Peter Ramsay's Letter to Ron Sharp and Alan Barclay

May 19, 1999

Mr. Ron Sharp
(Ron's Address)

Mr. Alan Barclay
(Alan's Address)

Dear Ron & Al,

     Here is my promised letter.

     I apologize for not writing each of you a separate letter but I find myself under the time constraint of having to get back to you prior to your proposed "picket" of this upcoming weekend.

     To that end you will both receive the same letter. For the same reason, I've dropped off a copy of this letter at your respective places of employment in addition to sending it by mail (to Ron-who was kind enough to give me his postal code) or by delivery to the front desk at (Alan's Address). (Al didn't want to give me his unit number or postal code).

     You are probably not aware that I have been, for the past year, conducting my own investigation into the activities, past and current, of your leader - William Hagglund.

     Hagglund himself is certainly aware of this as I wrote to him earlier this year and, at that time, told him that I was engaged in this activity.

     I've had the opportunity to observe Hagglund trying to intimidate local Scientologists and I've had the opportunity to read over some of his ARS postings and IRC transcripts. Some time ago I came to a conclusion concerning Hagglund which I hold as a truth.

     In my opinion, Hagglund is a lunatic.

     It is also my, opinion that he is motivated solely by destructive and evil intentions, towards others and it is my belief that were he not conducting his campaign of hatred and harassment against the parishioners and staff of the Church of Scientology he would be dramatizing his psychoses against some other group or individual.

     Who knows? Perhaps he has found himself another target for it is certainly true that he has become much, much less vociferous over the past year. On the other hand, perhaps this newly-found reserve is due to the fact that a few Scientologists have stood up to him. Maybe his initial zeal has turned into a disquieting state of misgiving which he feels he must keep hidden while he searches for a face-saving way out. But-like I said-who knows?

     I've also told Hagglund that it is my opinion that he engages in such activities in an attempt to garner for himself some kind of admiration, attention and importance - acknowledgements which I feel he has been unable to come by using any decent means.

     However, I have not written to you to run down someone whom you both obviously hold in high regard and with whom you share, in my opinion, similar motives, hopes and shortcomings.

     Instead I wanted to tell you of my upcoming educational campaign and your part in it.

     The initial phase of my research into Hagglund has turned up some very interesting data.

     I am now ready to exercise my right to freedom of speech and will be conducting a campaign of public education concerning William Hagglund, his activities and his supporters.

     When I make mention of his supporters I refer, of course, to his wife, (Mrs. Hagglund), his familiar, Chris Wood and you fine gentlemen.

     The mainstay of my educational campaign will be my brochure. My brochure will be full colour and multi-paged. It will be printed on expensive stock and will be professionally designed. For those times when I mail it, I will have an envelope with an appropriate photograph and slogan.

     The text of my brochure will have two underlying themes.

     Firstly, that Hagglund has been conducting a campaign of hatred and harassment against the parishioners and staff of the Toronto Church of Scientology. Comparisons will be made to the campaign of a more noxious religious bigot - Ernst Zundel. The many points of similarity which I feel exist should convince my reader that the comparison is appropriate and thus will put Hagglund's actions in their proper light.

     The second theme will be the use, by a certain few, of the rights guaranteed in our Charter of Rights, to forward their deviant and destructive views and activities. Here the comparison will be made to, among others, the gentleman from British Columbia who successfully appealed his conviction for possession of child pornography, Here again, I suspect, there will be enough points of similarity to cast the actions of Hagglund and his small band of supporters into their correct perspective.

     My opinions and conclusions will be backed up with facts.

     In this regard I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Hagglund himself. As you well know, he has a propensity for making long-winded and bellicose statements both on ARS and IRC. Because of this I have an abundance of quotations from the horse's mouth, as it were, to back up my text.

     Of course, his activities at the Church of Scientology are well documented and my research has provided me with several nuggets which I can add to the mix to good effect.

