German officials have allegedly refused to grant the makers of a new film starring T. Cruise, Crazy Cult Member, access to historic military locations for the purposes of filming. The film is about a plot to assassinate Hitler, and the German military is concerned about the portrayal of important historical figures by a member of what they consider to be a cult:

“[Filmmakers] will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult,” Kammerbauer is quoted as saying.

“In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg’s person,” Kammerbauer added.

Instinctively the idea of the military stifling creative expression, even by crazy people, seems repugnant… is this decision good, bad, or indifferent?

Pros:

• Scientology has a long history of not only being a weird cult concocted by a bad science fiction author but also of being aggressive, unpleasant, manipulative, and litigious.
• Scientology in particular likes to stifle the freedom of expression of anyone who publicly criticises Scientology and therefore Scientologists perhaps deserve less sympathy than the average struggling artist.
• This may help stave off at best another boring Tom Cruise movie, and at worst something in the league of Battlefield Earth.

Cons:

• It is perhaps somewhat hypocritical of the Germans to criticise anyone for believing in insane ideas promoted by a charismatic but weird leader who was a complete no-hoper before he became a veritable god on Earth.
• According to the maxim “I do not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it” even repressed, cult-brainwashed lunatics have the right to say whatever they want in whatever form they want.
• The state controlling creative endeavours and demanding a specific version of history be represented in popular culture is typically something post-totalitarian societies like to avoid as part of their “12 steps to no more hideous repression” recovery programs and is widely regarded as “not cool” in democracies.

Conclusion: probably not cool, but Scientology is insidious and unpleasant nonetheless and they could always film in Austria instead.