INQUIRER Volume 5, Issue 12, Deember, 2002, Long Island Secular Humanists Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740, Email: LISecHum@aol.com . A Thumbs Up Publication Editor: Gerald Dantone, Art Design: John R. Wilmarth Copyright LISH 2000 (All articles in this newsletter may be reprinted by organizations affiliated with the Council for Secular Humanism with a reciprocating reprinting agreement with LISH, so long as the article is used in full and with complete crediting. Edited versions can be used with written permission.)
NOTICE TO LISH Supporters: What level of association with the Council for Secular Humanism should LISH choose: “Cooperating Local Group,” “Allies,” or “Primary Allies”?LISH QUESTION OF THE MONTH
For details on these levels of cooperation see the article by John Rafferty in this issue, or go to http://nyhumanist.org/messages/bruckner_csh.htm for the text of a letter by CSH Executive Director Ed Buckner, or go to www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kurtz_22_4.htm to see an editorial on the topic by Paul Kurtz.
Forward your answers to LISecHum@aol.com or write to LISH, PO Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740.TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) Bush Wins!
2) Letters to the Editor
3) Impressions From The Godless March
4) The Solstice - And Other Ideas
5) Origins - Part 3
6) Quickies
7) What Kind of Secular Humanists are We
8) Making The Rounds with Norm
9) What I Want For Christmas By Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
LISH MEETING INFORMATION
Austin Dacey, of the Center for Inquiry: The Future of LISH Austin
Dacey, of the Center for Inquiry (CFI) NY Metro area, will be the guest speaker at our
public forum on Friday, December 20, 7:15PM at the
Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Road, Plainview, Nassau County,
NY. Austin will speak about the future of the CFI and LISH's relationship with
it. In addition LISH will explore the many secular options available to us at the
end of the year including Human Light, with creator Jim Fox on hand; the old standby, the
Winter Solstice; and everyone's favorite, New Year's! Goodies will be available for
all who attend. It's Free! Members are encouraged to bring their favorite
pastries and finger foods.
In January we will meet for our annual Winter Brunch at the East Buffet Restaurant on Rt. 110 in Huntington, opposite the Walt
Whitman Mall. The scheduled date is Sunday, January 19, 2003, 1:15 PM. The cost is $21/adult, and $14/child, payable at the restaurant.
Please RSVP so we can make accurate reservations!
Darwin Day is coming and is set for Saturday, February 8,
2003, 2:00PM at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library.
Guest speakers include Carl Zimmer and Prof. Elof Carlson, with musical guest Sonny
Meadows. Don't miss this unique event!
Visit LISH on the web: http://nyhumanist.org/lish.htm (NOTE NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS)
BUSH WINS!
by Default Gerry Dantone
It is amazing that as poorly an explained and defended policy as
President Bush's policy on presidential authorization for a unilateral preemptive attack
on Iraq has not met with greater general opposition from the American public.
Consider that the majority of Americans have opposed a unilateral and pre-emptive strike
against Iraq and instead would only consider an attack with the sanction and approval of
the UN Security Council; in other words, not unilaterally and only if the UN approves,
which is to say, not preemptively. Somehow, though, the public and media have
glossed over these core differences with the Bush administration even though most people
are far closer to the Democrats' position - if only the Democrats would articulate
it. The compromise agreement that the UN Security Council ultimately passed is
closer to the Democrat's position than the position articulated by the Bush
administration. How then does Bush keep on winning, at the mid-term elections and
the opinion polls?
The first portion of responsibility must go to the wimps in all of this - Democratic
elected officials who disagree but are more concerned about appearing
“unpatriotic.” Aside from a Sen. Byrd here, and an Al Gore there, too many
Democrats acquiesced and gave the President the resolution and free hand he
requested. How quickly the Golf of Tonkin resolution has been forgotten! Bush
wins!
Another slice of responsibility must go to those who helped select President Bush,
including those who opposed him but also did not support the only electable alternative,
Al Gore. This is the nightmare many Gore supporters envisioned. There WAS a
difference between Gore and Bush after all. Yes, those who voted their
“conscience” can now revel in their purity; that seems to be more important than
the consequences of their actions - Bush's pending war in Iraq. Bush wins!
The last piece of responsibility lies in an unlikely place - the so-called “peace
movement,” or at least a segment of it. If there were ever a recipe for
failure, this movement has perfected it! Only occasionally are heard sober and
well-considered explanations for why this potential war should not now be fought: Instead
one often hears about US racism, imperialism, anti-capitalism, murdering Afghanis, Israeli
racism and oppression, bloodlust, globalization, oil, etc. Every anti-American (and
anti-Israeli) sentiment is trotted out and every grievance is given its moment in the
sun. Little of it has anything to do with the lack of wisdom of a unilateral
preemptive attack on Iraq. Much of the dissent has to do with anti-Americanism,
anti-Semitism, or with the pet political peeve of the group protesting US policy even
though the reasonable to expect consequences of a unilateral preemptive attack on Iraq are
more than sufficient to oppose it.
If there were ever a way to stop the “peace movement” in its tracks, the
“peace movement” is doing it. Bush wins again!
Idealistic appeals to the ways of pacifism are simply not enough of an argument to oppose
Hussein, not in an era where we still remember Hitler and when bin Laden is still a
force. Not going to war against a Hitler or bin Laden would likely not end a war -
it would simply make it one-sided. Appeasing them would lead to unethical agreements
that would harm many persons. Basically, using Pacifism as an argument is akin to
asking everyone to adopt your religion: It's simply not going to happen, even putting
aside the wisdom of pacifism in this case or in general.
Humanists are supposed to have concern for the well being of others. This means that
they should care far more about the consequences of their action than merely feeling
guilt-free regarding their actions. Purity of opinion or voting record does not get
you to humanist heaven. For example, voting for someone other than Al Gore if one
vehemently opposed George W. Bush was reasonably expected to help elect George W. Bush,
and it did. The difference in a number of states was smaller than the number of
votes for various 3rd party candidates. As a consequence, Bush is president.
