorders which have relented in the face of SSRIs. To have this admired member of the american film community say all of psychiatry is an unscientific scam risks certain individuals dropping their lifesaving psychiatric medications, and could easily damage the public understanding many MI individuals have worked to further.
I appreciate the value of natural medicine, but for many disorders it isn't enough. I've tried it. My friends have tried it. We've concluded that we feel better than when we live "normal" lives, but our various disorders defy nutritional treatment. There is no supplement which will even out the debilitating mood swings of bipolar disorder. You cannot yoga your way out of mania. If we could, we would, because we very well know the risks associated with our medications. There are risks associated with other illness' treatments, as well. When it comes down to the choice between sanity or insanity, (sometimes) dangerous medications and a high risk of suicide, we choose sanity and life. Alternative treatments can help, but they aren't the whole (or even the central) cure.
Meds are imperfect, and they certainly aren't the only component to healing, but they are very important and very necessary for many of us. Cruise's belligerent ignorance is offensive and dangerous. Will a one-woman boycott make much difference? No. But I can't stomach the thought of furthering his success by one more penny.
QUOTE(liberation party @ Jun 30 2005, 12:57 PM)
Friends with seemingly inescapable eating disorders which have relented in the face of SSRIs. To have this admired member of the american film community say all of psychiatry is an unscientific scam risks certain individuals dropping their lifesaving psychiatric medications, and could easily damage the public understanding many MI individuals have worked to further.
I must admit that I do understand where Tom's coming from with his views on meds/psychiatry, but that's all they are ... his views. Sadly, since he is a movie star many will take them much as they take god's words. That's the sin of it.
When it comes to eating disorders, many can be corrected with changing life styles. For sugar sensitive folk, learning to live without sugars (in ANY form) and simple carbs can alter their lives in hugely positive ways. It is about brain chemistry and has nothing to do with will power, etc. However, there are those who simply cannot imagine living a life without those things and so the meds are a good thing.
As I've said, for Cruise to get on a soapbox and prosetelyze HIS views, opinions, whatever as fact is negligent and wrong.
Shame on him!
Cher
I agree with you, Cher, in part. But while I don't admire *what* he's saying, I would submit that if he stood up and announced his views about, say, child abuse.... and that he vehemently opposed it... that we'd be clapping. So, what's the difference? That we don't happen to agree with him?
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
QUOTE(FallingLeaf @ Jun 30 2005, 04:45 PM)
I agree with you, Cher, in part. But while I don't admire *what* he's saying, I would submit that if he stood up and announced his views about, say, child abuse.... and that he vehemently opposed it... that we'd be clapping. So, what's the difference? That we don't happen to agree with him?
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
A very good point, Troy, I should have also said that my view of his take on things was strictly that ... my view and nothing more.
Cher
QUOTE(FallingLeaf @ Jun 30 2005, 04:45 PM)
I agree with you, Cher, in part. But while I don't admire *what* he's saying, I would submit that if he stood up and announced his views about, say, child abuse.... and that he vehemently opposed it... that we'd be clapping. So, what's the difference? That we don't happen to agree with him?
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
It almost seems that we think he's picking on people. But if he were picking on, again, child abusers then that would be acceptable because child abusers violate a moray that 99.9% of us share. To add balance, I can find a certain respect for someone who believes strongly enough in something to use his star power to speak out about it, period. That I'm not in agreement (and that I think he's a putz) notwithstanding.
Oh please. Child abusers always have victims. Mentally ill people generally do not have victims, unless, of course, they aren't taking their medication, in which case they might (but not necessarily) have victims. And he IS picking on people, namely legitimate scientists and psychiatrists, and he is promoting a dangerous system that is born of religious fanaticism. Rather than comparing it to some legitimate cause like being opposed to child abuse, a more appropriate analogy would be parents whose religious views preclude them from seeking medical health for their sick child, who then dies as a result when antibiotics alone might have saved him or her. Surely you can't get behind that, right?
