Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:31:12 -0700
From: Kristen Maaherra <urantian@concentric.net>
Reply-To: urantian@concentric.net
To:
Subject: OPEN LETTER TO MO, from Kristen+++
OPEN LETTER TO MO from Kristen Maaherra - March 27, 1998
Mo,
How can we settle when you're out there lying about me?
At first, I gave you the benefit of the doubt (since I understand that people often mis-quote others accidentally or for their own purposes). But enough reports of the Foundation's West Coast Tour have come my way that I find it difficult to believe that "everyone" could have misunderstood what was being said. A couple of examples should make the point:
1. Michelle Klimesh e-mailed me: "Can you help clarify this? Matthew Rappaport wrote this after a conversation with Mo." Matthew writes: "One last note of interest... Mo said that had Kristen not backed out of the settlement she originally signed, every WEB operator who wanted to could, this very day, put up a copy of the UB for distribution via the WEB (so long as they didn't *sell* it), and do it legally, with the permission of the UF, analogous to freeware software licenses. I'm not sure why Kristen's backing out nullifies the deal for everyone else at this point, but that is what he said."
2. Sage Waitts (http://www.teleport.com/~paradigm/graphics) writes: "I asked Tonia about the comment made in San Fransico regarding Kristen rescinding her signature on a recent agreement with the Foundation which seems to result in no one being able to put the book on the Internet for free downloads. Tonia said Kristen was offered a license for the DOS version of the book (which others then could download from her site) but refused it because nothing short of the abolition of the copyright will do. If I have this wrong, I would appreciate being corrected by anyone who was there."
Mo, you know I did not sign the agreement you FAXed over to me with Richard's signature on it – and then back out. You know I consider the agreement a "first step" (something in writing) of a fairly involved process of discussion and compromise.
I have also heard that both you and Richard are saying (when you aren't saying I signed the agreement and then backed out) that I "promised" to sign it if Mo became a trustee. In Portland, Rich actually told my daughter-in-law to "remind me" to make good on my word about signing it.
I think you got yourself in a bind with Richard. Richard believed you had "control" of me, since you were instrumental in settling Eric's lawsuit in Colorado. I haven't signed yet, and Richard blames you. So you turn around and trash me (publically, I might add). Blame the victim.
Go listen to your tapes of our phone conversations. I said if you became a trustee, I'd at least consider talking to the Foundation – which is exactly what you and I have been doing – talking about the possibility of settling.
Speaking of talking about the settlement, what about a settlement – as in the Colorado lawsuit where copyright wasn't even mentioned in the settlement agreement – where some things are left unresolved?
However, it's looking more and more like you guys don't want to settle, you want to fight and control and continue the pattern of lies that has been the problem all along. Mo, you have truly become "one of them," you have become the enemy, just when I thought we might be friends.
The Urantia religion is the religion OF Jesus – not the religion ABOUT Jesus. And the religion of Jesus cannot be built on lies.
Mo, you tell me you believe the Foundation has always had a valid copyright. Answer this: IF the trustees have "always had" a valid copyright, WHY did they lie about the superhuman authorship? IF they had a valid copyright, they would not have needed to lie in court. . . ever.
Go license "everybody" to put the Urantia Papers on the Internet. Go file your "Statement of Superhuman Authorship" with the courts. I'm not stopping you. Just because I won't sign the 1000 word limit – which in your mind seems to be "non-negotiable" – doesn't mean I'm some sort of monster who won't negotiate.
I'd like to see the Foundation to come to Boulder for one of their PR meetings. I don't think you can get away with your lies in this community.
God bless you, Kristen
PS. Yesterday, Judge Urbom set a status conference for April 1, 1998. If we aren't going to settle the lawsuit, the next step (as I understand it) will be a pre-trial hearing, then a full-blown hearing (costing "100s of thousands," Joe said) on the damages against me and the injunction against me you guys have asked for.