As a consequence, we have a tattered wall of separation between church and state, a tax
cut for the better off, no new social programs in sight, a ballooning budget and deficit,
a weak economy, no answers for Wall Street abuses, and a potentially disastrous war in
Iraq on our hands. Bush wins! BIG! Thankfully, there is a presidential
election in 2004. Unfortunately, a lot of damage can be inflicted in two more years.
This is a lot to chew on, and it doesn't taste good. It is time for a “peace
movement” that is focused on the real goal - humanity's well being, not some
self-serving purity of intent. This “peace movement” would oppose any
unilateral preemptive war where it cannot be demonstrated that lives are at stake.
This peace movement would not allow partisanship into the picture. Other pet issues
would not be introduced to demonize the US, Israel, Muslims, Jews, or anyone else.
Only the consequences of the war are fair game, and all the pre-existing conditions that
would affect the consequences. This would be a movement that would not turn off
those who appreciate their freedoms afforded to us in this great country - at least until
the Presidency of George W Bush.
The stakes are too high to be silent about the anti-American and anti-Semitic sentiments
that too many have in the current failing peace/progressive movement. The
consequences of failure are too great.
This same argument applies to all progressive issues - we cannot reasonably expect support
while spewing out hatred of America, capitalism, Israel or spewing hatred in
general. The fact is that we can freely oppose the pending war in Iraq, and oppose
John Ashcroft, Ariel Sharon, Hamas, and the President's policies; and that until this
president was selected, we had liberties that were the envy of the world. If the
loyal opposition becomes the un-loyal opposition - Bush will continue to win.
An Example of the Extreme Left Helping Bush
A furor over a poem by a well-known leftist artist/poet has brought attention to an
undercurrent of anti-Semitism in some radical left-wing politics. According to the
poet and his source, a Green Party official, “Israelis” were told not to go to
work on or about 9/11/01, possibly in order to avoid their doom. According to New
Jersey's poet laureate, Amiri Baraka, “It is the Green Party's Michael Ruppert who
makes the most effective case for the 4000 Israeli workers (Not Jewish Workers!) but
Israeli nationals. He says in his video, “If what I am showing you is known
overtly although the media, how much more does our thirty billion dollar intelligence
community know?” (Skeptical Inquirer magazine rebuts this charge in the
Jan./Feb 2003 issue, pages 9-12. They also recommend visiting the following websites
for more info:
www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0mdb0
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01091416.htm
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/09/60II/main524947.shtml
[TOC]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Re: Iraq
10/18/02 (Reprinted from Newsday) The “Bush Doctrine"- - to preemptively go to
war with any nation seen and believed by the president as a threat to our national
security - - changes our republic from a democracy into a kingdom, with King George
W. now on the throne. If Congress gives this power to Bush under the charade
of a broad resolution (does any one there remember the hoax of the Vietnam “Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution” almost 40 years ago?), as now proposed in case of Iraq, then the
Congress as well as the president is morally accountable for undoing that principle which
has made our country extraordinary - - the rule of law. And the United States shall
become another of history's chapters of the contemptuous use of power. Congress must
regain the power from the office of the president to make war, as required in the
constitution, and to serve notice on this president that if he exercises his Bush Doctrine
without first asking the Congress for a declaration of war against Iraq then he shall have
committed an impeachable offense and shall stand trial and be removed from office.
James Wentz, Freeport via Internet
Response: There are so many dangers inherent in this
adventure. One only hopes that cooler heads will prevail. G.D.
10/2/02 We should not invade Iraq, WITH or WITHOUT U.N. support. Terrible
destabilization of that region would be the major consequence -- death and destruction of
civilians would certainly follow -- a new generation of young people in the region would
hate America, Europe, and the U.N. Iraq poses no military threat to this country,
though terrorism is certainly on their agenda -- our attempts to decrease terrorist
threats will NOT be aided by going to war with Iraq, these threats come from all over the
mid-east and far-flung sections of some of the Muslim world. Enough?? Also,
the last time I read the constitution, it specifically indicated that only Congress could
make war, not that Congress could cede that power to the executive branch. Carol A.
Smith, M.D via Internet.
Response: Has anyone mentioned the above to Pres.
Bush? At least it would not insult our intelligence if the President pointed out the
other side's arguments and rebutted them. However, these good arguments should not
mean that Hussein could do anything and not face attack. It's just that he has not
done what requires us to wage war as of yet. We cannot be dogmatic if he indeed
launches an attack on the US or an ally. G.D.
10/3/02 Overheard at a gathering of quite liberal people recently: Well; if the UN okays
an attack on Iraq and if Saddam plays his usual cat and mouse game, then I guess we've got
to go attack him and his country. Here's my problem, not as a pacifist, which I am
not: Why does the kiss of approval from a multi-gathering of countries who have much to
gain monetarily by agreeing with the USA make such an incursion moral, ethical or
practical, or without grave consequences? The UN is an idea I approve of but their
consensus on matters that deal with loss of lives and the promotion of powerful countries
does not make their dealings right. How do you feel? Paul via Internet.
Response: Excellent point. UN approval still, of
course, would not make it right. Without such approval though, an invasion would be
that much more ill-advised. Consider, however, that if the world community,
including neighboring Arab/Muslim countries, agreed that Hussein was too dangerous to
leave alone, an invasion would be something to then consider. In the age of nuclear
and bio weapons, a Saddam Hussein is not a trivial matter. Neither is waging
unilateral preemptive war however. G.D.
10/17/02 Well, we have weapons of mass destruction that we fully intend on using on so
called "enemies". And unlike other countries, we actually have them, a lot
of them, more than any other country and a lot more powerful than any other country.
Why don't we have weapons inspectors coming in to our country telling us to disarm.
Oh yeah, because we're hypocrites and bullies. We can tell them not to have weapons
as we point our nukes straight at their nutsacks. That's fair. "We're
going to use our weapons now because in the future, Iraq might, although we don't know,
use their weapons."
What about India, Pakistan, China, Russia, etc. They have nukes. Someday they
might use them on us, we could decide. Then why aren't we sending inspectors over
there to try and disarm the country. In fact, why aren't we blowing them all up
right now before it's too late?.
