STELLAR essay Ian ~ Really great. People seriously considering joining up with Butler's group can gain a lot of important information and insight here.
What is difficult for people, and which puts everyone in grave danger, is our inability to distinguish between cults and a religion or an innocuous belief system. When cults hide behind freedom of religion, we must show evidence of harm. This is not easy. Most people are unaware of how cults operate. They don't recognize mind control and undue influence.
Unfortunately, we fail miserably at defending our own societal virtues while protecting the rights of others. For example, in facing Islamic terrorism, we bend over backwards to rationalize and apologize for it. If we can't even connect the most horrific crimes to Islamic influence, what makes us think we can connect Tulsi with slave labor, money laundering, parent alienation, and homophobia to the Butler cult?
"Lone wolves commit the atrocities, not Islam."
“Lone devotees commit crimes, not Butlerism.”
Dharmabum, we are unable to clear their smoke screens without ample proof. Even then, in the name of political correctness, we are not allowed to blame a religion or one's core beliefs. But we can condemn undesirable or illegal actions. We have to prove that destructive actions are the results of Tulsi's core beliefs. To say she is disingenuous is not enough. To say her guru wants one of his followers to win the Presidency and impose a “Butler Sharia Law” is not enough. We need direct evidence.
We are discouraged from blaming radical Islam for some of the world's most unspeakable violence done under its banner. We risk being called bigots and racists if we do. We blame the tools of violence rather than the religion that encouraged it. Can we really accuse the gun, the knife, the roof when they shoot, behead or lob gay people off buildings? We can and do criticize these abhorrent actions, but are not allowed to criticize the belief that inspired it. If we cannot even mention the word Islam in connection to Orlando, what makes one think that we can mention Vaishnavism in connection to the parental neglect and drug running of a Butler disciple?
We say the majority of Muslims are good and peaceful people, which is true. This argument can be used by the Butlerites. Without exception, all of the exers I have interviewed will confirm that most of the followers are really nice, peaceful and idealistic folks.
Our task is to educate and demonstrate how Butler's cult activities are dangerous and destructive. We have 613 pages of documents, testimony, and opinions on the dangers of Butler’s cult. Still, Alternet and the mainstream media have zero interest in Tulsi's affiliation. No one wants to touch that one... or believe it.
What about Tulsi's silence on the Sri Shim case? We counted on the people of Kailua to call foul. What happened? Was Tulsi and Papa Gabbard’s silence due to their cult ties? Did Tulsi neglect her duty as a Congresswoman in this case? Was there evidence of cult tampering? Or did they really get their man Sai Hansen, albeit with sloppy police work?
What about the overt cult nepotism regarding Tulsi’s staff? Why don’t people protest? Tulsi has a strange "Proteczia"*. Was she not vetted by Congress, Sanders, the feminists, the LGBT community, or the humanists? What activities has she done that have promoted a cult agenda in detriment to her constituents? It was pointed out that she supports many things that diverge from gaudiya Vaishnavism. See Ian’s post. Is this their Manchurian Candidate strategy? To most people this sounds paranoid and whacko. The subtleties of Vaishnavism are either incomprehensible or uninteresting to a typical voter.
I am thoroughly disgusted in the Hawaiian media and law enforcement for not investigating this cult more closely. I suspect that they are bought and sold by their “Local Guru Boy Does Good” Chris Butler. And as I have written about before, never underestimate the power of “Ohana”* in Hawaii.
I am gravely disappointed in all of the closet Butler dissidents and cult kids refusing to come forward. It’s understandable, but not excusable.
Here is another problem. The followers always take the fall and nothing is in Chris Butler's name to implicate him.
But what if Tulsi is politically congruent with party leaders and voters? What if she allies herself to policies and politicians for the good of the country in spite of her cult upbringing? What if, even under the direction of Butler, she comes out on the right side of things? Would it be right to tear her down because she was raised in a cult? Would this make me a bigot? This is an honest question I have to ask myself.
They say that countries are never friends. There are only allies and enemies. Sometimes frenemies work together for the greater good. In my opinion, in 2013 Tulsi proved to be on the right side of history when she spoke out against military intervention in Syria and Libya. She stood up to Secretary of State John Kerry and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. She has spoken out against TTP and favored the labeling of GMO’s. She took a political risk to help Bernie Sanders. You may not agree, but these are significant things.
I know Henry, you think I have drunk the "Toolsee Koolaid", but I challenge that idea. We can argue off the forum.
Tulsi is not responsible for the devotee parents who neglected their children medically or emotionally. She was a baby and young child during the drug scandals. True, she was raised an elite in the cult, carefully groomed, and kept far from the common devotees. The fact remains that no one really cares if you bow down towards Mecca or a pathetic, balding guru. You have to demonstrate actual harm. Actions are more meaningful than words or beliefs.
In spite of my depressing rant here, I am actually optimistic. What this website and forum does best is to inform the public about how cults operate, how they differ from safe groups, why they are dangerous, and how to get out. I believe that all of our efforts here are preventing people from joining the Butler cult and helping people escape.
*Proteczia. Sometimes called “Vitamin P”, is a Russian word that means “protection.” Protection from the “system” that allows you to bypass bureaucracy, rules, regulations, salary levels, prison, and can even open doors of opportunity – financial, military, government, commercial and institutional. It exists in Hawaii as part of the Ohana system and Aloha. This explains a lot of how Butler’s cult and his politician followers have survived.
