Mr. David Miscavige Chairman of the Board,
Religious Technology Center
Opening Address
In honor of L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday 1998
And so, from the latest land just opened to his technology, the republic of San Marino located in Eastern Italy, and in fact, the oldest independent country in Europe, to Budapest, Hungary, where the national synchronized swimmers now don Dianetics T-shirts, to our churches and missions that today span five continents and 117 countries, we welcome you tonight.
Now traditionally on this night, we consider what the name L. Ron Hubbard has inspired on a fully global basis—which is to say, we consider the tributes, proclamations and keys to cities bestowed this past year in recognition of what L. Ron Hubbard has brought to this world.
But that’s the broad view, and to fully appreciate what those recognitions signify, you have to look at L. Ron Hubbard through the eyes of those who bestow those awards.
In other words, you have to place yourself in those lands where his technology is utterly new. You have to walk among people who never imagined one could conquer immorality, ignorance, drug addiction and illiteracy.
Or, to put it more simply, if you want to appreciate just what stands in back of the awards and proclamations L. Ron Hubbard receives each year then you have to understand the back stories, such as this one:
Like many a people displaced and overwhelmed by colonial rule, native New Zealanders known as the Maori—suffer a pretty serious drug and alcohol crises. It’s especially prevalent among Maori youth and, in fact, tribal elders have come to mourn the end of their culture and the loss of traditional wisdom.
A few years ago, however, one of those tribal elders, established a Narconon drug rehabilitation facility right at the spiritual center of the Maori community. And I mean that literally—the facility actually stands on what is locally regarded as sacred ground.