     Reference will be made to Hagglund's recommendation that Scientologists should be treated the way wolves once were, the use of the word "clam" to describe Scientologists, the taking of photographs of staff and parishioners of the Church, the placing of those photographs on the Internet, the request for their names or information about them, the taking of photographs of children and their placement on the Internet well, as you both know, the list goes on.

     I feel confident that any recipient of my brochure who takes the time to read it will arrive at the same opinion of Hagglund that I have - that he is a hate-motivated lunatic.

     In addition to my brochure I will be acquiring a phone number - hopefully a 1-900 number - with which to more easily promulgate my educational message. I'm hoping for a number combination that will give me 1-900-HAG-LUND but, if unavailable, I will settle for 1-900-LUN-ATIC.

     The 1-900 number will feature the same or a similar message to my brochure but has the advantage of being updated as new information is collected.

     The 1-900 number will be used in conjunction with my lawn signs. I'm sure you've seen these spread about throughout the city - advertising roofing companies and such.

     My lawn signs will feature a photo of Hagglund, the slogan "The Face of Religious Intolerance" and the 1-900 number.

     In addition to the foregoing, I'm going to continue to investigate Hagglund and, where I find evidence of activity of a discreditable or criminal nature, l'm going to publish my findings and opinions broadly and loudly.

     As you know, one of Hagglund's main supporters is his wife, (Mrs. Hagglund). She is the co-owner/co-registrant of two of the registered businesses with which Hagglund has affiliated himself in postings and E-mails. I speak of the "Temple of At'L'an" and the "Enlightened Self Interest Council on Universal Harmony and Prosperity".

     Additionally, my research has led me to the opinion that Mrs. Hagglund has, for some time, been the main source of financial support for the family.

     Mrs. Hagglund is a contracted public school teacher who works for (Mrs. Hagglund's employer). She teaches ESL at (Mrs. Hagglund's workplace) located at (Mrs. Hagglund's workplace's address)-oddly enough, just around the corner from Chris Wood's residence.

     As a certified public school teacher, Mrs. Hagglund is required to follow the professional standards established and overseen by the Ontario Teachers' Federation and the College of Teachers.

     In particular, she has a duty to the public to "recognize a responsibility to promote respect for human rights".

     I myself do not believe that her support of her husband's activities shows that she either recognizes or upholds that responsibility.

     Accordingly, l will be petitioning the College of Teachers later this year to bring a charge of professional misconduct against Mrs. Hagglund. My petition will charge Mrs. Hagglund with commission of at least two of the offences listed in the amendments to Bill 31, specifically:

     "(18) An act or omission that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.

     (19) Conduct unbecoming a member."

     I hope to have four co-petitioners to this complaint - three parishioners of the church all of whom are members themselves of the Ontario Teachers' Federation and a fourth parishioner who is a tenured Professor of English at York University.

     I have no idea as to what the outcome of this complaint will be but I find it hard to believe that the College would not at least conduct an investigation into the matter. I do not believe that officials of the College would overlook Mrs. Hagglund's support of a man who puts childrens' pictures on the Internet as part of a strategy for his campaign of harassment.

     I still have many areas of Hagglund's past to investigate and many people to interview - (old acquaintance of Gregg's), (old acquaintance of Gregg's) and a slew of people who used to be involved in amateur theatre in the Peel and Halton regions.

     By now you might be asking yourselves - what does all this have to do with us?

     What this has to do with you is this - I do not intend to limit my research and educational campaign just to William Hagglund - I intend to include, as you can see from my earlier statements, all of his supporters - (Mrs.) Hagglund, Chris Wood and the two of you.

     What I mean, specifically, is this -

     My brochure will also feature your photos, along with your home adresses, occupations, business addresses and the names of the companies who employ you. I will also be qouting some of your statements taken from ARS and IRC and will be providing synopses of your activities.

     My 1-900 number will feature your names, your home addresses, your occupations, your business addresses and the names of the companies who employ you as well as some of the statements you have made and a synopsis of your activities.

     My lawn signs which I distribute in your home and business areas will feature your faces.

     More specifically, I intend to distribute my brochure, on a continuing basis, to:

     (1) every home in a two block radius of (where Gregg lives),

     (2) every apartment/condo at (where Alan lives).

