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A few other relevant facts. Tom Cruise believes that the Holocaust was caused by psychiatrists not by the nazis. He took Larry King on a tour of his churches “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death” museum. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17387341/ns/today-today_entertainment/

He also has received personal inurement from his church.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/02/exclusive-photos-tom-cruise-received-luxury-airport-hanger-office-church
http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/tom-cruises-scientology-buses/

Also his church he supports tried to destroy an Auschwitz survivor Paulette Cooper who also wrote a book critical of scientology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulette_Cooper

Comment by Fred tanner on 4/14/11 at 10:25 pm

Dear Danielle, thanks a lot for writing an article about this subject.  My friends and I have been posting messages on boards and contacting every bloggers and media person we could think of, in order to draw their attention to the travesty of this award. 
In re Rosalie Zalis statement that “just because someone is a Scientologist, you can’t condemn them as a trafficker.” We don’t condemn Tom Cruise for trafficking because he is a Scientologist, but rather we condemn him as someone who according to reliable sources had himself enjoyed the fruits of slave labour. It’s not guilt by association - it’s an accusation we direct towards his persona.

Comment by Sarah on 4/14/11 at 10:27 pm

I guess if the donation is large enough, it doesn’t matter who it is from….

Comment by alissa on 4/14/11 at 10:30 pm

This would have been an appropriate article to mention that Tom Cruise and Scientology believe that psychiatrists are responsible for the Holocaust.

Comment by John on 4/14/11 at 10:35 pm

Tom Cruise is best pals with the cult leader of Scientology, a high school dropout named David Miscavige. Cruise and Miscavige have both enjoyed the benefits of Scientology’s de facto slave labor - including child labor. Scientology is one of the most abusive cults in existence. It is NOT a religion. It does have numerous front and PR groups that - per founder L. Ron Hubbard’s instructions - cynically exploit the emotional “buttons” of “human rights” and “humanitarianism.” Wake up SWC.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/14/11 at 10:41 pm

The Scientology Office of Special Affairs “internet handlers” whose job it is to patrol the internet don’t seem to have found this article yet, but rest assure they will.

Comment by osa handlers on 4/14/11 at 11:58 pm

Scientology has its own PR techniques and prides itself on its ability to manipulate (“handle”) “wogs” with PR. “Wog” is an old racial slur adopted by Scientology as a Scientology word - its even in the Scientology Dictionary - and used by Scientology’s founder, and by Scientologists, to denote anyone who is a non-Scientologist “humanoid.”

Comment by AdamB. on 4/15/11 at 12:07 am

Scientology has stepped up their association with the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan. Minister Farrakhan has quietly having all his ministers and laborers studying Scientology.

Scientology has buckets of money coming in from the NOI.
thousands are doing the training,with the intention of having the 20,000 to 50,000 followers of Louis Farrakhan take the Scientology training.

Final Call has published a series of articles and Louis Farrakhan has spoke publicly about this move. so there is no excuse to be aware of this disturbing merger.

something the Simon Wiesenthal Center should pay attention too.

Comment by Jan on 4/15/11 at 1:21 am

Tom Cruise’s involvement in slave labor has been going on since the early 90s and continues to this day.  See this Woman’s Day article from 1994:
http://www.american-buddha.com/cult.tomscientolosecretexposed.htm

Comment by katie on 4/15/11 at 5:34 am

May I humbly suggest that next year the SWC honor the CEO of Halliburton?

This arms manufacturer has a great humanitarian record as the prefered contractor on the building of FEMA “fun camps” with all those barbed wire electric fences desinged to keep people IN and shackle trains that would have left Hitler extremely pleased with the quality of engineering…

Jews have stereotypically represented $money$. It’s time for SWC to break the stereotype and look for a genuine humanitarian.

When a drunk is begging for $10 for a meal, you don’t give him the $10, you buy him the meal so that you know he doesn’t spend it alcohol.

Comment by RPX on 4/15/11 at 5:49 am

Danielle,
Thank you for your thoughtful coverage of this story,  and the work you put into contacting various figureheads involved.  I thought I might share one video put out by Israeli television regarding $cientology in Israel.
Part 1 - http://youtu.be/qH376PSFpg8
Part 2 - http://youtu.be/NpckyalHdMU

One would think that the SWC would be aware of the way in which Propaganda is used to position a movement in a positive light,  and one cannot underestimate the power of such propaganda.  However,  there is a very serious dark side to this cult which is hidden,  and it does destroy the lives of those who become involved.

Again,  thank you for your article.
Best Wishes,
Anonymous.

Comment by Anonymous on 4/15/11 at 5:52 am

Speaking from the perspective of someone who lost family in the Holocaust, I am beyond appalled at the decision by SWC to honor a man who supports an organization like Scientology. It is no secret that Scientology has a 60 year history of brutal human rights abuses. As if that isn’t reason enough to leave one perplexed at the Center’s decision, Scientology is now quite cozy with the NOI, and I don’t need to remind anyone of their opinion of the Jewish people. Cruise has done exactly nothing to deserve a “humanitarian” award,and if SW were alive he would agree.

Comment by Ginger on 4/15/11 at 5:59 am

Next year they’re giving an honorary posthumous humanitarian award to Jim Jones for reducing the levels of carbon dioxide by 909 people.

Comment by Skepacabra on 4/15/11 at 6:35 am

Scientology is nothing more than fascism in disguise.  http://wp.me/p1qDpl-23

Comment by Lord Bedlam on 4/15/11 at 6:50 am

A highly respected organization such as the Simon Weisenthal Center *can’t find* anyone with solid humanitarian accomplishments so the coveted award’s going to basically the highest bidder, whose main humanitarian accomplishment is giving boatloads of money to Scientology front groups?  Sad.

Comment by Lonnie on 4/15/11 at 6:50 am

How can anyone in their right mind honour Tom Cruise as a humanitarian? He says he’s proud to be a scientologist, but he knows (or is culpable for choosing not to know) about the gulag scientology runs at its base in Hemet, CA. Yes: a scientology prison camp in California. Yes, it really is true.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center should be ashamed. Stand up for human rights, if that’s what you stand for.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 7:28 am

The ‘Hollywood Education and Literacy Project’ is a Scientology front, by the way.

This award is a disgrace.  The Weisenthal Center should be ashamed of itself.

Comment by Ron Newman on 4/15/11 at 7:36 am

One of the key facets of Nazi propaganda toward the Jews during the Holocaust was that the God of the Jews was Money… “to earn money, he commits the greatest crimes. He will not rest until he can sit on a huge money sack, until he has become the king of money.”

How different is this from the willful exploitation of a movie actor who’s done nothing to exemplify the role of a humanitarian, but done solely for financial gain at the risk of soiling the SWC’s public reputation? This is very sad.

Simon Wiesenthal must be rolling in his grave.

