Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes

[Krom]

Wow.

Cruise disturbs me deeply, but even I never would have drawn THIS comparison...

German historian compares Tom Cruise speech to Goebbels - Times Online

German historian compares Tom Cruise speech to Goebbels


A German historian has compared a speech by actor Tom Cruise about Scientology to a call to war by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

Guido Knopp, an expert on Second World War history, told Bild newspaper that Cruise's address to his fellow Scientologists "inevitably" recalled Goebbels.

Mr Knopp was referring to a video recording of a sermon Cruise delivered to Scientology members four years ago that surfaced on the YouTube website this week.

The Mission Impossible star asks fellow members of the church: "Should we clean this place up?"

Mr Knopp said it was bound to remind Germans of Goebbels' notorious speech in Berlin on February 18 1943 when he asked the audience: "Do you want total war?".

Mr Knopp said: "It may be the case that Cruise's delivery style is not uncommon in certain religious movements in the US.

"But for Germans with an interest in history, that scene where he asks whether the Scientologists should clean up the world and everyone shouts 'yes' is inevitably reminiscent of Goebbels' notorious speech."

Cruise's portrayal of Nazi resistance hero Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, an aristocrat who led a failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944, caused unhappiness in Germany because of the actor's links to Scientology.

The movement is often described in Germany as a sect that exploits its members financially. In December, regional ministers agreed to investigate the possibility of banning it.

Cruise's film, titled Valkyrie after the code-name of the plot, is due for release later this year.

His role in the Church of Scientology is examined in an unauthorised biography of the actor by Andrew Morton which was released in the US earlier this month.

The publication of the book has received wide coverage in the German media. It was described by the Church of Scientology as "replete with lies".

There was no immediate comment from the Church of Scientology in Berlin, however the organisation's US headquarters issued a statement in defence of Cruise. "Bild am Sonntag is grossly irresponsible for publishing horrendous and disgraceful claims about Mr Cruise," it said. "Unlike Bild am Sonn tag and other German anti-religionists, he does not discriminate against any other religion, race or colour."

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[AJane]

"But for Germans with an interest in history, that scene where he asks whether the Scientologists should clean up the world and everyone shouts 'yes' is inevitably reminiscent of Goebbels' notorious speech."

What a load of crap. I cannot stand Tom Cruise, but not only is that comparison ridiculous I think it's libelous as well. He's a movie star, not an evangelist or a politician. So he's involved in a religious organization with eccentric beliefs. If it works for him, then he can have at it. If he wants to recruit followers, then that doesn't make him much different from the Jehovah's Witnesses that knock on my front door regularly. If he wants to give some of the many millions he's made in his career to it - well, he's welcome to do whatever the hell he wants with his money. But to compare him to the Nazis, who started a world war and slaughtered millions, is utterly outrageous.

[Krom]

Originally Posted by AJane

What a load of crap. I cannot stand Tom Cruise, but not only is that comparison ridiculous I think it's libelous as well. He's a movie star, not an evangelist or a politician. So he's involved in a religious organization with eccentric beliefs. If it works for him, then he can have at it. If he wants to recruit followers, then that doesn't make him much different from the Jehovah's Witnesses that knock on my front door regularly. If he wants to give some of the many millions he's made in his career to it - well, he's welcome to do whatever the hell he wants with his money. But to compare him to the Nazis, who started a world war and slaughtered millions, is utterly outrageous.

The Scientologists aren't Nazis, so I agree, but to be honest, they aren't exactly a religion either--at least no more than any other cult where the whole point is to enrich the people at the "top" at the expense of the people below them.

Arguably Cruise IS an evangelist too--he sells the religion to people en masse. If I doubt the Goebbels comparison, its more because I just don't think its a good match in terms of style, not because I think Cruise isn't very much up to trying to convert people en masse to a potentially dangerous belief system.

[Krom]

Wow. Book banning!

Go to YouTube and search for the title "Scientology:Andrew Morton Tom Cruise Biography controversy". Watch the video that pops up as a result.

Even if EVERY word Morton wrote was a lie... this STILL wouldn't sit right.

Hmm. The Aussies are braver about reporting this stuff than American media. Another video to search: "Scientology: Blackmailing Celebrities to control them".

Oh, just for a laugh go search for "Tom Cruise's Scientology Video from The Late Late Show". It's actually up there LEGALLY from CBS, but I still think its better if I give you the name to search instead of a link...

[Krom]

Wow.

Jerry O'Connell appears to be one of the only people in Hollywood willing to break ranks and make fun of Tommy.

the parody video Tom Cruise WANTS you to see! from Jerry Minor and Jerry O'Connell

[dagwood]

That was classic.

[Krom]

Originally Posted by dagwood

That was classic.

Craig Fergusson from the Late Late Show did one the other day too. CBS has it legally up on YouTube, but I still don't think we are allowed to link. So go look it up.

[dagwood]

Ok, I looked. It was funny but not as good as Jerry O'Connel.

[ArchieComic Fan]

Man I love Jerry O'Connell.

[PugMum]

Originally Posted by ArchieComic Fan

Man I love Jerry O'Connell.

It was GREAT!!!