INQUIRER Editor: Gerald Dantone
Thumbs Up Inquirer Print Publication Design: John Wilmarth
Long Island Secular Humanists Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740, 516 742 1662, Email: InfidelsRe@aol.com

Volume 2, Issue 3, March 1999 Paranoia runs deep
1 Secular Humanism (statement of, by Gerald Dantone)
2 The enemy is everywhere!
3 The ethics of belief
4 Humanism in pop culture featuring sonny meadows
5 New York Area Skeptics (NYASk)
6 Bishop McHugh - New RVC diocese leader
7 The meaning of impeachment - Holy war
8 Springtime
9 Letters to the Editor

SECULAR HUMANISM is the philosophy of life guided by reason and science, freed from religious and secular dogmas, motivated by an appreciation of life and the lives of others, seeking to reach goals of human happiness, freedom and understanding on this earth, in this life. TOC

THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE! Gerry Dantone
The don't ask, don't Teletubbie?

I must admit that the news came as a shock, but I should not have been surprised. Tinky Winky is gay! Yes, the Teletubbie with the triangle on his head is not heterosexual and the Rev. Jerry Falwell has the evidence. The February edition of the National Liberty JournaI, edited and published by Falwell contains an article warning parents that the Teletubbie character, on a show aimed at toddlers, may be a gay role model. The article claimed that Tinky "is purple - the gay pride color; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle - the gay pride symbol." He also carries a purse, also known as his magic bag. Yet he has a male voice. Horrors!!!

Now it may not be the most ludicrous idea that this character may indeed be designed to give off an ambiguous message about gender. Other publications have also mentioned that Tinky Winky may symbolize a gay orientation, so in that way, Falwell may not be alone. However may I be so bold as to remind everyone that Tinky Winky is a full body puppet - with no genitalia, make-believe or otherwise.

But let us, for the moment, accept Falwell's premise that Tinky Winky is meant to be a gay role model. This is what the National Liberty Journal says: "As a Christian I feel that role modeling the gay lifestyle is damaging to the moral lives of children."

May I submit that this is a reprehensible attitude destined to lower the self-esteem of those children who grow up with a gay sexual orientation. Such an attitude, it can be argued, contributes to a self-hatred in minors who possess a gay sexual orientation. Is it then any wonder that gay children have a significantly higher suicide rate than do other children? Consider what the real-world effect may be of Leviticus 20:13: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Since it is inevitable that there will be young adults who have a homosexual orientation, wouldn't it be better that they be given positive role models? Wouldn't it be better if the general public had positive feelings about those who may be different, as well? Do we really want these children growing up hating themselves for a trait they were most likely born with? Is it possible to think well of someone who is believed to deserve eternal punishment? Do we want to foster hatred or acceptance of harmless individuals who happen to have a different sexual orientation?

This is the dividing line, philosophically, between religious morals and humanistic morals: the humanist opts for the well being of humanity in this lifetime, while the religious may be more concerned with a person's undetectable soul and the unimaginable afterlife. In order to sacrifice our happiness in the here and now, isn't it paramount that belief in the existence of souls and the afterlife be based on more than faith? Even If there are souls and an afterlife, shouldn't there be better evidence than a book written by persons merely claiming a divine guidance, on just how one can keep one's soul in good graces?

None of these things have deterred Rev. Falwell and others from contributing, in my opinion, to a climate where gays, and non-believers, are considered sinful, and worthy of eternal torment. The fact that gays are routinely beaten and that gays and nonbelievers are often described as enemies of America is undeniable evidence of a deep-rooted bigotry perpetuated by religious teaching common even in some mainstream denominations.

Rev. Falwell can make statements about the Jewish male Anti-Christ and gay Teletubbies corrupting our youth and still be invited on network TV news shows for his "expert" opinion. We have a long way to go in developing our ethical character as a society. TOC

THE ETHICS OF BELIEF Paul Lozowsky

In 1877 William Clifford published a paper, "The Ethics of Belief". It was a period of time, just after the publication of Charles Darwin's book, that led many persons to question, rethink and revise their conception of nature and God. It was a period of crisis in public and church thought and discussion.

William Clifford argued that ethics as well as logic has something to say about the justification of belief. He wrote that if you are not logically entitled to hold a particular belief, then you are not morally entitled to hold that belief. This resulted in somewhat of a paradox for many people. The religious became confused, since they were familiar with the claim that in religious matters doubt or disbelief was a sin. But Clifford could not be turned away, and insisted ever more strongly that in the absence of logical justification, belief was immoral and unethical.

