In America we all have the right to freedom of speech and self expression, yet when we use this right in uncommon ways we are labeled as crazy or abnormal. How can we truly enjoy this right if we have to simultaneously live in fear of its negative consequences? If we constantly label unusual behavior as being out of the norm we are limiting our creativity and self expression. When world famous actor/producer/director Tom Cruise went on the Oprah Winfrey show and expressed his love for Katie Holmes he was widely criticized by those in the media for his irrational behavior (Oprah). Even newspapers such as “The Onion” have this to say about Tom, “Item! After I reported last time that Dawson’s cutie Katie Holmes called it quits with her fiancé, I figured we wouldn’t hear from her for a while. Color me wrong! The cutie has been snatched up by none other than Tom Cruise. Wow! Tom certainly did well for himself. Although some would say he’s dating someone half his age, I wish them both a long and prosperous relationship. Let’s hope there are kids in their future” (Harvey). This is anoher example even something as small as who he is dating matters to the American public. In other words, we are so obsessed with Tom that we are interested in anything that is said about him no matter the content refers to. Additionally, when Tom makes dumb statements such as “Psychiatry is a psuedo-science” and “Ritalin is a street-drug” industry profeesionals worry that people will listen to whatever he says although he is not qualified. Organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association publically criticizes Tom and refutes his statements. Why? If these statements are just the spoutings of a famous idiot why does the Psychiatric Assiociation get involved. Because Tom, like it or not, influences the American public. Dr. Harold Koplewicz, M.D. published an article in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Pyschopharmacology saying that he believes that people such as Tom Cruise are very damaging to people in need because his statements, “make people feel uncomfortable about seeking help” (Koplewicz). Although I could not agree more, I also believe that without Tom’s comments these important issues would never be brought up for discussion in the first place. So even though what he said may seem extremely odd to us, it is a perfect example of the amount of freedom we really have here in America. Without people like Tom Cruise who have to guts to show off erratic behavior, we as a society would have no concept as to how far our freedoms really stretch. So here’s to Tom Cruise; thanks for breaking out of the social norms and keeping our individual freedoms alive.
M.L.A.
Give cruise a break. The man isn’t any more a doctor than kidman, brook shields or speilberg. He’s sprouting propaganda of the scientology crew who really feel treatened by psyciatry since maybe all of its attendants probably could benefit from a couple of hours with a head doctor
Jack. “American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise.” People News. 28 June 2005. People Magazine. 14 November 2007.
Tom cuise seems to think that he is a doctor cause he goes to some scientology church. Well news for him ,my husband had to go to medical school to become a pediatrician so I guess he wasted his time and should of gone to the church that tom cruise goes to. Good for the psychiatry association for critizing that Mr I know it all I am god attitude that tom cruise has.
Katie. “American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise.” People News. 28 June 2005. People Magazine. 14 November 2007.
HAVING BEEN A VICTIM OF DEPRESSION MOST OF MY LIFE, I KNOW FIRST HAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING MEDICATION TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. TOM CRUISE INSULTED ALL OF US WHO, WITHOUT THE MEDICATIONS WOULD LONG AGO BEEN LAID TO REST. HE SOUNDED LIKE HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING, ‘YOU DON’T KNOW, WELL, I KNOW’ SOUNDS LIKE HE MAY THINK HE IS THE ALMIGHTY….KNOWING ALL THINGS. HE CERTAINLY TURNED ME OFF TO SCIENTOLOGY, I PLEDGE NOT TO SEE ANY MOVIES STARRING ANY OF THE STARS WHO PRACTICE SCIENTOLOGY….JOHN TRAVOLTA FOR ONE.
Leia. “American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise.” People News. 28 June 2005. People Magazine. 14 November 2007.
Howdy folks. I’m a Scientologist, and thought I’d respond to a few things. Before I get to the main issues at hand, though the APA release was provided above, I didn’t see anyone providing the opposing Scientologist-backed release — for those interested, it’s at cchr.org.
So, first, I don’t know Tom Cruise and I wasn’t sitting at the kitchen table when he had the epiphany to go out and become as vocal in his opposition to psychiatry as he’s become. But I do suspect that he’s sincerely passionate about this issue and is doing what he feels is right in trying to get people to look and think for themselves — and then letting the cards land where they may.
Now to my views, and I promise to keep them brief. I think it’s the height of desperation to try to solve an individual’s emotional or mental problems (no matter how severe, excluding actual brain damage) with psycho-active drugs. Why? Because no one in their right mind wants their mind to be controlled by drugs. It is done out of desperation and hope — by both the individual and the doctor. And frankly, it takes advantage of a person’s and his/her family’s vulnerable state. It does not get to the root of the problem, and only masks it (to paraphrase Mr. Cruise).
Does it make people ‘feel better’ or ‘improve their concentration’? Sure, as can speed and cocaine. And using psycho-active drugs to make someone ‘feel better’ is the same philosophy.
I know, I know. The standard response is — ‘but it’s brain chemistry which needs to be balanced, you doltz!’
Severe depression or mental agitation, it’s said, is caused by faulty brain chemistry. Or perhaps, as others argue, depression et al cause the brain chemistry to go out of balance. This actually doesn’t sound like too bad a theory (particularly the latter version), but my next question then is: which chemicals are out of balance? Last I checked, there is no naturally occurring supply of fluoxetine (Prozac) in a healthy brain. Let alone Ritalin, Thorazine or 300 volts of electricity.
In short, the ‘chemical balance’ theory is a smoke screen for controlling a person’s mind and behavior with drugs (or worse). And that of course is what Mr. Cruise, I believe, was trying to get across.
With that said, if someone were to be given necessary nutrition, or sopoforics (to induce sleep in severe cases), or really any other agent which brings the body and brain back to its normal, healthy condition, then sure, I’d be all for it. But mind-altering ‘medication’ whose real purpose is to artificially make one ‘happy’? Come on, that’s not medication or biochemical balancing — that’s legitimization of a ‘controlled high’. Let’s call a spade a spade.
Brian. “American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise.” People News. 28 June 2005. People Magazine. 14 November 2007.
You people are all pathetic and really need something better to do with your lives than sit around and baitch (sic) about what Tom said,get the hell over it ,he’s allowed to say what he likes and no one can do anything about it .
Flipside. “American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise.” People News. 28 June 2005. People Magazine. 14 November 2007.
Just an aide memoire as to why people choose to keep themselves informed, and spread the word about dangerous and oppressive organisations (sic):
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
- Niemöller
So the question isn’t “haven’t you got anything better to do?”. The real question is, what is a better use of time than guarding over our liberties?
David. “Panorama: Scientology and Me.” Xenu TV. 15 May 2007. 14 November 2007. .