What is difficult for people, and which puts everyone in grave danger, is our inability to distinguish between cults and a religion or an innocuous belief system. When cults hide behind freedom of religion, we must show evidence of harm. This is not easy. Most people are unaware of how cults operate. They don't recognize mind control and undue influence.
Unfortunately, we fail miserably at defending our own societal virtues while protecting the rights of others. For example, in facing Islamic terrorism, we bend over backwards to rationalize and apologize for it. If we can't even connect the most horrific crimes to Islamic influence, what makes us think we can connect Tulsi with slave labor, money laundering, parent alienation, and homophobia to the Butler cult?
"Lone wolves commit the atrocities, not Islam."
“Lone devotees commit crimes, not Butlerism.”
Dharmabum, we are unable to clear their smoke screens without ample proof. Even then, in the name of political correctness, we are not allowed to blame a religion or one's core beliefs. But we can condemn undesirable or illegal actions. We have to prove that destructive actions are the results of Tulsi's core beliefs. To say she is disingenuous is not enough. To say her guru wants one of his followers to win the Presidency and impose a “Butler Sharia Law” is not enough. We need direct evidence.
We are discouraged from blaming radical Islam for some of the world's most unspeakable violence done under its banner. We risk being called bigots and racists if we do. We blame the tools of violence rather than the religion that encouraged it. Can we really accuse the gun, the knife, the roof when they shoot, behead or lob gay people off buildings? We can and do criticize these abhorrent actions, but are not allowed to criticize the belief that inspired it. If we cannot even mention the word Islam in connection to Orlando, what makes one think that we can mention Vaishnavism in connection to the parental neglect and drug running of a Butler disciple?
We say the majority of Muslims are good and peaceful people, which is true. This argument can be used by the Butlerites. Without exception, all of the exers I have interviewed will confirm that most of the followers are really nice, peaceful and idealistic folks.
Our task is to educate and demonstrate how Butler's cult activities are dangerous and destructive. We have 613 pages of documents, testimony, and opinions on the dangers of Butler’s cult. Still, Alternet and the mainstream media have zero interest in Tulsi's affiliation. No one wants to touch that one... or believe it.
What about Tulsi's silence on the Sri Shim case? We counted on the people of Kailua to call foul. What happened? Was Tulsi and Papa Gabbard’s silence due to their cult ties? Did Tulsi neglect her duty as a Congresswoman in this case? Was there evidence of cult tampering? Or did they really get their man Sai Hansen, albeit with sloppy police work?
What about the overt cult nepotism regarding Tulsi’s staff? Why don’t people protest? Tulsi has a strange "Proteczia"*. Was she not vetted by Congress, Sanders, the feminists, the LGBT community, or the humanists? What activities has she done that have promoted a cult agenda in detriment to her constituents? It was pointed out that she supports many things that diverge from gaudiya Vaishnavism. See Ian’s post. Is this their Manchurian Candidate strategy? To most people this sounds paranoid and whacko. The subtleties of Vaishnavism are either incomprehensible or uninteresting to a typical voter.
I am thoroughly disgusted in the Hawaiian media and law enforcement for not investigating this cult more closely. I suspect that they are bought and sold by their “Local Guru Boy Does Good” Chris Butler. And as I have written about before, never underestimate the power of “Ohana”* in Hawaii.
I am gravely disappointed in all of the closet Butler dissidents and cult kids refusing to come forward. It’s understandable, but not excusable.
Here is another problem. The followers always take the fall and nothing is in Chris Butler's name to implicate him.
But what if Tulsi is politically congruent with party leaders and voters? What if she allies herself to policies and politicians for the good of the country in spite of her cult upbringing? What if, even under the direction of Butler, she comes out on the right side of things? Would it be right to tear her down because she was raised in a cult? Would this make me a bigot? This is an honest question I have to ask myself.
They say that countries are never friends. There are only allies and enemies. Sometimes frenemies work together for the greater good. In my opinion, in 2013 Tulsi proved to be on the right side of history when she spoke out against military intervention in Syria and Libya. She stood up to Secretary of State John Kerry and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. She has spoken out against TTP and favored the labeling of GMO’s. She took a political risk to help Bernie Sanders. You may not agree, but these are significant things.
I know Henry, you think I have drunk the "Toolsee Koolaid", but I challenge that idea. We can argue off the forum.
Tulsi is not responsible for the devotee parents who neglected their children medically or emotionally. She was a baby and young child during the drug scandals. True, she was raised an elite in the cult, carefully groomed, and kept far from the common devotees. The fact remains that no one really cares if you bow down towards Mecca or a pathetic, balding guru. You have to demonstrate actual harm. Actions are more meaningful than words or beliefs.
In spite of my depressing rant here, I am actually optimistic. What this website and forum does best is to inform the public about how cults operate, how they differ from safe groups, why they are dangerous, and how to get out. I believe that all of our efforts here are preventing people from joining the Butler cult and helping people escape.
*Proteczia. Sometimes called “Vitamin P”, is a Russian word that means “protection.” Protection from the “system” that allows you to bypass bureaucracy, rules, regulations, salary levels, prison, and can even open doors of opportunity – financial, military, government, commercial and institutional. It exists in Hawaii as part of the Ohana system and Aloha. This explains a lot of how Butler’s cult and his politician followers have survived.