Clifford, in his paper, gives an example, and it goes like this: A ship owner claims to believe his vessel is seaworthy despite knowing (and dismissing) certain facts casting fatal doubts on this belief. Subsequently, on the next voyage, the ship was lost. Wt' can say that the ship owner acquired his belief not by honestly earning it in patient investigation, but by stifling his doubts, leading to an ethical disaster.

Then he goes on to state, and this is considered a classic among the thinkers and intellectuals of the past and present: "No real belief, however trifling and fragmentary it may seem, is ever truly insignificant. It prepares us to receive more of its like, conforms those which resembled it before, and weakens others: and so gradually lays a steady stream in our inner-most thoughts, which may someday explode into overt action, and leave its stamp upon our character forever.

Then belief, that sacred faculty, which prompts the decisions of our will, and knits into harmonious working all our energies of our being, is ours not for ourselves as individuals but for humanity. It is rightly used on truths which have been established by long tradition and waiting toil, and which have stood up in the fierce light of free and fearless questioning.

It is desecrated when given to unproved and unquestioned statements, for the solace and private pleasure of the believer. To add a tinsel splendor to the plain straight road of our life, and display a bright mirage beyond it, and even to drown the common sorrows of our life by self-deception."

Clifford goes on to say "it is not only the duty of leaders of men, philosophers, statesmen, but every man to guard against" unethical belief. He concludes by saying, "no simplicity of mind, no obscurity of station, can escape the universal duty of questioning all that we believe." TOC

HUMANISM IN POP CULTURE FEATURING SONNY MEADOWS Gerry Dantone
The March meeting of LISH will focus on the influence of humanism in American pop culture. This should be an evening of great fun as well as being informative, since Long Island's finest folk-blues troubadour, Sonny Meadows, will sing a number of his own tunes. Sonny is most well known for his pop opera "An American Inquisition: Tales of a Navy Blue Dress" which is a must see. Check your local club and theater listings for the next performance of this ambitious production about you-know-what. Also featured will be a discussion of humanism in film, TV and music, and more live songs by this writer, a member of the rock lend UniversalDice.com. Attendees are encouraged to bring video clips (a VCR will be provided) of 5 minutes or less displaying examples of humanism in TV or the movies! Have it cued up in advance to the proper moment or else! Your favorite humanist music is also fertile ground for discussion. A good time is guaranteed for all. TOC

NEW YORK AREA SKEPTICS (NYASk)
The New York Area Skeptics is a terrific organize tion that should appeal to many secular humanists. Associated with CSICOP, founded by Paul Kurtz, the group has monthly meetings and a newsletter that deals with claims of the paranormal, medical quackery and any other topic that calls for a critics examination. Their next two meetings are Tuesday, March 30, 7:45 PM, regarding "Cults and Their Tac tics" and Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 7:45 PM, topic, "Buying a Car Without Getting Taken For a Ride." They meet at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Rd., Plainview, Nassau County. TOC

BISHOP McHUGH - NEW RVC DIOCESE LEADER Gerry Dantone
A new bishop has been chosen to lead the Rockville Centre Diocese replacing the retiring Bishop John McGann. Bishop James McHugh has been Bishop at Camden, New Jersey and has been chosen, most likely, for his strong views on abortion and other matters involving Catholic orthodoxy.

McHugh has been described by former Governor Mario Cuomo as "in the mold" of a strict-ondogma prelate and "wasn't about to change." McHugh has been unequivocal in his opposition to abortion and has been a spokesman for Vatican, reportedly, on world population.

Of course, Bishop McHugh is entitled to oppose abortion and birth control if he wishes. However, in a continuing theme that has been followed through the first issues of the LISH Inquirer, a problem arises when the religious wish to install their religious beliefs and dogma as secular law applicable to the non-believer or those of differing faiths. Since Newsday reported that the Bishop has, in the past, applied pressure to those Catholic public officials who have not advanced Catholic teachings in their professional capacities, it may be that Bishop McHugh is not sensitive to the important issue of separation of state and church. In addition, his approval of the Southern Baptist statement last year urging wives to "submit...graciously" to their husbands, is also within his rights, but where does that approval stand with his parishioners?

