Friday, January 18, 2019

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are Free at Last...

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest defenders of civil rights, freedom and integrity that this now beleaguered country of ours has ever seen.

He spoke many wise words. Here are some of my favorite quotes of his that I have a special fondness for and have taken into my heart because they speak directly to me about my own struggles:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.


So, it seems very fitting to me that on this weekend when we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of his birth (January 15, 1929), I can announce that the legal troubles that have plagued me for the last seven years, are finally over. I am obliged not to speak about them in any detail. I can, however, express my gratitude to my attorney, Peter Skolnik, who is an eloquent and valiant defender of human rights.

Some of his words on my behalf:
Cults do not like it when members leave.  They like it even less when an AWOL member publicly criticizes the practices that expose the cult’s psychic tyranny and that have prompted the escape. 
Bette Leahy escaped from the cult known variously to its members as, inter alia, “Odyssey Study Group, “school” and “the work.”  
Like others who had left, Leahy posted comments, opinions and statements of fact about the cult leader and various cult members in internet blogs.  Those postings led, in fairly rapid succession, to five separate lawsuits filed against Leahy by active cult members in five separate New York counties.  None of the plaintiffs was the cult leader, who followed the cult litigation playbook by remaining behind the curtain.  Four of the five suits have been dismissed.  Only this frivolous defamation action.... remains pending. 
These relevant facts should be considered:
·     Leahy was a member of the cult for over 18 years. 
·     Leahy gave approximately $246,000 to the cult during the years of her membership.  
·     The cult’s leader’s “authority is unquestioned and omnipotent,” and she issues orders     and instructions to her followers.  

·     Leahy was sued by five cult members.