For my second Anonymous Vs. Church of Scientology post of day I’ve got news that this has officially gone from online talk to real world action. According to KFIAM a handful of Scientology locations around Los Angeles were mailed “suspicious white powder” causing panic, chaos, and general mayhem. You know, quarantines and such. The powder turned out to be cornstarch and nothing harmful at all and while everyone is bound to start asking if this is right, if this is wrong, if this is a dumb prank, if this is terrorism, etc I’ve got a different question – has the atmosphere of fear that has been fostered here in the US since 2001 made things like this possible? I mean, honestly, if an envelope of white powder was sent to someone in 2000 it would have gotten strange looks at best. People probably would have tasted it to see what the hell it was, or maybe assumed it was cocaine at worst. But now, in an era when people can be charged with terrorism for making bad jokes, anyone with an envelope, a kitchen, and a stamp can shut down entire buildings. Are we any safer?

Related posts:

1. Anonymous to Scientology: “we shall expel you from the Internet”
2. More on Anonymous vs Church of Scientology
3. In Defense of Scientology
4. Top LA Legends #22: Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard was a Satanist
5. Why Scientology Is Good for Hollywood