It seems apparent that Bishop McHugh will not be an activist in the Church for female ordinations, the marriage of Catholic clerics, birth control, or other matters in which, in my opinion, the majority of Catholics disagree with orthodox teachings. It is interesting that the appointed leader may have been chosen for his resistance to the ideas of his followers, but that is the choice of the Catholic Church hierarchy. Though Bishop McHugh has been depicted as unchanging, it is hoped here that he is open to the collective wisdom of his flock and others in the community. We urge that his goal be to improve the lives of everyone in the community, and not merely enforce religious dogma, and that he be successful in an endeavor in which all persons can find common ground. TOC

THE MEANING OF IMPEACHMENT: HOLY WAR Gerry Dantone
Though most of us are sick of the impeachment process, and the continuing onslaught against the President, it would be foolhardy to simply dismiss what has occurred over the last few years. The impeachment process began at least five years ago when religious conservative opponents of Bill Clinton began their campaign to remove the President. Years before Bill met Monica, the President was the subject of videos, sold by various religious right-wing interests, claiming that the President was a drug kingpin and murderer in his days as Arkansas' governor. Do not forget that Ken Starr's inquiry Lid not begin with Monica, it began with a number of other investigations that, after $50,000,000 of expenditure, came to nothing. One of the President's most vicious opponents, Rep. Bob Barr, called for the President's impeachment before the President allegedly committed any of the "crimes" for which he was impeached.

This was more than partisan politics. It was Holy War, and this is not my opinion and not even the opinion of the vast majority of the citizens of the country. It is the opinion of those who created this nightmare out of one man's sexual indiscretions. Pat Buchanan, in an infamous column, even linked this crisis kit the Humanist Manifesto II, as if Clinton was not a Baptist or religious person himself. He wrote "It was in the mud at Woodstock that Clinton's peers publicly embraced the morality of the Humanist Manifesto: Consensual sex has no moral component. Whether one does drugs is one's own business...". I wonder exactly how many of those at Woodstock have actually read the Humanist Manifesto?

It is appalling that someone with Buchanan's clout could get away with such blatant untruths! (NOTE: No'`'here does the Manifesto promote or encourage sexual promiscuity or drug usage. It merely fails to promote the persecution of those who do not meet Buchanan's lifestyle standards. Apparently Buchanan favors persecution of the promiscuous and others who fail his litmus tests.)

If Americans do not want their country led by the kind of religiously righteous fanatic embodied by many of the House of Representatives Republicans, we had better do something about it soon. When a lie about sex in testimony deemed immaterial, in a civil suit since dismissed rises to the level of a constitutional crisis, we have a greater problem than a having a cad in the White House. We have a one sided Holy War against common sense and against a religiously neutral Constitution and government.

The President is not blameless in this matter of course. Due to his past deceptions, albeit over other sexual indiscretions, his denials have little value. This is a sad relationship to have with the American public. For this he has no one to blame but himself. If there is an argument for him to resign, it is because of his lack of veracity in personal matters that have been made public.

The next congressional and presidential election, though, is an opportunity for the rational to flex their muscles. This election is the chance for Americans to vote for Public Schools, for example, or instead for a voucher system that will funnel tax dollars into religious training at the expense of public schools. It will be an election that can determine the fate of the First Amendment, the very amendment that has made America the freest society on earth. A "Religious Freedom Amendment," designed, in my opinion, to give the majority religion the power to dominate even the public sector and destroy the First Amendment is priority #1 for the religious right. Please note that our "moderate" republican representatives, King, Lazio and Forbes, all voted for what I call this "castration" of our freedoms.

It is no coincidence that those who pushed for impeachment are much the same people who are pushing America toward theocracy. Unless one is of the exact "right" kind of religious belief, then one is not safe from this threat. It is time for tolerant Americans to recognize the battle that some are waging against the Constitution and those considered outcast. Hey think it's Imply War. TOC

SPRINGTIME A. Sportsfan
This could mean only two things. March Madness and Spring Training. Possibly the best time of year for sports. The NCAA tournament is a tremendously enjoyable event to watch. And BASEBALL is back. Life is good!! So sit back and enjoy. This just may be the meaning of life. TOC

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
2/22/99 Hi thanks for the newsletter. I wish I were closer, I might get Here. P.  Sorry, since WE don't claim to be able to move mountains or libraries, you'll have to come to us. G.D.

2/27/99 I want to compliment you on the Inquirer Newsletter. Your design and print are clear and elegant. E.M.  Now you've done it! lohn W., art designer, is going to want a raise after this! Good thing any payment would constitute such a raise. G.D.

2/23/99 Don't know how you got my name but please keep me informed, I appreciated the newsletter. More, more, more. N.R.  We have our ways, inch, heh, heh. lust wait till we ask for dues! G.D. TOC