Comment by Garry on 4/15/11 at 8:08 am

In Scientology exhibition"Psychiatry: an Industry of Death”, the CoS presents distasteful pictures of Auschwitz inmates, while explaining that it was the psychiatrists that caused the Holocaust. Such a statement is cynical, manipulative, and historically false. I was under the impression that one of the Wiesenthal Centre’s objectives was to promote the study of history and educate people about the Holocaust. Well, Cruise supports the incorrect notion that Holocaust was caused by psychiatrists. Not very educational.
Danielle - I really appreciate you being the first media person who published an article about the SWC award to Tom Cruise, but I think you went too soft on the issue.

Comment by Myriam on 4/15/11 at 8:47 am

Were this a Catholic who strived for over 30 years to transcend religion and gave tirelessly in an interfaith effort, would they be castigated so quickly or viciously? No, they wouldn’t. Nor would they be held accountable for any alleged transgressions of their faith. Throughout the history of the Wiesenthal Center, there have been plenty of dedicated humanitarians like Mr. Cruise who came from a variety of backgrounds. The one thing they - and he - have in common is a commitment to human rights. Those are the facts.

Comment by Xander Trebe on 4/15/11 at 9:53 am

Why are we hating on the fact that Tom Cruise has donated money to charity and good causes? That he cares about Haiti and the Tsunami? And try to get your facts straight - Tom Cruise is not under investigation by the FBI, nor is Scientology. On http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/07/church-of-scientology-faces-controversy-over-latest-abuse-allega/ we read: “However, a federal law enforcement source told AOL News the investigation has fallen short and no criminal charges are expected to be filed.” Don’t base your reporting on more baseless reporting that uses misleading headlines to attract clicks.

Comment by Mina on 4/15/11 at 9:55 am

Do human rights include freedom from involuntary servitude?  Perhaps someone should ask Tom Cruise about what goes on at the Gold Base in Gilman Hot Springs.

Comment by Ron Newman on 4/15/11 at 9:57 am

^^^ So the ronbots have arrived. Many names, one ip, no credibility.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 9:58 am

The New Yorker article, by the way, is here:  http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright

Read it and decide if Tom Cruise really should be considered a ‘humanitarian’.

Comment by Ron Newman on 4/15/11 at 10:05 am

Cruise has done more good for the Jewish community than most of the big mouths drooling in this article. Shame on you.

Comment by Sonya on 4/15/11 at 10:09 am

Xander, Mina, Sonya. Many names, one ip address, no credibility.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 10:18 am

This entire article is rubbish as it has NO basis in fact…The FBI has gone on record saying that this investigation is non-existent. These claims are rooted in hatred, lies, and religious prejudice…

Comment by Casablanca on 4/15/11 at 10:18 am

Wow, Jewish Journal just dropped through the bottom. Supporting hate crimes now?

Comment by Peter on 4/15/11 at 10:19 am

@Sonya; Like what?

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 10:20 am

The New Yorker is known for its meticulous fact-checking.  They wouldn’t print anything that they can’t thoroughly stand behind.

Comment by Ron Newman on 4/15/11 at 10:22 am

C’mon ronbots. Only 5 identikit scientology posts in half an hour? Get your stats up!

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 10:22 am

The New Yorker story is completely made up. Did you at least read the Church of Scientology statement about it?

Comment by Richard on 4/15/11 at 10:23 am

@Operating: ONE hateful dude. Hope that works out for you man!

Comment by Casablanca on 4/15/11 at 10:23 am

Yeah, works much better than being in a cult and telling lies to cover up crimes.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 10:25 am

Talking about yourself, Operating? Obviously this story has been bought and prepared. The only shocking part about this is that Jewish Journal seems to be so desperate to play such a con game. What’s next? An article about how “Mein Kampf” was just a nice little novel?

Comment by Sonya on 4/15/11 at 10:25 am

You can do better, Louanne! OSA is watching your stats!

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 10:27 am

Wow, not only the paper but this board is infested with lunatics. What a waste of time.

Comment by Sonya on 4/15/11 at 10:34 am

Scientology founder L.Ron Hubbard on Jews and Psychiatry:

Now it’s of peculiar interest to an Arab country that there is a company and a certain set of bankers who also finance the World Federation of Mental Health. …and we see that although the KGB and so forth seems to be associated with the World Federation of Mental Health, their other organization in action seems to go back to Jewish Bankers.

Paranoid ravings of an anti-Semitic lunatic

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 10:35 am

Is this an Anon forum?? Trolls with not an ounce of purpose in life.

Comment by Childish Gamino on 4/15/11 at 10:37 am

And another Hubbard quote, on the “racial” background of Sigmund Freud;

Furthermore, [Sigmund Freud] had a racial fixation on sex, a fixation sufficiently pronounced to cause it to infect contagiously all modern European stock.

Nice, isn’t it?

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 10:41 am

I don’t see why there is such a debate about this, he is doing something good for others, how could that even be questioned? Most artists go around telling the world about their humanitarian efforts. i actually respect the fact that he is humble about it.

Comment by Juliane Ferra on 4/15/11 at 10:43 am

What’s wrong here? 1st of all it makes the readers the judge of whether Tom deserves this honor, a dynamic public who may or may not have the right information to make the judgment. Second, it makes assertions based on Tom’s religion and seems to come from a prejudiced predisposition. This is the core message: “We should not engage in any guilt by association,” Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Wiesenthal Center said. He is focusing on Cruise-the-individual, not Cruise-the Scientology missionary.” Those of us who have done nothing to help the world, the least we can do is applaud those who do. Let’s not buy into the crab mentality that brings down those who are successful.

Comment by Pamela on 4/15/11 at 10:45 am

This is rather ironic; Religious prejudice spewed through a jewish publication.

Who was that dude who once said something along the lines of, “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own?”

Just some food for thought….

Comment by MyBoyBlu on 4/15/11 at 10:45 am

Wasn’t that Jesus? I’m Jewish, I don’t really believe in the guy.

But please, do tell me what Cruise-the-individual did to deserve this honor. I’d really like to know.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 10:59 am

There is hope. Rabbi Hier speaks my mind when he says: ““We should not engage in any guilt by association,” (Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Wiesenthal Center).

“Guilt by association” is what Danielle Berrin and her mob of hate-mongers are guilty of. Shame on you.

Comment by Sonya on 4/15/11 at 10:59 am

Food for thought, yes… what comes to mind is “why didn’t Danielle interview Scientologists?” or “did she talk to anyone not fanatically against Scientology” or “what exactly is this price?” or “What is Tom Cruise do exactly (now that we know what Danielle doesn’t know)?” and so on. Some standard journalistic angles to a story.

Comment by FoodForThought on 4/15/11 at 11:05 am

We can agree an actor like Mr. Cruise is likely an extremely busy person, so the demands of time for humanitarian missions as outlined in this article seem a little disproportionate to what reality would dictate. He gives what he has in abundance, and that’s money. If it’s true what the trustees of the Wiesenthal Center say, and he’s been a long-time supporter of Holocaust education, then he deserves the honor as much as anyone. He made the decision early to support the cause of the Jewish people, and stuck to it even through the many changes we all encounter in life. It’s to be commended.