What gives us the right to demilitarize a country that poses no immediate threat and has
committed no offensive act against the US? So let's see. My neighbor has a
gun. My neighbor doesn't like me. Although my neighbor hasn't threatened me, I
better be safe and kill him anyway. While I'm at it, I might as well tear down his
house too and deny him access to food and medical help, that way his family dies as
well. Who is really evil, we must ask ourselves. Then again, The Daily Show is
about to come on. So let's laugh about it instead.
I feel sick now, so I'm going to stop writing. Human's are such beautiful
creatures. And when we do bomb a country with a leader of over 20 years, the people
will definitely all rejoice. We're dying, we're starving, hooray. God bless
America. Look what America can do. America is so strong, they can blow up a
country the size of Pennsylvania. They can kill lots and lots of people because they
really only want to kill one person. Somers via Internet
Response: It is sad that Bush makes an argument that implies
that we can be hypocrites because we have power. Whenever the US asks another
country or the world in general to disarm, it should make an offer to disarm itself;
without doing so, hypocrisy is inevitable. One possible justification of the US'
possession of such weapons is that we have not initiated their use in a conflict nor have
we attacked other countries in the manner Iraq has attacked Iran and Kuwait.
However, this argument is undermined by Bush's call for a pre-emptive attack on
Iraq! And it is true that Bush is focused on one human, Hussein, and ignores what
may follow or other horrifying consequences. And it is also true that the full
consequences of the “Bush Doctrine” are probably beyond his ability to
comprehend. G.D.
Re: GAMOW
10/30/02 I was rather dismayed upon learning of your plans to lead a “Godless”
march in Washington. I view our organization as one who welcomes all independent
thinkers. In fact I would like our organization to be called “Independent
Thinkers of Long Island.” You would attract more members. By labeling
yourselves primarily as atheists you are becoming unecessarily exclusive. I feel
that we should welcome anyone who feels that organized religion has done more evil than
good. I would welcome anyone who had a strong belief in the separation of church and
state. I would welcome dissenters who even dared to criticize the bibles of all
religions. I don't care what a person's belief in the supernatural is. I
consider myself an agnostic. I cannot pretend that with my finite mind I can
comprehend the infinite. Would you exclude the great agnostic, Robert
Ingersoll? Many of the founders of our great nation were Deists. Would you
exclude Washington, Paine, Lincoln, etc?
To call us atheists is a bad tactical move. As a former P.R. man it is bad
P.R. I am a great admirer of your writings and tireless activities and I would like
our membership to increase. Howard Pollock, Hewlett, NY.
Response: Ellen Johnson, who organized the march, admitted,
in a speech during the weekend, that it was not easy to find a suitable title for the
march. She specifically did NOT want to use “atheist,” “humanist,
“secularist,” “freethinker,” or any other term that was already
associated with any particular group or philosophy. The reason was to be inclusive
of all groups of humanists, secular humanists, atheists, agnostics, deists, freethinkers,
and independent thinkers, etc., who did NOT specifically believe in the existence of God,
whether or not it could be proven one way or the other. A march of
“non-theists” may have proven a good compromise, but “godless”
obviously gets more attention, and attention it received. She knew that some people
complained about the ultimate choice, but noted that any choice was bound to be disputed
by some.
For your information, if you had been at the march, you would have seen a fine tribute to
great agnostics, atheists and deists of the past on the “jumbotron” TV screen,
including Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Paine, Ingersoll, and many more who were not
necessarily known as atheists. If one looks at the roster of groups who marched, one
would know that the march did not consist only of those who consider themselves
“atheists,”, but of all sorts of persons who do not actively believe in god or
gods. G.D.
11/10/02 Thanks for UniversalDice.com's appearance at the Godless Americans March On
Washington. It was absolutely wonderful to hear some good music from our side.
"Magic Butt" was particularly offensive to the picketing religious looneys -- so
I loved it!
I ordered both of your CDs from CD Baby. They arrived this afternoon. I'm
enjoying them while I work on my flight instructor license bookwork tonight.
A sincere offer of gratitude for your work: If you or any of the group find yourselves in
the D.C. area looking for something fun to do, I'd like to offer free airplane
rides. I have a plane at the Manassas airport. Sincerely, Tim Lewis via
Internet
Response: Thanks, though I can't imagine what is offensive
about “Magic Butt” since it is a particularly fair assessment: “If you want
to get to heaven/You got to kiss the Magic Butt.” G.D. (Lead singer of
UniversalDice.com and performer at GAMOW).
[TOC]
IMPRESSIONS
FROM THE GODLESS MARCH Sherm Carll
03:00 and the alarm is chirping. Am I crazy? 04:00
and 31 degrees at the Deer Park Station, a sliver of waning moon hangs in the east, as I
wait for the first glimmer of the 04:03AM. 04:16AM Farmingdale, the doors open,
admitting LISH members Hayo Broers, wearing a determined expression, and Bill Mohrman,
wearing his “Planned Parenthood Escort,” cap. I'm in good company.
As we emerge from under the Hudson, the Sun is rising. Amtrak is clean, smooth and
the personnel courteous.
In Washington, after a brisk walk from the station, we arrive at the speaker's stand and
dais, at the east end of the mall. Someone is adjusting the sound system, but there
are only about 30 people, a lady who spent 18 hours traveling from Kentucky, and a couple
of Asian ancestry, with a sign “Everyone Is Born an Atheist.”
Then someone spots a throng marching from the direction of the Washington Monument.
Are they our troops or a couple of thousand Born Agains come to wipe us out? At last
we can read the signs, the Infidels are here! I'm not skilled at estimating the size
of crowds, but it feels good to be surrounded.
Ellen Johnson, the young, good looking and articulate President of American Atheist made
us welcome and began introductions to the progression of speakers. Early on the
program was Gerry Dantone, President of LISH, who spoke with his usual straight logic and
low-pressure style. Then with backing musical tracks from his musical group,
UniversalDice.com, he presented some original compositions, including “Magic
Butt,” “Last Prayer,” and “Love Is the Only Priest.”
I hope that a video will soon be available, so that those who wish, can see and hear the
proceedings in detail beyond my ability to report. (Ed.'s note: American Atheists
will have a video available in early 2003. CSPAN has one available now, go to their
website, www.CSPAN.org.)
