by Anna Karam, Goonellabah, Australia
On Friday 12 October I attended an event at Lennox Head Community Centre, NSW, Australia put on by Universal Medicine, an organisation which presents to free thinking individuals a way forward for humanity that is based on simply living a life that is more honest and loving towards oneself and all others.
This evening was then sabotaged by a National TV network media crew headed up by David Millikan (a so-called Uniting Church minister) who did anything but UNITE. Instead he accused the people attending (normal people just like myself) of being part of a cult that has the potential to harm others. Who are we harming, David? Ask yourself this truly.
This ‘media attention’ stems from a handful of men who claim that their relationships had broken up due to their wives’ involvement with Universal Medicine. These women have stood up and made it clear that their relationship breakdown has nothing to do with Universal Medicine – rather issues that had existed previously and were not being addressed. These men are angry and hurt and want someone to blame. It is these men that the media have listened to and constructed their stories from – with no attempt to balance this with a fair and just representation of UniMed or the women whose relationships have ended – this is not to mention investigating the many relationships which have flourished and deepened as a result of the individuals making more self-loving choices.
Our media supports the lies which stem from the anger and hurt of these men, by not only publishing their stories and refusing to listen to the women who are a part of this, but taking it one step further and actually seeking out the organisation these women are connected with (Universal Medicine) in an outright attempt to attack and accuse this organisation of being a cult. I would laugh at this if I didn’t have to believe it to be true, for in truth, it is deeply saddening. If any of you from the National Network station represented by David Millikan had any integrity at all, you would not allow this sort of intrusion to go on. How is it that this is even legal? – something for all of humanity to consider as our media portray these lies as if it were sport – why not serve the world and focus on important issues?
David Millikan (who is on your payroll) was outright attacking a group of everyday people attending an event that actually looks at the welfare and well-being of human beings – something that the world is desperately in need of; that you are a National TV network heading this attack and misrepresentation reveals how much media accountability needs to change.
I call for a true fair go, let go of trying to get a story that sells, and come and speak to us for real. I assure you that this is a story truly worth sharing with the public!
Words on Serge Benhayon 
I can’t help but feel that there is misogyny behind the media intentionally ignoring the women in the relationship break-ups mentioned in this blog. It’s also deeply unethical for the media to not provide fair and balanced reporting. The stench of seeking sensationalism, and therefore profit, by the media is obvious.
What is in the public interests is not what the manipulative media are after it has been the same every time Truth is presented our controlling spirits have an agenda to stay in charge as long as possible so the Love of The Soul as is presented in The Way of The Livingness is silenced.
Greatly shared, as when we judge we only can speak from a loveless base. Hence the feeling of what happened to the people in this event is loveless.
Our media is all about inciting, and truth be damned … there is no real interest in telling real stories and writing truth and the bigger question for all of us is why we lap this up, for media would not exist without advertisers and readers, and so we all need to consider how we contribute to media demand by either not speaking up and demanding something different or by adding to the media incitement.
We have accepted really low standards in the media and now we are collectively living the outcomes of how the media is.
I know for me the more honest I get about things the less I harm others. Pretty simple really and common sense.
First do no “harm”, then maybe we could line up for decency and respect class that could replace Sunday School and the wayward religious teachers could also learn by those who live as True examples of Love for they have reconnected to their essences!
If we have a personal investment in whatever we do we are always blinded to some degree or another and thus our realities can be as far apart as night and day. The more we allow ourselves to live by the truth we deep down know the less we will be tempted by the attractions we have made life to be.
Never has this request been more applicable – don’t judge something a) by what the media has said or more accurately – lied about, and b) you haven’t actually tried or experienced. After all, it might just be the best thing you’ve ever known…
Just shy of 6 years since this happened the media has still not wanted to cover the real story of Universal medicine and the many hundreds of students who have changed their lives, have more loving relationships, commit to life, work, family, children like never before.
And it is a great story Aimee, but I suppose one way to dismiss and discredit such people is to call them ‘brainwashed’ and ‘cult members’, it’s a quite outrageous label but when something is so gloriously happening, i.e., people transforming their own lives to become more loving, healthy, vital and purposeful with the support of Universal Medicine, then perhaps saying something quite inflammatory such as “cult member” is used as a way to dismiss any true investigation and honest self reflection by onlookers.
I agree Melinda. Name calling is easy, any one of us can do it from a distance… but actually going to the source and taking a good honest look at the truth takes a bit more effort and willingness.
How can we bring back the true meaning of life? it rather shows us through the falseness of our media, that we have allowed our human lives to be about lack of power, truth and purpose. Hence that we have created all sorts of interactions, situations and problems that involve complication and distraction.. now ending up into a mess of purposeless writing and communication.
Relationship break ups and separations happen all over the planet all the time. If you decide to take more care of yourself and you decide that your relationship is not working anymore and you end it, this does not mean you are in a cult, it just means you are ending a relationship. Staying in a relationship that is abusive or bringing you pain and misery and over-riding your feelings is actually more cultish like behaviour than choosing to leave!