This is not about free speech. It is about a high school dropout promoting a medical agenda and dispensing medical advice, the latter of which is actually criminal.
QUOTE(liberation party @ Jun 30 2005, 01:57 PM)
I've read the transcript. I've read the parody. The main difference is that the transcript is longer.
Other people are giving Tom crap over being a pompous celebrity ass, or his undignified behavior, or (occasionally) the ick factor of his pairing with Katie Holmes, greatly boosted by the TomKat mystery. What bothers me is his apparent belief that everyone with a mental illness would do better if they quit their meds, took proper vitamins, and studied Scientology instead.
If I were to quit my meds, I'd likely make a still bigger mess of my life, but chances are I'd be able to slog along an erratic path for a few more years before something realized I REALLY needed help. I know other people who aren't quite so fortunate. Chronic major depressives who cannot get out of bed without help, who lose the will to chew, who retreat into catatonia. Friends whose mania is awesome in its destructive power. A schizophrenic relative. Self-injurers who have endangered their lives. Friends with seemingly inescapable eating disorders which have relented in the face of SSRIs. To have this admired member of the american film community say all of psychiatry is an unscientific scam risks certain individuals dropping their lifesaving psychiatric medications, and could easily damage the public understanding many MI individuals have worked to further.
I appreciate the value of natural medicine, but for many disorders it isn't enough. I've tried it. My friends have tried it. We've concluded that we feel better than when we live "normal" lives, but our various disorders defy nutritional treatment. There is no supplement which will even out the debilitating mood swings of bipolar disorder. You cannot yoga your way out of mania. If we could, we would, because we very well know the risks associated with our medications. There are risks associated with other illness' treatments, as well. When it comes down to the choice between sanity or insanity, (sometimes) dangerous medications and a high risk of suicide, we choose sanity and life. Alternative treatments can help, but they aren't the whole (or even the central) cure.
Meds are imperfect, and they certainly aren't the only component to healing, but they are very important and very necessary for many of us. Cruise's belligerent ignorance is offensive and dangerous. Will a one-woman boycott make much difference? No. But I can't stomach the thought of furthering his success by one more penny.
Other people are giving Tom crap over being a pompous celebrity ass, or his undignified behavior, or (occasionally) the ick factor of his pairing with Katie Holmes, greatly boosted by the TomKat mystery. What bothers me is his apparent belief that everyone with a mental illness would do better if they quit their meds, took proper vitamins, and studied Scientology instead.
If I were to quit my meds, I'd likely make a still bigger mess of my life, but chances are I'd be able to slog along an erratic path for a few more years before something realized I REALLY needed help. I know other people who aren't quite so fortunate. Chronic major depressives who cannot get out of bed without help, who lose the will to chew, who retreat into catatonia. Friends whose mania is awesome in its destructive power. A schizophrenic relative. Self-injurers who have endangered their lives. Friends with seemingly inescapable eating disorders which have relented in the face of SSRIs. To have this admired member of the american film community say all of psychiatry is an unscientific scam risks certain individuals dropping their lifesaving psychiatric medications, and could easily damage the public understanding many MI individuals have worked to further.
I appreciate the value of natural medicine, but for many disorders it isn't enough. I've tried it. My friends have tried it. We've concluded that we feel better than when we live "normal" lives, but our various disorders defy nutritional treatment. There is no supplement which will even out the debilitating mood swings of bipolar disorder. You cannot yoga your way out of mania. If we could, we would, because we very well know the risks associated with our medications. There are risks associated with other illness' treatments, as well. When it comes down to the choice between sanity or insanity, (sometimes) dangerous medications and a high risk of suicide, we choose sanity and life. Alternative treatments can help, but they aren't the whole (or even the central) cure.
Meds are imperfect, and they certainly aren't the only component to healing, but they are very important and very necessary for many of us. Cruise's belligerent ignorance is offensive and dangerous. Will a one-woman boycott make much difference? No. But I can't stomach the thought of furthering his success by one more penny.
This is a wonderful post, Libby. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this.
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