One high point was a demonstration of the “No Atheists in Foxholes” myth.
A call was given for those who had been under enemy fire to come forward. Soon the
platform was filled with people who from their apparent ages must represent WWII, Korea,
Vietnam and the Gulf War. The applause was deafening!
Yes there was a counter demonstration by fundamentalists carrying banners, mostly
scripture verses warning of the eternal lake of unquenchable fire, something we have
already discounted. I drifted to the edge of the crown and a lady warned me that
“Death is not the end.” In my opinion they amplified our point of view.
Our signs tended to be original and humorous.
The weather was beautiful. Pat Robertson, who had proclaimed that his buddy, God,
will give him the weather he desires, failed to produce one drop of rain on our parade.
The trip home was uneventful, 17 hours, door to door. It was a wonderful day!
[TOC]
THE SOLSTICE
- And Other Ideas John Hodges
Last year LISH member Dave Miller wrote an excellent essay, HUMANISTS
AND THE HOLIDAYS, in the LISH INQUIRER, December 2001, in which he tells how his family
has developed ways of celebrating New Year's Eve/Day as an alternative to Christmas.
He said in passing that he could not feel any enthusiasm for the Winter Solstice, it did
not mean anything to him.
Many atheists/humanists celebrate the Solstice: The American Atheists organization, and I
believe also the Freedom From Religion Foundation support the practice. But it is
also true that there are advantages to celebrating a holiday (like the New Year) that the
rest of the culture also celebrates.
It occurred to me today that the Solstice is, after all, just the New Year by a different
calendar. Remember what a year is: one trip of Earth around the Sun. How do we
know when this is, how do we measure it? By studying the movements of the Sun and
stars across the sky. The solstices and equinoxes are natural marking points for the
quarters of the year. It is a cycle, so we could pick any arbitrary point as the
"beginning"; I recall reading of one culture that started their year at the
Spring Equinox.
The calendar we use today is the result of piecemeal amendment over centuries. The
awkward fact is that the days do not fit into the year evenly (evidence against
intelligent design) - almost, but not quite; there are 365 and 1/4 days per year. Early
efforts at making a calendar did not work right, the calendar drifted with respect to the
seasons. Their instruments for measuring celestial movements, and for measuring
time, were not as good as ours today. Several changes were made in the calendar, and
at least one "ad-hoc" adjustment of eleven days, to make it fit the true length
of the year.
Those doing the tinkering were not concerned with making the months line up with the
solstices and equinoxes; they just wanted the total length of the calendar year to match
the solar year. So, it happens that the calendar bequeathed to us by tradition
starts the New Year twelve days after the Solstice.
In a somewhat related vein, recently I have been reading about the Epic Of Evolution, and
of the Epic Of Evolution Society, a group of writers, many with long strings of
credentials, who seek to make the story of evolution as understood by science the central
myth of our time. Examples include Connie Barlow with her book GREEN SPACE, GREEN
TIME, and Brian Swimme, THE UNIVERSE STORY. They propose to tell the history of the
universe, solar system, Earth, life, and humankind in the form of epic poetry, with all
the usual storytelling techniques, intending to make it a source of meaning for people's
lives, serving the same psychological function that religious "origin myths"
presently serve.
The story they tell starts with the "Great Radiance" (mundanely known as the
"Big Bang") and proceeds through to the hoped-for future expansion of humankind
through space. In this context, I suggest that perhaps the Winter Solstice might be
a good candidate for "Great Radiance" themes (up to formation of Solar System
and Earth), Spring Equinox for Cambrian Explosion (history of life), Summer for Savannah
Dreams (history of humankind), Autumn for Sustainable Harvesting (futurist hopes).
For family togetherness and celebration, we could assign the quarterly holidays for
special appreciation of children, youth, mature adults, and seniors respectively.
If we wished, we could recall these themes throughout the year. First quarter, note
and observe dates of relevance to astronomy, physics; second quarter, celebrate geology,
biology; third quarter, paleontology, anthropology, history; fourth quarter, ecology,
engineering, medicine, other applied fields. (Mathematics, music, literature and art
would be appreciated throughout the year, as essential to all human endeavors.) We
could assemble a calendar of dates relevant to all these themes, as an educational tool
for all ages.
I suggest we use this as a happy chance to celebrate both. We can teach our children
the meaning of each; thus we introduce them to astronomy and history, and the fact that
the world is often imperfect, and human institutions grow by amendment.
So Merry Solstice and Happy New Year - "On the twelfth day of Solstice".
[TOC]
ORIGINS - PART 3
EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM - A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY Oleg Dei
“Do there exist many worlds, or is there but a single world?
This is one of the most noble and exalted questions in the study of nature”.
Albertus Magnus, thirteenth century
“A time would come when men should be able to stretch out their eyes… they
should see the planets like our earth”. Christopher Wren, inauguration speech,
Greshaw College, 1657.
MARS
Leaving Earth we head out into space towards the fourth world from the
Sun - the mysterious red planet Mars. Mars has been a source of speculation about
life from both the scientific community, as well as the world of science fiction.
Movies like The War of the Worlds, The Angry Red Planet and Mars Attacks, depicted evil
and malevolent Martians, whose sole intent was the destruction of humanity and the
conquest of Earth. But why Mars?
In 1877, an Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, reported that during a close
approach of Mars he had observed an intricate network of single and double lines
crisscrossing the planet. He called these lines canaille, which in Italian means
channels or groves. This was later translated incorrectly into English as canals,
implying intelligent design. Suddenly a Mars mania swept across Europe and America,
Martians were everywhere.
In the early 1900's the American astronomer Percival Lowell claimed that he saw a global
network of canals crisscrossing the Martian planet. He immediately explained that
this was the work of a very old and intelligent race.
The canals were carrying water from the melting polar caps to the thirsty Martians
throughout the planet. Mars was a dying world and this was a desperate attempt by
the Martians to save themselves. This was an unparalleled engineering feat,
unmatched by anything built by man on earth. They must be a much older and wiser
race than us humans.
LET'S GET TO THE TRUTH!