Andrew when abuse is the normal and loving behaviour is considered cultish something is very wrong with society.
Yes and anyone who has tried to break out of a relationship or cycle of abuse will tell you that you that the retaliation and push back you get from the other party shows just how normalised abuse is in our world and if you dare to say no to it, you usually get attacked or ridiculed in one way or another.
The media is about vested interests and what those vested interests wish to focus on or not, be that either ignoring something or outright lying about something as it may challenge the accepted view (usually by those in power and that includes media). We need to consider as a wider public here what exactly we support in our newspapers and how by supporting those same newspapers we are effectively saying we support their agenda and in many cases the abuse they mete out. There is a reckoning for media here, yes, but there is a reckoning for us all for we have allowed this to be and stood by … so now we need to speak and ensure we do not support the lies and abuse in any way.
We’re lost a level of decency in our societies and our media is at the head of this charge … however we all need to look at this as engaging the media while they behave in ways that are indecent and abusive means we are in fact condoning what they do. If we did not buy the newspapers or read their websites … they might change pretty quickly … so the bigger question I see here is how we go so far we think we can treat fellow humans in such a despicable way.
Yes, we have given power to the media to think for us, instead of holding true to our inner values and demanding higher standards.
That’s exactly it Melinda, where in the past we’ve given power to established religions and institutions we’ve now replaced that with media and celebrity, but it’s the same pattern for in all instances we’re not holding true to what we know within.
It’s interesting that the press feel like they have to completely lie and sensationalise a story for it to sell, I wonder if this is what we as the general public are asking for, or whether there is a larger ploy to keep people from the truth, especially when it comes to a story about an organisation like Universal Medicine that speaks the truth, cares about people more than any business I’ve ever encountered before and has inspired 1000s or people to lead healthier, more joyful, more vital, more committed lives. Surely as depression, mental illness, general unhappiness and illness and disease rates hit an all-time high – this is the kind of story we need.
In any organisation, there will always be some people who get divorced, having watched Serge talk with others, he has helped many couple to live a true relationship. From my own experience divorce or long term breakups can be either lovingly accepted by both parties or unacceptable by one, who normally wants to blame another, we all have to take responsibility for the choices we make.
When we look at the set up of lies and misrepresentation that the Media and those such as David Millikan often concoct to sensationalise stories for higher ratings, it makes one wonder how much of truth we are receiving when we view what the media presents.
When anyone is seeking to sensationalise a ‘story’ then truth is the first casualty and there is no chance of a ‘fair go’ for those in the firing line because they are only fodder for the required outcome i.e. higher ratings. There is zero interest in any other aspect and the fact that a democracy allows this ambush of innocent people for others financial gain is disgraceful and needs addressing.
Well said Helen, “…truth is the first casualty…” so why do we read newspapers or watch the news on TV? Is it because we don’t actually want to know the truth and are quite comfortable to continue believing what we are told?
Just realised that the different between the words minister and sinister is only one letter. The language….
It is quite obvious that the media is not so much interested in truth. It is what stirs and sells that they are after. I wonder if they ever consider the consequences of their behaviour when they cannot be bothered to hold integrity as an essential value of news reporting. Not much difference between them and those wannabes who would put anything on the Internet to get noticed.
I was at that evening presentation, and it was clear David Millikan was there to pounce on an unsuspecting group of people creating a picture for television of what he wanted. The fact that the gathering met none of his pre-conceived ideas meant nothing to him and certainly did not change his views. It did not seem to matter that the truth did not fit his picture. He just wanted what he wanted to report on, regardless of whether it was true or not.
It’s awesome that there is now a ‘story’ about the truth of the media and it’s lack of accountability and presentation of the facts and the truth. I do not watch or listen to the media. It does not represent our world and the potential that is there for all to live.
Universal Medicine has supported hundreds of couples to lead a truer and more joyful relationship, of course sometimes a break up is the best thing for both parties as it is simply unhealthy to stay in an arrangement that is loveless or abusive. This is very common sense and something UM advocates and supports people with.
Judith that is exactly it, sometimes a change in our relationship or an actual break-up is exactly what’s needed to foster growth for both people. We are not here to live out pictures of how life should be, but to grow and live more lovingly with ourselves and others. This means that it can be a supportive thing at times for a relationship to break-up, but it’s up to individuals to choose to grow from it, or to fight, complain, blame and stay stuck about it.
David Millikan is responsible for causing a lot of harm by his underhand, abusive tactics to create a reaction in those who had chosen to listen to a presentation by Universal Medicine. Presentations that inspire many to choose to live in harmony and respect with everyone.
It’s disgusting that this was allowed by the TV network, and not only that, that all those involved in the ambush also felt that it was ok to do. Where was their own discernment in that choice? How did they feel this would help others?
Elodie these are the standards we have sunk to where the abuse of others, such as the planned ambush of the Universal Medicine event, is considered news or entertainment on TV and in the general media. As the saying goes, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”