Comment by Ron Cohn on 4/15/11 at 11:06 am

What’s wrong with this article? Well, it should talk about Tom Cruise not Scientology. But since it does, minimal information about Scientology would include something about them, like taken from here: http://www.scientology.org or http://www.scientologynews.org

or for who Scientologists are:
http://www.scientology.org/videos.html#/videos/world-map/europe

and
http://blog.volunteerministers.org/blog/vms-in-haifa-israel.html

Comment by Peter on 4/15/11 at 11:12 am

Finally, a sane point made by “Ron Cohn.” That’s the whole point of this honor, to highlight the good that he has done, regardless of what he believes in. All the other stories that this writer ties with it are moot and irrelevant. That he is generous with his money is commendable, and nobody ever said that this is the only thing that he does. The little time that he has, that he uses some of it to support these various causes, is enough.

Comment by Kirin on 4/15/11 at 11:20 am

But still nobody’s told me what good he exactly did do.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 11:31 am

@Netty, “But still nobody’s told me what good he exactly did do.”
You didn’t hear about him helping all those people in car accidents? Cos he’s the only one that can help. The medics don’t know about the body thetans, and all that, so they can’t help.
And he gave employment at 50$/week to all those scientology slaves to pimp his cars, his bikes, and his houses.
And he didn’t cause any stink about the prison camp at Scientology headquarters at Hemet.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 11:42 am

LOOKS LIKE THE SCIENTOLOGISTS HAVE ARRIVED, PARADING A BANNER OF “HUMAN RIGHTS” AS CAMOUFLAGE, AND ACCUSING OTHERS OF “HATE,” JUST AS L. RON HUBBARD INSTRUCTED TO DO, SO AS TO MANIPULATE THE “HUMANOIDS.” Google, Scientology, Judge Breckenridge.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/15/11 at 11:43 am

Perhaps I will consider Cruise a “humanitarian” when he stops donating millions to a “churh” that coerces abortions from its own members, that covers of child abuse because its bad for. PR, that has its own slave labor force, that engages in human trafficking etc.  Honoring Cruise is beyond a mere bad choice, it’s downright Shameful. There is no way Simoon himself would have honored Cruise for anything. Not only has Cruise done nothing to deserve it, his support of a vicious organization like Scientoloy makes the center’s choice a slap in the face to the thousands of Scientology victims.

Comment by spoton on 4/15/11 at 11:51 am

@Netty - here’s some from the article itself - “Cruise is one of those “quiet givers” who donates munificently to a plethora of organizations. According to the Website looktothestars.org, an online organization that tracks celebrity giving, Cruise has supported the Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition, the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and Mentor LA; he also serves as a board member for the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project, a position for which he received an Excellence in Mentoring Award, in 2003, from the National Mentoring Partnership.”

Comment by BusyBee on 4/15/11 at 12:01 pm

The leadership of the Wiesenthal says it all: “We’ve given a medal of valor to the Pope. Does that mean we agree with everything the church has done? No.”

The Wiesenthal Center is a great organization with the highest ethics and the decision making to see past juvenile arguments relying on polarities to define moral culpability. Tom Cruise’s good works for the community - as the center calls him a “major giver” for over two decades - speak for themselves. Whatever he believes personally or the spirituality he follows is tangential to these works. How you judge a person is in their actions, and from all accounts his have been exemplary.

Comment by isaacmilner1978@gmail.com on 4/15/11 at 12:25 pm

Speaking of humanitarians, Scientologists regard L. Ron Hubbard as the greatest Humanitarian in history. Here’s Mr. Hubbard lecturing during the Class VIII course about Xenu and Incident 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVqN4ivQ_TM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwDKg5K3in8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6P4YV6CfI0

Comment by AdamB. on 4/15/11 at 12:38 pm

Yes, so many open questions.

Definition of “Humanitarian”
1.having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.
2.of or pertaining to ethical or theological humanitarianism.
3.pertaining to the saving of human lives or to the alleviationof suffering: a humanitarian crisis.
4.a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare andsocial reforms, as a philanthropist.
5.a person who professes ethical or theological humanitarianism.

With that in mind Cruise certainly deserves the award.

Comment by FoodForThought on 4/15/11 at 12:38 pm

Tom Cruise has done nothing but donate a great amount to the various organizations mentioned above. What moral platform does the writer stand on? I wonder what she has done for her community. This article certainly doesn’t count as community service - the rhetoric has no redeeming ethical value whatsover, only commercial value for this site.

Comment by Abbey on 4/15/11 at 12:41 pm

Anyone who supports an organization that rivals the Mafia in sheer brutality doesn’t deserve a humanitarian award. Or any award for that matter. WEll maybe biggest hypocrite. Donating to the cult or its many front groups doesn’t count as charity.
Will Cruise even be able to make the ceremony or will he be roaming the highways looking for accident victims?

Comment by not a fan on 4/15/11 at 12:42 pm

Cruise is a celebrity shill for an evil, criminal, fascist mind control cult.  Why not just give the award to a Nazi?

Comment by Mark Ebner on 4/15/11 at 12:50 pm

Wow, the guy gives money to charities that have nothing to do with human rights. I’m impressed.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 1:17 pm

Hollywood Education and Literacy Project is a a program to directly benefit Scientology, and Scientology alone.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/StudyTech/boston-help.html
http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/library.php?t=Hollywood+Education+and+Literacy+Project+(HELP)

Comment by Anonymous on 4/15/11 at 1:30 pm

The only substantial contributions Cruise has ever made were to scientology front groups.

I also petition the people who run this site to check IP addresses of the posters who are pro scientology. I think you might be quite surprised when you see that they all have one or two IP addresses in common.

Comment by Bob Johnson on 4/15/11 at 1:40 pm

It’s so sad that we’ve chosen to take this as a chance to hit Scientology and Tom Cruise. Instead of an article like this, we should congratulate those who do good in the community and not find a way to condemn them.

Comment by Xerxes on 4/15/11 at 1:46 pm

how is it possible that anyone here is talking so badly about him for getting this award. I am certain that of all people here, not one of you has given even a tenth to charity of what tom cruise gives. It is such a waste of time, the fact that people here are trying to make a good act look as though it is something negative.

Comment by cynthia kester on 4/15/11 at 1:48 pm

Its embarrassing that this conversation is taking place on a site associated with my religion.

Are there any Jewish folks leaving their two-cents here? It seems to be that this is a two-way battle that involves only two groups: Pro-Scientologists and Anti-Scientologists.

It’s like hosting a royal rumble at your home that you have NOTHING to do with. It’s completely absurd and I discourage both groups from continuing this nonsense. Take your crap elsewhere.

Comment by Jaques Gold on 4/15/11 at 1:52 pm

quote from Cynthia Kester:
“how is it possible that anyone here is talking so badly about him for getting this award. I am certain that of all people here, not one of you has given even a tenth to charity of what tom cruise gives.”

Tell us Cynthia, since you seem to be in the know, what charities has Tom given to. Please leave out the ones that are scientology front groups.
While I’m on the subject, where are the scientology centers located at that feed the hungry or clothe and house the homeless?

