The Cult of Proselytization

First he publicly attacked Brooke Shields regarding her post-partum depression, which thankfully, caused a HUGE amount of backlash.

He practically trampled Oprah with his high-happy- drama antics.

He knocked up his girlfriend.

Once again, the self-named King of Psychiatry and Scientology, formerly known as once-decent actor, Tom Cruise, had some "vital" information to offer the firemen that risked their lives during 9/11. He and his child/girlfriend Katie threw a "little" benefit a few days ago in NYC to offer his "expert" advice. (The tickets for this night of learning from a "pro" started at the wee price of $6,250…let's sit with this while we ponder the thought that the median salary for a firefighter is $46,160.) Rather than encouraging these people who are still suffering from their own personal aftermaths from that fateful day to seek proper help, he is asking them to STOP their meds and the other treatments they are on to do the therapy he sees fit. Oh, and his solution?? The Canola solution….yes. Drinking canola oil and having a Scientology "purification".

I am the first to offer up that I believe in alternative methods of healing, but having read over the "Elders of Scientology's'" ideas of purification, it just screams C-U-L-T.

This is also coming from the same man that thinks he understands psychiatry and can rightfully tell people how to deal with their mental health- - through vitamins and by putting themselves through "talk therapy"…

Let me start by saying that Tom Cruise had some good points when he initially started his campaign. The quiet before the storm were his remarks about children being over-medicated. The number of children on Ritalin has sky-rocketed in the past 10 years and I am in complete agreement that hampering children with these drugs is completely ridiculous and unnecessary. Pre-Crazy Tom, he had some very valid points. I am sure if diagnoses for this "disease" had been as widely spread as it is now, we ALL would have been diagnosed as children.

But what scares me is his irresponsibility when dealing with REAL chemical illnesses. Now, I am hardly one to talk of such knowledge, but what I do know, having dealt with a mentally ill person on a very personal basis, is that medication is a mentally ill persons lifeline. Trust me when I say, I don't condone pill-popping for anyone, but having watched a mentally ill person go off of their meds for even a few days was like watching a reality-TV version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." And having never talked with Tom Cruise, I do not know of his experience with mental illness And who knows…maybe he actually has counseled “hundreds” of people suffering from various addictions with his methods of "talk therapy"! But logically speaking, talking with someone who has any acute psychosis is moot. There is no reasoning. There is no logical train of thought. Asking someone who is acutely schizophrenic “How do you feel?” and attempting to engage in some sort of verbal communication is futile.

As if there is not enough stigma on mentally ill people, now we have a megastar who thinks he can cure them all…I guess it just disgusts me to think that he is being so irresponsible. Can you imagine if some psychotic person decides they are going to go off their lithium for a few weeks?? Then they rob a bank, kill a bunch of people and when questioned, "But Tom Cruise said I didn't need my medication…"