In 1976, two U.S. spacecraft named Viking 1 and Viking 2 orbited and
landed on the mysterious red planet. What they discovered was the following: Mars
has an equatorial diameter of 6,787 kilometers making it the third smallest planet.
Mars has two small moons Deimos and Phobos, each about the size of Manhattan. Both
are probably captured asteroids. Photographs of Mars, revealed it to be a dry and
ancient world. Strewn over its red desert surface were boulders and rocks, coated
with a light dusting of frost.
Further examination revealed Mars has two polar caps, and several other distinctive
features. One is the Great Mariner Valley, named Vallis Marineris that stretches
5,000 kilometers and measures 100 kilometers wide. There are many tributary valleys
and channels, caused long ago by running water. The Vikings discovered a volcanic
construct as large as the state of Arizona and three times the height of Mount
Everest. This is the largest volcano in the solar system, and we humans named it
Mount Olympus. There was a strange mountain range photographed from space resembling
gigantic pyramids but they are many times larger, but then again, maybe they are something
else! This would be a place to return to for further exploration.
There were no canals, no planet wide irrigation system, no cities and no Martians.
Mars proved to be an old, desert like world.
The Viking spacecraft contained microbiology experiments to search for Martian
microbes. Seven different tests yielded positive results conducted in two locations
separated by 2500 miles. NASA deemed the results as inconclusive, perhaps the soil
was reacting in an unforeseen manner, or maybe something more extraordinary was causing
this. Other evidence revealed that Mars, early in its history had a denser
atmosphere, running water and perhaps life - but something went terribly wrong on this
planet. A global environmental catastrophe had occurred.
Mars proved to be an ancient and mysterious world, perhaps in the future when our
technology allows us, we humans could set foot on this alien world and only then will we
discover the truth about the Martians.
ASTEROID BELT
Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter lies the asteroid belt.
Some asteroids are as small as snowballs, while others are hundreds of kilometers in
diameter. Collisions among the asteroids are frequent and occasionally one gets
knocked out of its orbit and plunges to Earth. Most burn out harmlessly in the
atmosphere, while occasionally a giant one crashes into the Earth and causes a mass
extinction, forever altering the evolutionary patterns on Earth.
The asteroid belt was probably the direct result of a planet failing to form, rubble
floating quietly in the vastness of space.
JUPITER
Orbiting the Sun is the fifth planet, the gas giant -
Jupiter. With its diameter measuring 142,830 miles, Jupiter is a monster of a
planet, it could easily swallow a thousand Earths. Four and a half billion years
ago, when the solar system condensed out of interstellar gas and dust, most of the matter
that was not ejected into space, or acquired by other planets, became Jupiter.
Jupiter has more mass than all the planets in the solar system combined, if in fact
Jupiter was a dozen times larger, it would have collapsed under its own gravity and fusion
would have changed it into a star.
Shining brilliantly in our skies would have been two Suns, a binary star system would have
been born. In a way, Jupiter became a failed star, a Sun that never was. Not
surprisingly, the composition of Jupiter's atmosphere is nearly 75% Hydrogen and 20%
Helium which is nearly the same as the Sun. At the core of this planet, there may
lie a rocky or metal core forever hidden by the atmosphere of this enormous planet.
Earth based studies have shown that Jupiter is a strong source of both thermal and non
thermal radiation primarily in the infrared and radio regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Because of this, the planet radiates more heat than it receives from the
Sun.
Jupiter has 13 moons orbiting around it, a solar system within a solar system. In
July 1979, during Voyager 1 and 2's visit to the Jupiter system, spectacular photographs
revealed that the planet's atmosphere is divided into dark and light bands, the colors of
these bands ranging from orange to red, while the lighter bands are grayish - white.
Floating on the planet's surface is a storm that is hundreds of years old, its winds
churning the atmosphere at nearly 500 miles an hour. This storm that could hold a
dozen Earths is known as The Great Red Spot.
The dark brown layers of the planet's atmosphere, revealed by the photographs taken by the
Voyager, might contain complex organic matter or perhaps, even simple forms of life.
Thousands of miles of organisms held up by warm convection currents, could be floating
endlessly in a sea of clouds. The four Galilean satellites of Jupiter are almost as
large as the planet Mercury. Photographs of Europa show that its surface lacks
craters and mountains, suggesting that its surface is covered by a thick sheet of ice and
below just perhaps is an ocean rippling with life. This would be an interesting
world to explore.
Spectacular photographs of Io revealed its surface to be bright red, orange and
yellow. This moon proved rich with volcanic activity. Io's surface is covered
with sulfur which was spewed out from volcanoes in a molten state.
The third Galilean moon of Jupiter is Callisto. This is a heavily cratered
satellite, suggesting it is the oldest of the moons, dating to the early formation of the
solar system - four and a half billion years ago.
The fourth large moon is Ganymede, its surface is heavily scarred with craters. The
bright lines extending from the craters indicates that the surface is covered with
ice. Leaving the enormous Jupiter system, we voyage deeper into space.
SATURN
The jewel of the solar system for its sheer beauty is the second
largest planet in the solar system. This is the second gas giant called Saturn.
Saturn's equatorial diameter is 119,330 kilometers. In composition and in many other
respects, Saturn is a smaller version of Jupiter. Rotating, once every ten hours,
Saturn is decorated by colorful equatorial bands which are less prominent than those of
Jupiter. Saturn has a weaker magnetic and radiation field than Jupiter but is
surrounded by a set of spectacular multicolored rings that circle the planet. The
extravagant rings of Saturn are composed of snow and ice, their pale yellow glow
circumnavigating the planet.
Outside the spectacular rings of Saturn, there is a system of ten moons orbiting the
planet, their sizes ranging from a few hundred kilometers to the giant moon Titan.
Titan is the largest moon in the solar system, nearly as large as the planet Mars.
This huge moon possesses a substantial atmosphere, and the gas Methane is known to be
present in large quantities. Ultraviolet light from the Sun converts Methane into
complex hydrogen molecules as well as Hydrogen gas. The Hydrocarbons cover the
surface of this satellite and perhaps some form of life exists on this alien world.