Comment by Bob Johnson on 4/15/11 at 1:58 pm

@Jaques Gold: It’s not pro-scientologists vs. anti-scientologists. It’s one scientology employee who’s paid to post incessantly under different names vs. the sane remainder of humanity. Being Jewish is not an excuse for not protesting this shameful absurdity. Don’t you know what scientologists believe about the holocaust, what scientology’s founder wrote about Jews? (If you don’t know this, read the comments above.) Do you want a Jewish human rights organisation to honour someone who turns a blind eye to grotesque human rights abuses, as Tom Cruise does? It’s not our crap to take elsewhere. It’s your crap to protest about.

Comment by Operating on 4/15/11 at 2:01 pm

I’m trying to figure out the piling on of a guy who’s seemingly never done a bad turn in his life. So you don’t agree with his beliefs, so what? Unlike many celebrities, you never hear about any poor behavior, bad attitudes or hateful speech. Rather, people who work with him have nothing but praise about his generosity and work ethic.

Sounds like a guy that loves his job, works super hard and isn’t shy about giving money away to a good cause - including Holocaust education if this article’s correct. Those are all great reasons to recognize a guy who will likely keep contributing significantly to Jewish causes, and bring other wealthy people to the table as well.

Comment by Geoff M. on 4/15/11 at 2:02 pm

Ask yourselves….“How am I making a difference today?”

If your answer consists of spreading lies on an opinion-based article on an obscure site, then you can go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back for having your priorities in line. What a waste of life.

Comment by Jean Baptiste on 4/15/11 at 2:04 pm

I implore all of you that support Cruise in the receipt of this award, please list the charities that he has contributed to that are not a scientology front group.

So far I have only seen two. Even I contribute to more than that and I don’t have Cruise’s money.

Comment by Bob Johnson on 4/15/11 at 2:10 pm

Ask yourselves….“How am I making a difference today?”

If your answer consists of spreading lies on an opinion-based article on an obscure site, then you can go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back for having your priorities in line. What a waste of life.
  Comment by Jean Baptiste on 4/15/11 at 2:04 pm
And yet, here you are. Ironic ain’t it?

Comment by BobJohnson on 4/15/11 at 2:12 pm

@Operating This is not an article about Scientologists vs. Jews. It’s about Cruise-as-an-individual being honored. It’s so funny how these comment threads get so out of hand and convoluted, we don’t know where we even started. It’s like one of those “pass the message” games in elementary school.

Comment by William on 4/15/11 at 2:26 pm

GIVING AN AWARD TO TOM CRUISE WILL BE USED BY THE SCIENTOLOGY CULT AS AN EXCUSE TO DECEIVE AND ABUSE EVEN MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE. IT IS A WRONG THING TO DO. SIMPLE.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/15/11 at 2:43 pm

I am stunned by this article as a fan and as a Jew. What position is this writer in to criticize the good works of another? What has SHE done to qualify her to judge another’s humanitarian efforts? FYI, here’s the dictionary definition of “humanitarian”: “1. having concern for or helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.” Does she have one iota of factual clue(s) about what this man donates or volunteers to? Is this writer saying that humanitarians who give millions of dollars per year quietly to secular/non-secular organizations should be discounted, demeaned, negated and pilloried in a public forum for not doing enough? Wow. This writer’s attack is abusive.

Comment by Mira Bernstein on 4/15/11 at 2:53 pm

I gave way less than 1/10 of what Tom Cruise gave to charity. I earn way less than 1/100 of what Tom Cruise earns, like most people in this world. No argument.
Many rich people donate to charity, and some even donate to true human right causes. Tom doesn’t.
There are plenty of rich and famous people who do a lot more for human rights. The only Holocaust education Cruise supports is the ridiculous “museum of death”, hosted by CCHR, that tries to put the blame for the holocaust on psychiatrists.
If the Wiesenthal Center wants to honor a star, why not take Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn or George Clooney or Wyclef Jean, who all did 10 times more than TC and are not 1/10 as controversial.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 3:03 pm

@Jaques Gold; I am Jewish, my family barely survived the Holocaust and I’m shocked by this nomination.

This guy gives applause to Louis Farrakhan! In my opinion America’s most outspoken anti-Semite of today.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 3:22 pm

LOUIS FARRAKHAN IS A SCIENTOLOGIST. NO KIDDING. IT’S TRUE. THINK ABOUT IT.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/15/11 at 3:29 pm

@Netty62: You’re the problem in this picture. Go away.

Comment by Jaques Gold on 4/15/11 at 3:45 pm

As a Jew and a regular contributer to SWC, I’m horrified that Mr. Cruise is being honored as a humanitarian when his only contributions are to a cult that violates human rights at every turn.  IF Mr. Cruise doesn’t know that (I believe he does since the head of the cult is his best friend), he certainly should.  Just as I educated myself, he should have done the same.  I will be taking my contributions elsewhere in the future.  I’m truly disgusted.

Comment by Missy on 4/15/11 at 3:55 pm

You know what the crime is here? The lame ending to this story. Writing that bad should be limited to bathroom stalls in the cellars of dive bars in the Ozarks, or the letters section of Croatian men’s magazines. Truly should be illegal to even make a lame attempt like that. It hurts my eyes to read it and my heart to think this writer or editor believes it’s alright.

Comment by Claudette6300 on 4/15/11 at 4:07 pm

L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the “planet” was one where it would be “cleared” of non-Scientologists, and people low on his tone scale, like anyone who opposed him or his policies. They were to be “disposed of, quietly and without sorrow.”

Didn’t anyone at the Wiesenthal Center ever watch the viral Cruise video, where he arrogantly claims to be among the elite group who know, that word leaders are looking to him for answers, and where it is claimed he has introduced over a billion people of Earth to Scientology? How sane is that? When I first saw the video, I got chills down my spine! “Forgive, but never forget!”

Comment by Julia R. on 4/15/11 at 4:13 pm

@Jaques Gold; You asked:“Are there any Jewish folks leaving their two-cents here?”

I answered:“I’m Jewish”. What’s the problem with that?

Comment by Netty62 on 4/15/11 at 4:31 pm

Does the SWC know that the scientology front group CCHR once picketed outside of Doctor of a Spielberg relative.

From Vanity Fair:
“Spielberg felt the actor’s antics had hurt his own movie, 2005’s War of the Worlds. Far worse, though, had been an episode when Spielberg told Cruise the name of a doctor who had prescribed medication to a relative and the doctor’s office was subsequently picketed by Scientologists.”

Comment by Bob Johnson on 4/15/11 at 4:46 pm

Indeed this ‘award” will be used by Scientology in an attempt to recruit unsuspecting members.  It is truly a slap in the face to Jews everywhere.  Scientology compares its critics to Nazis at every opportunity. Scientology “priests” once dressed up like Nazis and marched down the streets of Clearwater.  Outrageous.  The “church” is now welcoming “Minister” Farrakhan into the fold.  I am 100% convinced that SW himself would never, EVER have agreed to give this award to Tom Cruise, and that he would in fact be appalled at the very thought.  Cruise supports an organization under federal investigation for human trafficking. Shameful.

Comment by Shocked on 4/15/11 at 5:35 pm

The $cientology $cam is a dangerous, evil, malicious and vile cult!

The cult has less than zero redeeming qualities.

Its total destruction is heading its way rapidly.

Expect it.