     (3) every apartment at (where Ron lives).

     (4) every apartment at (where Chris lives).

     In addition to this, I will be mailing my brochure

     (1) every teacher who teaches at (Mrs. Hagglund's workplace) as well as a selected group of officials of (Mrs. Hagglund's employer) and the Ontario Teacher's Federation,

     (2) a select group of executives at (Alan's employer).

     (3) a select group of executives at (Ron's employer).

     My lawn signs will be distributed, on an ongoing basis, in the following neighbourhoods:

     (1) (around Gregg's home)

     (2) (around Alan's home)

     (3) (around Ron's home)

     (4) (around Chris' home)

     (5) (around Mrs. Hagglund's workplace)

     (6) (around Alan's workplace)

     (7) (around Ron's workplace)

     I intend to follow this up with requests for meetings with executives both of (Alan's employer) and (Ron's employer).

     Al - I know something of the (Alan's employer) It is one of Canada's oldest and most respected corporations. I do not think that they will look kindly on you when presented with evidence of your and Hagglund's activities. Specifically I refer to documented instances of your baiting staff and children on the religious beliefs held by Scientologists, derogatory comments which you have made on the Internet and your support of an individual who puts childrens' pictures on the Internet so as to forward his campaign of hatred and harassment.

     Ron - I seriously doubt that the executives of (Ron's employer) will be pleased with your threats to break into the electronic sign at the Toronto Church of Scientology and to have it broadcast confidential church scriptures. Likewise I doubt that they will be pleased of your support of an individual who puts childrens' pictures on the Internet in order to forward his campaign of hatred and harassment.

     Now I could be wrong but I don't think so.

     If necessary, I am quite prepared, in addition to the above, to personally picket and hand out my brochure at the offices of both (Ron's employer) and the (Alan's employer).

     I can tell you with certainty that I am going to be handing out my brochure at (Mrs. Hagglund's workplace) to every parent I can find.

     And, in addition, I'm going to expand my research into your other activities, both past and current. As with the Hagglunds, I will loudly and broadly disseminate anything of a discreditable or criminal nature which I find.

     All of the foregoing is just the start.

     The reason that I am writing to you both is to make you an offer.

     You can either back off or face the consequences.

     My research into the Hagglunds will continue as will my educational campaign. You can either be included or not.

     Should either of you picket my church or engage in threatening Internet postings then you will be signalling to me that you have declined my offer.

     At that point, the gloves come off.

     Despite what you may think, the truth of the matter is that I am only a parishioner of the Church of Scientology. I am not a staff member and I can assure you that I am not under the control or guidance of any department of the C of S - and that includes the Office of Special Affairs.

     My status gives me a great deal of leeway.

     I can promise you both that I will not violate criminal or civil law but, beyond that, there won't be any ground rules.

     I would respectfully suggest to you both that before you reject my offer, you take a long, sober second look at it.

     I think that you would both agree that I would not be so foolish as to send you a long and detailed letter telling you both of exactly what I intend to do and then not follow through.

     Unlike you, l won't be conducting my research and educational campaign for 5-6 hours a month and then talking about it for the next mouth on the Internet.

     I'd like to present you with another thought - when you support a person like Hagglund, his words and actions become your words and actions.

     Unfortunately, I doubt that Hagglund will be offering either of you much support when you both start bearing the brunt of the reaction to my campaign.

     And, unlike Hagglund, neither of you have a working wife to turn to when troubled times arise.

     You both might be surprised to know that I fully support an individual's right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

     However I hold it as a truth that those rights come with some responsibilities. And one of those responsibilities is to exercise some judgement in the use of that right.

     I think that any reasonable person would see the majority of your "criticisms" as nothing more than harassment.

     You have both crossed the line. And you are both, like the Hagglunds, about to experience first-hand that old adage "What goes around comes around".

     I hope that I have been successful in communicating, in some degree, the volume and intensity and nature of exactly what is coming your way.

     The choice is yours.

Sincerely,

 

Peter Ramsay