URANUS
We are now entering the outer reaches of the solar system. The
seventh planet from the sun is Uranus. With a diameter of 47,200 kilometers, Uranus
is the fourth largest planet. Like Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus spins rapidly on its
axis, completing a rotation in under 11 hours. The most abundant elements present on
this medium sized gas giant are Hydrogen and Helium. There are trace amounts of
Methane that are present in the atmosphere. Because of its distance from the sun,
the temperature on Uranus is very cold, measuring -200 degrees centigrade.
Uranus has five satellites ranging from the smallest - Miranda with a diameter of 560
kilometers to Titania with a diameter of 1,760 kilometers across.
NEPTUNE
Neptune is the eight planet from the Sun. This world has a
diameter of 50,000 kilometers making this the third largest planet in the solar
system. The atmosphere consists mostly of Hydrogen and Helium. Neptune also
spins quite rapidly on its axis completing a rotation in 16 hours. Because of its
distance from the Sun, Neptune completes one orbit around the Sun in 164.8 years. A
year on Neptune would be a long time.
Neptune has two satellites orbiting around it, the larger is Triton which is larger than
our moon, while the second, Nereid, is less than 550 kilometers across. Because the
planet's atmosphere absorbs the longer wavelengths it appears blue-green.
PLUTO
We are now at the very edge of the solar system. Pluto, the ninth
planet, and its single moon, Charon, revolving around the Sun in a very inclined
elliptical orbit. Because Pluto's orbit to the Sun is inclined at 17.2 degrees, its
distance from the Sun varies from 4.3 billion kilometers to 7.22 billion kilometers.
This strange orbit takes Pluto inside the orbit of Neptune, making Pluto closer to the Sun
on occasions. This planet is extremely cold with temperatures ranging at -250
degrees Centigrade. At these temperatures and with a tiny amount of sunlight
reaching this world it is doubtful if this planet has an atmosphere or any life.
Pluto is a cold, dead world covered with ice, floating in the darkness of space.
This completes the exploration of the solar system. We are uncertain if any of these
worlds are inhabited by any form of life. What is known for certain, is that life
did evolve on the third planet called - Earth. Here carbon molecules, after 4.5
billion years, have evolved into intelligent beings, who are now pondering if they are
alone in the cosmos. In the next series of Origins, we will examine the natural laws
that led to the evolution of life on Earth; nature's greatest secrets will be revealed to
us through science.
FOR FURTHER READING:
Cosmos by Carl Sagan, Random House, Inc.
Astronomy by Franklin M. Bradley, Mark Chatrand III, Helmut K. Wimmer, Thomas Y
Crowell Co. [TOC]
QUICKIES Gerry
Dantone
Item: (AP) A spiritual leader of a militant Islamic group-was arrested in Indonesia as
police accused his top aide of being behind the bombing of many Indonesian
buildings. Abu Bakar Bashir was not yet directly accused of being behind the attack
at a tourist attraction night club in Bali, but officials said it was likely he knew about
many attacks throughout the country. Bashir insisted the CIA and Israel were behind the
attacks.
Comment: Hey, Amiri Baraka already knew that! Just
kidding, I think.
Item: (Newsday) To the shock of victims of sexual abuse by priests and the relief of many
clerics, the Vatican declined to approve a tough American policy that calls for the
removal of any priest who has ever molested a minor.
Comment: Shocked? After years of cover-ups on the
advice and consent of the Vatican, how can anyone be shocked at anything the Vatican does?
The 1985 report by Revs. Peterson & Doyle and Mr. Mouton
that was sent to the Vatican, was ignored, though it was brought to the attention of the
Pope according to Rev. Doyle. In part it read: “One of the most difficult
concepts for all of us to understand at this time is that reporting laws concerning
physical, psychological and sexual abuse of children are changing rapidly in most states
and that clerics are NEVER an exception to the reporting laws. Our dependence in the past
on Roman Catholic judges and attorneys protecting the Dioceses and clerics is GONE.”
In a statement to the media Doyle has said, "It's been known at the Vatican since at
least 1985, and I'm certain of it. I personally sent a report that was sent to the
Vatican in spring of 1985 naming names."
What has the Church done in the past in response to Rev. Doyle's and other's
warnings? In a tape obtained by ABCNEWS, the auxiliary bishop of Cleveland, A. James
Quinn, was recorded in 1990 telling a seminar of church leaders and lawyers to destroy any
anonymous allegations when sex-abuse allegations arise.
"Personnel files should be carefully examined to determine their content. Unsigned
letters alleging misconduct should be expunged," Quinn said on tape.
Quinn continued to suggest that officials should consider sending "dangerous"
material to the apostolic delegation at the Vatican Embassy, before lawyers or law
enforcement officials could formally subpoena the material. The Vatican has its own
embassy in Washington, which enjoys the same diplomatic immunity granted the embassies of
other countries, which could make it a safe place to hide damaging information.
Quinn was the Vatican's handpicked emissary to quell the sexual abuse crisis when it was
news in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Shocked anymore? Read on…
Item: (CNN) When Siegfried Widera got word last May that child molestation charges would
soon be brought against him, authorities say the Catholic priest immediately booked a
Caribbean cruise, returned to the United States a few weeks later and then vanished.
Widera, 61, was moved from parish to parish in Wisconsin and California in the 1970s
through the mid-1980s, remaining in the priesthood even after a 1973 child molestation
conviction.
He is now one of the most wanted sex crime fugitives, accused of 42 counts of child
molestation in both states. He has never been defrocked from the priesthood.
A massive manhunt is under way to find Widera, with more than seven different local, state
and federal agencies taking part in Wisconsin, California, Arizona and Texas.
Comment: What's the problem - he still believes in God,
doesn't he? What we do on earth is insignificant in light of God's saving grace,
right? We're ALL sinners, right? What problem does Father Widera have that the
rest of don't have as well? Answer: A theology of grace through faith is worthless
to those of us who care about a better world.
Item: (American Atheists) A French scholar has rushed into the limelight with what may be
the most contentious archaeological claim of the new century. Andre Lemaire suggests
that a limestone ossuary box from Israel is the first verifiable relic of Jesus Christ
datable to the period when the founder of Christianity and his family are said to have
lived. Despite a flurry of media coverage, though, some experts are highly
skeptical.