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/15/11 at 6:03 pm

Not only does Mr. Cruise financially support the CO$, he himself has benefited from the slave labour of their Sea Org members in having his motorcycles and limos pimped…as well as having them assist with his airplane hanger.  It also disturbs me greatly that the NOI and Scientology have become quite cozy.  How can the SWC honour a man that has applauded LOUIS FARRAKHAN, a proud and defiant anti-semite!!

Comment by anoncangirl on 4/15/11 at 6:07 pm

To the Scientologists commenting: Do Scientology and Tom Cruise really believe that psychiatrists are responsible for the Holocaust like your “museum”, books and dvd’s etc. claim?

Comment by John on 4/15/11 at 6:07 pm

The problem with this award is NOT Tom Cruise nor is the fact that he is the celebrity face of Scientology.  I believe in tolerance.

The problem is with how the Church of Scientology will USE this as if it were a validation of their lies.  They will spin this as if this meant the Simon Weisenthal Center confirms the church is a humanitarian group supporting Human Rights.

And that is very wrong.  The Church of Scientology could be said to be the biggest Human Rights VIOLATOR in the US.  Their abuses, crimes, near-slavery and their private prisons are well documented travesties.  This is NOT something the Center wants to be seen supporting.

Comment by William on 4/15/11 at 6:12 pm

It amazes me that Farrakhan would support an evil cult like scientology when r.l.hubbard supported Hendricik Verwoerd in south africa during apartheid for the Bantu education designed to give black south africans an inferior education so that they would be forced to seek employment as unskiled labourers.Scientology is nothing more than any other religion that wants your money and wants you to bring in more people for their money.Side note,if you drink beer,the hops will cling on to the body thetans and you can then just piss them out.No need for that expensive auditing.Tom cruise is a complete lunatic but money is what makes all this happen and it is so sad that people can not see it.

Comment by Dwight G. on 4/15/11 at 6:34 pm

@ Jaques Gold:  I’m Jewish and I used to live in Los Angeles.  We are about to observe a holiday that marks our people’s deliverance from slavery.  Meanwhile, the Wiesenthal Center is about to give an award to someone who has personally benefited from slave labor in California.

Comment by Ron Newman on 4/15/11 at 7:29 pm

Just google Scientology. Tom Cruise never has.

Comment by Randomx on 4/15/11 at 8:52 pm

It is important for the SWC and Jewish community to be aware that $cientologists such as Tom Cruise believe themselves to be “Homo Novis”,  aka Ubermensch.  It is not an exaggeration, as told by those who were involved in this cult that it is a hell of a lot like Nazism.
OK,  so is it personal that Tom Cruise is a member of this “church”?  Who knows, he could be a nice guy,  but many find that hard to believe that such a nice guy would participate in a group so destructive and act as its main man celebrity promoter.  The truth is that he knows what is going on.
http://youtu.be/_2rd8W55e0g

(this you tube channel,  btw,  has a great deal of educational videos if anyone may be interested.)

Comment by Mickey Mouse on 4/15/11 at 9:25 pm

Watch this - http://youtu.be/rCGP-0545EU

Comment by O on 4/15/11 at 9:43 pm

@ Jaques Gold - to answer your question - I’m Jewish. Very much so. I also don’t appreciate you stating that those who are not Jewish should not be posting here. In addition to that, I’m not even sure that your message did not come from the Church of Scientology IP.
I bet you and other “outraged” Jews are nothing but Louanne is disguise.
אני יכולה לכתוב בעברית. מה איתך?

Comment by sarah on 4/15/11 at 9:52 pm

@ Sarah - Your insights are probably correct. “Louanne” has had a very rough week after being outed as a $cientology OA$ sock puppet on two, count ‘em, TWO sites with comment streams as large as this one. Nice to see that here, she’s getting ‘welcomes’ no warmer than the aforementioned sites.

The $cientology $cam is doomed.

Expect it!

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/15/11 at 10:30 pm

Luke:  Could you please post links to the two sites that outted Church of Scientology employees as single people fraudulently posting under multiple account identitiesin order to trick the public?

Comment by Wisher on 4/15/11 at 11:58 pm

@ Wisher - Okay. First one:

http://www.goddiscussion.com/45547/anonymous-going-after-scientology-this-month/comment-page-1/#comments

169 Comments at time of this posting. The admin of the site picked up on what was happening, checked the logs and found the identical IPs for several of the OSA sock puppets. She then banned them and their posts ceased but their prior posts are preserved. Admin posted relevant parts of her server logs. Interesting.

The situation became very ‘heated’ on the god discussion site. Louanne claiming prank phone calls and threats arriving and that the admin had posted pictures on-line of Louanne’s apartment.

Continued in next post…

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/16/11 at 12:24 am

continued…for @ Wisher…

Demands that the Admin provide her telephone number and threats to get her lawyer involved. Madness & lies. It got very lulzy. I nominated Admin/Deborah for the HBGary Federal Sock-Puppet-Destroyer-Of-The-Year Award.

The second is The Huffington Post. It may be the link below. Lots of posts in the thread. It gets lulzy too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/scientology-protest-leads_n_847935.html

If not, this should provide clues:

http://huffingtonpost.search.aol.com/search?q=scientology&s_it=header_form_v1

Concluded in next post…

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/16/11 at 12:27 am

concluded…for @ Wisher…

The huffington post stuff was contemporary with this week but that is all I can recall about the comment thread. I didn’t post there as the thread was heavily anti-$cientology by the time I arrived.

One poster or more on the Huffington thread mentioned the god discussion site postings and that O$A suck (sic) puppets had invaded the comment thread; names were named.

$cientology = EPIC FAIL.

Stay frosty.

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/16/11 at 12:29 am

The soft build up is at the beginning, then at 3:03, L. Ron Hubbard explains how “HUMAN RIGHTS” IS TO BE USED AS A GIMMICK TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC OPINION. From this Directive came all of Scientology’s insincere “Human Rights” and “Humanitarian” FRONT GROUPS AND PR DISPLAYS.

Ron’s Journal ‘67:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAFhqHTTD7s

Comment by AdamB. on 4/16/11 at 4:36 am

That above was Ron’s Journal ‘68, not ‘67. This is Ron’s Journal ‘67, where he mentions “the 12 bankers”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRQm-NE6ZtI

Hubbard discussed the “Jewish bankers,” specifically, only in confidential briefings.

Both videos are worth a listen to get a glimpse of the Scientology from the inside.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/16/11 at 4:47 am

There is a blog titled “Ask the Scientologist.”  It is written and maintained by a guy named Bill who is actually out of the cult.  He has written a very insightful, interesting analysis of the Simon Wiesenthal’s decision to honor Tom Cruse. I highly recommend it. The title of the article is “What’s Wrong With the Simon Wiesenthal Center Honoring Tom Cruise?” and it is dated April 15, 2011.  http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/

Comment by S Lee on 4/16/11 at 8:36 am

I agree with Rabbi Hier about not judging Cruise for the crimes of his best friend, and best man at his wedding, David Miscavige. I judge Cruise by his own crimes - including benefiting from the labor of church staff who worked under slave-like conditions.