One is Frank Zindler, an authority on ancient languages and the American Atheists Science
Adviser. He calls the story "extremely suspicious," and adds, "Not
only is the precise origin of the find unknown, but the owner of the box insists on
anonymity and will not open this artifact for public inspection. It's possible that
at this point, other scholars will not be permitted to closely examine this 'find' for
evidence of fraud."
Zindler questioned whether proper peer review was followed prior to the news of the
alleged discovery being released by a popular Biblical history publication which has an
exclusive on the story.
Zindler added that even if further study of the artifact should prove it to be authentic,
"there is no good reason to suppose it is evidence of a historical Jesus." He
noted that names such as Joseph, James (Jacob) and Jesus (Yeshua) "were popular names
from the period, and that no buildings have ever been excavated at present-day Nazareth
that can be dated to the first century.
"Despite the burial box in dispute," said Zindler, "there is still no
credible evidence that Jesus or even his disciples ever existed as men of flesh and
blood."
In the weeks afterwards, consensus was growing that that the inscriptions were created by
two different inscribers, due to noticeable variations in writing style, suggesting that
the section that reads "brother of Jesus" was added at a later date, perhaps
fraudulently.
Comment: Jesus' existence seem so central to many
Christians, except for one thing: His existence does not make him God, which seems to be a
minor detail they're overlooking?
Item: (NY Daily News) As many as 50 heavily armed persons claiming to be Chechen suicide
warriors threatened to blow up almost 800 hostages in a Moscow theater in late October
unless Russian troops withdrew immediately from the breakaway republic. Police said
the rebels at first released about 150 children, (non-western) foreigners and
Muslims. The Chechens demanded and end to the war in Chechnya and the withdrawal of
Russian forces. When the authorities heard the rebels shooting at a child who had
become hysterical, Russian Special Forces used gas to overcome the rebels, killing over
100 weakened hostages in the process but freeing the balance. Heavy criticism was
directed at the Russian authorities for their tactics and secrecy about the gas used.
Comment: Criticism towards inept Russian policing tactics
and paranoiac secrecy should not obscure the other troubling political issues. Why
do the rebels demand independence from Russia? Although one can make numerous valid
criticisms of Russia's policies, freedoms and treatment towards Chechnyans, to answer this
question one must ask what the rebels have in mind, post-Russia. The answer is
probably “Islamist theocratic tyranny”: Take note of the rebel's bigotry in
distinguishing between Muslim and non-Muslim hostages for example. There is no
excusing Russia for their heavy-handed and most likely illegal response to the civil
unrest in Chechnya, and their reckless and/or ill-planned use of gas in freeing the
hostages; the rebels' cruel tactics, however, do make the Russian recklessness more
understandable without justifying them. Ultimately, the Chechen rebels may prefer a
more repressive government (to those who do not side with the rebels) than the current
Russian government! Independence does not always equal liberty. The drive to
institute sharia law in Chechnya is anti-freedom. Russia's record in Chechnya has
been anti-freedom. Sometimes it's hard to find the good guys; you have to look for
the “less bad” guys.
Item: (American Atheists) Eagle Scout Darrell Lambert has 37 merit badges, has served as a
three-time senior patrol leader, is an assistant Scoutmaster and field director, does not
smoke or drink or take drugs and has contributed over 1,000hours of community
service. The Boy Scouts want to kick him out because he is an atheist.
According to Scouting for All, Lambert's atheism was discussed at an October 12 training
session for Scout Masters. The District Chairman, Glen Schmidt, reportedly said,
“I asked scouts during the training if they believe in god and if they don't I boot
them out. In order for scouts to become good citizens they must believe in god…
Anyone that doesn't believe in god isn't a good citizen. Schmidt then delivered a
homily stating that if an atheist happened to find a wallet laying on the ground, they
would “pick it up (and) plunder the money.” Another scout leader
identified as Dave Jones reportedly told Lambert's mother, “If you have any other
boys in the scouts that don't believe in god they need to be kicked out…”
Comment: The President of the US is honorary leader of the
Scouts - how appropriate. Yes the Scouts, as a private organization, have the right
to be as bigoted as they please, but in return they should be treated no differently from
the KKK or other discriminatory organizations. To contact the Boy Scouts: Chief
Seattle Council, PO Box 440408, Seattle, WA, 98114-4408; Phone: 206-725-5200; FAX:
206-723-4330.
Item: (The Economist) In order to discourage the conversion of low caste Hindus to Islam
and Christianity, the government of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu passed a law banning
such conversions if they are made by force or “allurement.”
Comment: Uh, excuse me but don't ALL religions attract
followers with “allurement?” What are nirvana, paradise and heaven but
forms of allurement? And so what if people converted for cash reward? At least
that would be a measurable benefit. And who could begrudge a person opting out of
the lowest caste in a bigoted belief system for any reason?
Item: Chevrolet has declared it will stand by its decision to sponsor a “Come
Together and Worship” tour, a decision that has rankled two Jewish organizations and
the American Humanist Association among others. There have been some calls for a
boycott.
Comment: It is GM's right to sponsor anything it wants to
sponsor within the law. However, I probably would choose to spend my money on a
corporation that is not promoting the idea that I deserve eternal punishment for my
beliefs or lack thereof. I suppose that is what is bothering the Jewish
organizations as well, and it is not hard to understand their position. Christians
in this secular country sometimes forget the evil caused by religion and that for
centuries, Jews rightly feared Christianity.
Item: (BBC) A liberal (for Iran) journalist and academic, Hashem Aghajari, has been
sentenced to death for apostasy - the renunciation of his belief - according to published
reports from Iran. He was arrested in August 2002 after a speech in which he called
for reform within the Islamic clerical establishment. Some hard-line clerics had
publicly demanded the death sentence, comparing Aghajari to author Salmon Rushdie who
received a death order or fatwa by the late Ayatollah Khomeini. On other charges he
received an 8 year prison term and 10 year ban on teaching, which may turn out to be
academic if he is executed. Mr. Agharazari's attorney has apologized to the court
and has appealed the sentence. Some students protested the arrest and
sentencing. Mr. Agharazari had promoted the end of “blind obedience” to
clerics.