Comment by Max on 4/16/11 at 1:32 pm

I’m a Scientologist, but I don’t see an issue with Mr. Cruise believing that the holocaust was carried out by psychologists. All Scientologists believe this fact.

Please, people, let him have his beliefs!

Comment by Lisa McPhearson on 4/16/11 at 1:50 pm

@ Lisa - he is fully entitled to his wacko beliefs.

Where some people are drawing a line and saying an entitlement to a “humanitarian” award from the Wiesenthal Center would be a mistake, is where the $cientology Cult will exploit the event for its own, pernicious purposes.

Benefiting from slave-labour is not the behaviour of a “humanitarian.”

Nor is choosing an on-line persona that resonates with the name of “Lisa McPherson.” Such an action is from a pit of vulgarity that characterizes $cientology.

You are a sock puppet, pointed out earlier in this thread and on two other blogs this week. Get a real job, earn some real respect, instead of the ersatz respect you get at the org.

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 4/16/11 at 2:44 pm

All scientologist’s believe whatever they are told,it’s called brainwashing,mind control ect.There is no scientology member that is allowed to think on their own,it’s not allowed and if they even try they are in big trouble.How insane is it that so many people are so week that they will fall for this nonsense and give up all their rights as a human being,money and self respect just to be a member of a cult.I personal know a scientologist and she is dumber than a box of rocks,it is heartbreaking.

Comment by d.geiger on 4/16/11 at 3:11 pm

Tom Cruise condones abuses of human rights in his own religion.Giving him a medal is blind hypocrisy and affirms that its ok to be a part of inhumane actions as long as others are deceived about it.
Scientology has a history since inception of committing crimes against its own members and wiping the blood off its shirts to protect its image.It seems even the Simon Wiesenthal Center will be another victim of deceit.

Comment by Shaun.H on 4/16/11 at 11:33 pm

HELP, is a scientology front group…so what if cruise donates to it…

hubbard was a rabid jew hater

scientology destroys lives…including jewish ones

this is just wrong

hier is wrong

cruise is no ted kennedy

Comment by walt kovacs on 4/17/11 at 12:18 am

Sonya and others supporting cruise

where are you on the bridge?????

Comment by walt kovacs on 4/17/11 at 12:23 am

“... I don’t see an issue with Mr. Cruise believing that the holocaust was carried out by psychologists. All Scientologists believe this fact.”

“All” Scientologists believe it, yes. Fact? No!

Lisa, wake up and look around you. You are in an organization that operates on the very Fascist ideals that it espouses to detest. Cruise is the carefully recuited and molded Star-Child of Scientology.

Not only will Tom Cruise’s ego be further inflated to the point of a potential explosion, but Scientology will use this event as an endorsement of it’s own sick and twisted agenda.

Comment by RPX on 4/17/11 at 12:35 am

@LisaMcP.;I’m shocked by your choice of alias.
A Scientologist using that name is like someone denying the Holocaust calling herself “Anna Franks”.

For those not familiar with the name: Lisa McPherson was the most famous victim of scientology. She died a gruesome death while locked up in their “care”, under the direct orders of mr. Miscavige.

By the way, nazism created the death-camps, not psychiatry. No matter what mr. Hubbard’s opinion was, history shows us he was simply wrong.

@JaquesGold; You still haven’t answered my question.

Comment by Netty62 on 4/17/11 at 4:58 am

Here’s an EX-Scienologist’s blog post telling why he thinks it’s a bad idea to give Tom Cruise this award.

http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-wrong-with-simon-wiesenthal.html
Excerpt:
The problem with this award is how the Church of Scientology will use this award.  They will trumpet this award as if it means that the Simon Wiesenthal Center:

  * approves of Scientology,
  * endorses Scientology,
  * validates Scientology’s claims that they are a “humanitarian group” and
  * confirms that Scientology supports Human Rights.

Of course none of those claims are true, but the Church of Scientology will spin the news of the award for exactly that purpose.

Comment by No Name Given on 4/17/11 at 6:13 am

The view of Tom Cruise and Scientology is that THE HOLOCAUST WAS CAUSED BY PSYCHIATRISTS, NOT BY NAZIS. This message is about to be endorsed by the SWC, along with a de facto endorsement of the abusive cult of Scientology.

Comment by AdamB. on 4/17/11 at 10:13 am

This is ABSOLUTELY ludacris. My congregation will NEVER donate (and we have sent much $$ over the years) to the SWC ever, ever again, if indeed Tom Cruise is honored. Guaranteed.

Comment by Matthew M on 4/17/11 at 2:09 pm

I have studied Scientology for the past 10 years and have come to see how they manipulate the idealism of some for their own gain.  One organization named in another article above, an organization to which Cruise gives his time, The National Education and Literacy Project, is a Scientology front group and its mode of operation - educational philosphy - had been rejected by school districts across America for having ineffective educational methods.  They use L.Ron Hubbard’s educational theories.

Comment by very concerned on 4/18/11 at 7:48 am

Celebrities like Tom Cruise are used to validate Scientology.  Cruise, Travolta, Kirstie Alley, & the rest are all used to lure people in.  After all, what could possibly be wrong with an organization with so many famous people?  ALL of these Scientology stars have benefited from Sea Organization slave labor and Tom Cruise has benefited the most. 
As an anti-Scientology activist, I can tell you that I have received many private messages from ex-Sea Org members who have had to run for their lives with nothing. They cannot just leave. They must ESCAPE.
Simon Wiesenthal must be rolling in his grave.

Comment by Fairgamed on 4/18/11 at 11:34 am

Psychiatrists ARE responsible for the Holocaust, but that could be more specifically stated as Nazi psychiatrists.

Comment by Rodney on 4/21/11 at 7:35 am

@Rodney

Please share with all of us the documented proof that psychiatrists (Nazi or otherwise) were responsible for the Holocaust.  Your comment is insulting to those that suffered and lost their lives.  Please go crawl under a rock!!!

Comment by anoncangirl on 4/21/11 at 9:24 am

Must be like a slap in the face of Scientology victim Paulette Cooper.

imho Mr. Cruise doesn’t represent Tolerance, as long as he is representing Scientology and he cannot possibly be humanitarian since all activities of the cult he represents are aimed to gain control of peoples funds.

Comment by amanda on 4/23/11 at 6:42 am

While I’m not really interested in the issue discussed in the article I thought it was egregious that you allowed a reference to Jesus by Mr. Ratner with the F- word preceding it.  This should have been excluded as it is repulsive not only to Christians but to those Jews who believe that other religions should be accorded some respect in your pages.  Would you allow in a quote with the F- word preceding the Muhammad?  I very much doubt that.  Enough said.
Elaine Goodfriend

Comment by Elaine Goodfriend on 4/24/11 at 2:28 pm

@ Elaine Goodfriend

The writer of the report here is simply doing the job of reporting.

If you are offended by the human use of language on the Internet, perhaps you should consider staying away from it.

If your only role is to troll the Internet looking for printed and partially redacted expletives, and then complaining about them, you are a pathetic excuse for a human being.

The article is about a vile, vicious cult, and a fraud celebrity, exploiting and abusing real people. How such could not astonish you and cause you to ask some questions is nothing short of astonishing.

Get a grip.

Comment by Auntie Gravity on 4/26/11 at 2:12 am

Oh look, all the bigots and haters come crawling out of the woodwork.  YAWN!  BORING!!!!  Psychiatrists definitely caused the Holocaust and it is well documented that the pimply basement dwellers, Anonymous, are being paid by the purveyors of psychiatric “medication” to support misleading articles like this one. 

The Simon Weisenthal Center is doing something by noticing all of Tom Cruise’s humanitarian work.  Just google “Tom Cruise paneling human rights” and you’ll see all the amazing work he’s responsible for.

Comment by Louanne on 4/26/11 at 6:56 am

It is amazing that the people who need a Psychiatrist the most are the ones that have been brainwashed the most by the cult of scientology.No way does this idiot Cruise deserve any award.He is without a doubt the most lunitic on the planet.Mabey he needs more auditing to get those space aliens {thetans}out of his body but even then I doubt that logic would ever be a word that he could describe in any rational sense.

Comment by D.geiger on 4/26/11 at 8:34 am

i suggest that the board of trustee’s of the SWC head on over to the CCHR museum to see ‘Psychiatry: An Industry of Death’ to get a VERY up close and personal view of the kind of group they will be giving credence to should they award Cruise with such a prestigious award.

Because by presenting this award to someone like him, devalues the award and it’s meaning.

Comment by A_Watcher on 4/26/11 at 9:10 pm

Louanne, I did what you suggested: I googled the phrase “Tom Cruise paneling human rights”. The only result that came up was your post right here. Does that mean that Tom Cruise really did NOTHING? No humanitarian work at all?
Well, I’m not saying I’m surprised by that, but what was it that what you you wanted to say?

Comment by No Name Given on 4/28/11 at 7:49 pm

Were Scientology legitimately supportive of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, then they’d not do stunts like Scientology’s PR man (son of Ann Archer) Tommy Davis did, which is the heavy handed threatening done to ex Scientologist celebrity Michael Fairman. There’s no excuse for not reading the voluminous excellent media coverage and critical books on Scientology’s “use” of their allies to deflect off Hubbard’s petty prejudices are institutionalized and dramatized by Scientologists, unwittingly.  - ex staffer Scientology’s “religious order” (Sea Organization) 1975-2003, former Staff Training Supervisor, Chuck Beatty

Comment by Chuck Beatty on 5/01/11 at 12:15 pm

Tom needs do some homework on Scientology’s recent history.  And then Tom should influence his friend, David Miscavige, to behave like a religious leader!  Awards are nice, but impacting history for the better, that’s something that actually will help the world.  Come on Tom!  You have power, use it on getting David Miscavige to clean up his act!

Comment by Chuck Beatty on 5/01/11 at 1:33 pm

Tom Cruise took Larry King on a private tour of Scientology’s Psychiatry: Industry of Death Museum. A large part of the “museum” is about psychiatrists being responsible for the Holocaust. Is The Simon Weisenthal Center claiming that Tom Cruise is not responsible for this belief of his religion that he is promoting?

Comment by John on 5/01/11 at 5:07 pm

I’m saddened that the Wiesenthal Center would want to promote a religion that seeks to replace Judaism. Why?

Comment by M. Brown on 5/02/11 at 1:11 pm

Miss Louanne Louknee is a righteous scientologist and she knows what she’s talking about. Mr. Hubbard is a saviour. It’s all written down in the sacred scriptures.

At this very moment, at least 90000 scientologists are preventing world catastrophe everywhere. Tom Cruise taught them all how to do it! Look it up. It’s all written down in the sacred scriptures.

When Mr. Hubbard returns from the dead, (which is where he happens to be at the moment) he will clear the whole planet and be elected Mayor Of Chicago and Mr. Cruise will be The President! It’s all written down in the sacred scriptures. Look it up.

Comment by Luke Warmwater on 5/02/11 at 1:17 pm

Hubbard died of a stroke at only 74 so I guess he wasn’t clear,he should have been able to self audit himself to get rid of those thetans,engrams,ect.Scientology claimed that he decided to get rid of his body and continue his work on another planet.I wish I knew which one,I would go there and ask him how things are going now that he is dead.

Tom Cruise should not recieve any honor except the honor of being the dumbest spoiled punk actor to ever open his mouth in front of millions of people.

Comment by d.geiger on 5/02/11 at 1:57 pm

So many ideas here, this is getting me confused. Just congratulate Tom for the award—the guy’s pretty nice. So he has an unconventional religion. So what? Despite his busy schedule and the fact that he really doesn’t have to, he dedicates time and donates money to good causes. Don’t see anything wrong with that.

Comment by Nina on 5/03/11 at 9:43 am

He is probably just not as public about his charity work, i don’t see him being the type of person to take advantage of a situation like that for press. Most people dont know what is really going on behind closed doors, but i’m sure are just hating because it is TOM CRUISE, and he’s by far one of the biggest super stars in the world, with an abundant life im sure, and the public hates seeing that. I don’t think his religion or beliefs should play any part in this, i mean Scientology may have its quirky beliefs and questionable acts, but dont Catholics too? and Jews? I mean, really?

Comment by Francis on 5/03/11 at 9:47 am

You have got to be kidding-what has this man done? The SIMON WEISENTHAL Center honoring the mouthpiece of a cult that seeks to destroy psychiatry, and states that their tech is superior to Judaism. I have a problem with that. They should too.

Comment by M. Brown on 5/03/11 at 10:03 am

Know that the comments here criticizing Tom Cruise and his church are provided by a criminal group comprised of religious bigots called “Anonymous.” Cowards all, who attack and lash out only when hidden and protected by web anonymity. Several of them have gone to jail/prison, with more to follow: http://goo.gl/z2aIX Read about Anonymous in their own words: http://encyclopediadramatica.ch/Anonymous Quote: ” Anonymous is void of human restraints, such as pity and mercy.”

Comment by Anonymous Fighter on 5/03/11 at 10:10 am

What are you talking about? I don’t belong to any group like that. I simply don’t believe a Jewish organization should support an openly ANTI-Jewish cult. Why would you consider all people who are critical criminals and bigots?

Comment by M. Brown on 5/03/11 at 10:16 am

So, Tom should be explicit in his charitable contributions? This entire article is garbage; it undermines this great prize by focusing on hate-filled judgement and not on the social justice principle that it’s truly rooted in.

Comment by Adam Stacy on 5/03/11 at 10:16 am

It is my opinion that the Wiesental Center was wrong to laud the mouthpiece of an anti-Semitic religion. This is not hate filled judgment.  Only the opinion of a person who feels the center would be better served by not honoring Cruise and the religion he stands for. I really have no issue with Tom- my problem is with the Weisenthal center for allowing this.

Comment by M. Brown on 5/03/11 at 11:07 am

As a fan of tom’s, I have followed his career and life, and it is filled with the living of a inherently good man, husband and father who “walks his talk”, cares about doing good in the world, and to my knowledge, donates large sums of money to both secular and non-secular organizations to make the world a better place. As for Tom’s religion, as with all of us, that’s his business, but I know this, he’s tolerant of all religious beliefs and believes in the importance of the spirit, and importantly, lives by example. I applaud the Simon Wiesenthal Center for choosing him as the recipient of their humanitarian award.

Comment by Mia S. on 5/03/11 at 11:18 am

Right on, the Simon Wiesenthal Center made a great statement in their choice of Tom Cruise as the recipient of a humanitarian award. One’s religion should not influence an entity’s choice of the prestigious award. The important thing is that Tom did do good and helped other people. I see that the driving force behind a lot of people’s protest is jealousy. Tom has achieved much and continues to do so, and even at this level of success he still extends a hand to help other people.

Comment by Lana on 5/03/11 at 11:23 am

This is unbelievable. Who in the right mind speaks out against charitable contributions?? I’m not sure that either the author of this article or the readers are doing much else to make a difference in the world. If Tom’s pursuit of social justice doesn’t fly with you, there are plenty of organizations out there that might aling with your ideologies and would be glad to accept your time or money. Just dont sit around and critique social contributions…its mad.

Comment by Penelope G. on 5/03/11 at 11:41 am

I’m curious were this a vocally Catholic actor/Hollywood star if the entire community would be as up in arms about the selection. Seeing as though the Pope Pius XII and Catholic Church have been seen as tacitly culpable for not declaiming the Holocaust, would that make a Catholic star any less worthy of this honor? I’m just trying to figure out where the line is, since it appears to shift all the time. People spend a lot of time parsing the intent of someone like Tom Cruise, while he draws huge amounts of money for a worthwhile charity.

Comment by Akira Y. on 5/03/11 at 11:43 am

Elephant in the room alert - It’s the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of TOLERANCE!!! Tolerant to all people, tolerant to all religions, tolerant to all beliefs, TOLERANCE!!! The author of this article and a few of the commenters seem to forget that point. The message, is a message of TOLERANCE! I think author and some of the people here should remember that and, worry more about what YOU are doing for charities and less about what others do.

Comment by Ian on 5/03/11 at 11:48 am

I find it in bad taste to criticize a company for honoring an individual, and blasting said individual for being humanitarian. Just because he doesn’t publicize his humanitarian work, does not mean he isn’t a great humanitarian.

Comment by Sasha Q. on 5/03/11 at 11:50 am

Reading these comments…I wonder how many actually read the article…or how many have bothered to educate themselves in regards to the crimes committed by Mr. Cruise himself. When did it become OKAY in our day and age for a prominent and wealthy member of society to utilize SLAVE LABOR!!!  What SWC is basically saying is that is doesn’t matter what you’ve done, write a big check and you too can be a humanitarian.  It sickens me…

Comment by Becky on 5/03/11 at 11:56 am

@ IAN

Please ask Tom Cruise and other scientologist how much Tolerance they show to members that have decided to leave their church.  Like TC says SP’s will be only read about in the history books…so if your not a scientologist you can be “gotten rid of QUIETLY AND WITHOUT SORROW”  Does that remind you of anyone!!

Comment by Martha on 5/03/11 at 12:03 pm

Hmm, this writer’s agenda seems clear from the first line. Girlfriend, you KNOW any girl would glow like a light if their man was so in love with them that he displayed it to the world without a care! What on earth is wrong with that? It’s every woman’s dream! Secondly, I don’t understand the foundation she’s coming from. She doesn’t seem to actually know what tom cruise has done or not done with certainty as a humanitarian which puts her in a position to criticize how? What is it with people on the Internet being mean for the sake of being mean? Jeez! Get a life!

Comment by Saralina on 5/03/11 at 4:32 pm

Hrm, this seems like another case of no good deed going unpunished. It’s easy to see now why an organization like the SWC has given an award to guy like Tom Cruise, who has obviously been and continues to be attacked for his beliefs. Not only has he been a donor to the center for decades, according to their trustees, but has remained quiet about his apparently deep connection to the work they do. It’s enough for stars of his caliber to continue to keep quiet about charitable work they do, lest it inspire this amount of unwarranted and destructive criticism. And along with his silence goes the closing of checkbooks for causes like SWC, which is shameful.

Comment by Jeanne F. on 5/03/11 at 4:38 pm

Why are people against charitable contributions? Just because there has never been any hoopla, doesn’t mean that the actor have is not a great humanitarian. People attack without knowing the facts an just go by internet rumors.

Comment by Cousin Sue on 5/03/11 at 4:40 pm

Tom Cruise a donor for decades to the Wiesenthal Center? Fantastic. Where would I find record of that?

Comment by M. Brown on 5/03/11 at 4:43 pm

Tom Cruise is still so dreamy, usually actors don’t age that well, but he still looks as handsome as he did in Risky Business! Well maybe not THAT good, but at least Vanilla Sky! I loved him in Vanilla Sky, he was so dreamy, and Penelope Cruz was in that movie, love her too. She ended up with the handsome Javier Bardem, speaking of men that age well, he’s another one. Sigh*** Really men like them don’t exist, i would probably go gaga over a man that looks like Javier Bardem, or Tom Cruise. Maybe if i move to a bigger city, like Los Angeles or New York or even Chicago! Anyway, this article is stupid, but at least i got a little distraction from this long long long day at work.

Comment by Natalia on 5/03/11 at 4:44 pm

It’s great that Tom is being awarded for the good that he did, what’s said is that some people use this to say all kinds of horrible things. None here dispute the fact that Tom has done a lot of good to help others, it’s all about this religion and extraneous stuff that has all to do with his beliefs but nothing to do with getting the award. Instead of rewarding good with praise, we choose to writhe in hate. I send my congratulations to Tom, he deserves the award, and I hope more people and celebrities are like him.

Comment by Debbie V. on 5/03/11 at 4:47 pm

So now someone has played the “guilt by association” card. What a surprise!

The outrage has nothing to do with “association”, but everything to do with PARTICIPATION.

This award is a fantastic example of Scientology’s policy of infiltration for “Public Relations” purposes.

Comment by RPX on 5/03/11 at 9:25 pm

Would the Simon Wiesenthal Center be right in giving a humanitarian award to a current commander of a concentration camp? Because that’s what these comments praising Tom Cruise and saying that his actions and beliefs don’t matter, really boil down to.

I suspect that they didn’t read the article in the first place, being posted by busy staff members.

Insert money. Receieve award.

Comment by Gunnar René Øie on 5/04/11 at 1:52 am

Scientology has participated in Holocaust revisionism,  by placing the blame on psychiatrists, but also be aligning themselves with the Institue for Historical Review and Willis Carto. Scientology is in bed with the Nation of Islam and has given a Friend of Mankind award to Louis Farrakhan, who refers to the SWC as liars and other anti semitic slurs.  Scientology is engaging in human trafficking, slave labor and reeducation camps right now, and are being investigated by the FBI.  Finally Tom himself has used slave labor provided by Scientology in various ways since the early nineties.  He is the face of the criminal cult, a proponent himself of Holocaust revisionist thought.

Comment by Katie on 5/05/11 at 5:56 pm

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