Comment: Before anyone gets the idea that this kind of
situation is unique to Islamic countries, this impulse to outlaw blasphemy is alive and
well in the US as well. The blindness of true believers of all types is something to
behold. Adherence to dogma is the underlying failing of humanity in most if not all
of its soluble problems.
Item: (Americans United) In theocratic Iran, President Mohammed Khatami has decided to
push for new legislation that would shift power toward his elected administration and away
from Iranian clergy. He said, “I am announcing today that the president must
have the power to perform his duties within the framework of the Constitution. We
cannot speak of democracy if we are not ready to play by its rules.”
Comment: The Religious Right, of either the US or Iran, (no
one is sure), announced that separation of Church and State does not really exist and that
removal of their deity from government and the Public Square would cause that deity to
look away from their country. The Religious Right then accused the other country of
being led by Satan. The other side responded with scorn and claimed the other
country's deity was cruel and vicious and that its followers were prone to violence,
yadda, yadda, yadda…
Item: (NY Daily News) US Catholic Bishops, by an overwhelming vote, passed a resolution
stating that they “find it difficult to justify the resort to war against Iraq,
lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature.”
Comment: While their statement is certainly reasonable,
helpful and welcome, one cannot help but wonder if the Bishops will be as zealous and
outspoken on this issue as they are on other issues such as birth control, ordaining women
and protecting accused clergy of sexual abuse. Or will this be the last we hear from
them on this? After all, it's only about war.
Item: Talks between Hamas and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah wing broke down
when Hamas refused Arafat's demand it halt attacks and give the peace process a
chance. Hamas vowed to keep sending suicide bombers to slaughter Israeilis as long
as Ariel Sharon and/or Benjamin Netanyahu are in power.
Comment: Of course, Hamas is forgetting the fact that the
recent intifada began when Ehud Barak was Israel's leader and that suicide bombings led
directly to Sharon's coming to power. Unfortunately, Hamas' promise only helps
Sharon, and makes it more likely that he will stay in power… and peace will remain
out of reach because of Hamas, Sharon, and Netanyahu, not to mention Arafat's obvious
ineffectiveness, and equivocal leadership.
Item: (AP) A nurse killed by being shot point blank in the head in Lebanon in November
2002 was targeted to avenge her Christian evangelist activities according to a senior
Palestinian guerrilla official. “The killing was the result of hostile Muslim
reaction in Sidon to the preaching and indoctrination lessons the center (where she
worked) was giving to Muslim youths,” according to the source.
Comment: It is predictable that preaching is seen as a crime
worthy of death in a society where the society is not secular. Imagine: Killing
someone when the only problem was what faith was being indoctrinated, not indoctrination
in general. How can this kind of objection ever be answered except by objecting to
all indoctrination?
[TOC]
WHAT
KIND OF SECULAR HUMANISTS ARE WE? John Rafferty
The Secular Humanist Society of New York and Long Island Secular Humanists must make
decisions regarding their relationship with the Council for Secular Humanism, of which
both are affiliates.
We have received a letter from Executive Director Ed Buckner, outlining the Council's new
organizational policy, in which he explains that: “To be sure we attend to both the
needs of the [humanist] movement in general and to support our own more specific aims, we
have adopted a policy that supports and encourages all local groups willing to agree to a
basic minimum philosophical statement [see below] and to provide the Council with some
recognition.”
The CSH “basic minimum philosophical statement”
We are committed to reason, science, and free inquiry in all areas of human interest;
Separation of church and state is desirable and necessary to support religious liberty;
People without religion are at least as likely as anyone else to be ethical and honorable;
There is no good evidence to suggest that any supernatural forces will solve human
problems;
Secular humanists, freethinkers, atheists, naturalists, agnostics, and rationalists should
work cooperatively to protect their own and each others' rights and reputations.”
SHSNY President (and LISH webmaster) Hugh Rance has posted the complete text of the
Buckner letter (and of a letter from the American Humanist Association) on our Web site
- www.nyhumanist.org - but the CSH proposal can be summarized as follows.
The Council will now offer three levels of association. The first, most independent, is
“Cooperating Local Group,” which will subscribe to that minimum statement,
mention the Council in literature and on any web site, and send copies of the Group's
newsletter to the Center for Inquiry Library - for which the Council will list the group
“at times” in the Secular Humanist Bulletin (SHB) and on its web site, and offer
occasional assistance arranging speakers or programs, at cost.
“Allies,” more closely allied to the Council, will do all that the Cooperating
Locals do, and: send a copy of their newsletter to the Council Field Director; agree to
display Council literature and magazines at meetings, and agree not to share the group's
membership list with any national groups - for which the Council will list the group in
every SHB and on the Council web site, as well as occasionally in Free Inquiry magazine,
supply the group with two free copies of Free Inquiry and three of each SHB, offer
“frequent” assistance with speakers and programs, at cost, and some
“general” assistance with public relations.
“Primary Allies” agree to all the above, and: will share the group's membership
list with the Council at least once a year; include “secular humanism” or
“secular humanists” in their name (we already do); endorse “The
Affirmations of Humanism” (a 21-point manifesto you can read at
www.secularhumanism.org/intro/affirmations.html) and, significantly, “agree not to
ally with any other national organization” - for which the Council will offer all the
benefits above (including three free copies of each Free Inquiry and five of SHB), plus a
limited number of mailings to Free Inquiry readers in the group's area (for recruitment
purposes), at cost; limited monetary grants to help with advertising and use of the
Council's 501(C)(3) tax exempt umbrella status; frequent assistance with speakers and
programs, at half the Council's cost, and “specific” assistance with public
relations.
Okay, what's it all about, especially that bit about agreeing “not to ally with any
other national organization”? Paul Kurtz, founder of the Council for Secular
Humanism, spells out the Council's motivation in an editorial, “Secular Humanism: a
New Approach,” in the current (Fall, 2002) issue of Free Inquiry. You can read
the editorial online at www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kurtz224.htm but I think Kurtz
summarizes it best himself: “The moral of the story is that [the Council]
represent[s] a point of view which is distinct from those of other existing humanist and
atheist organizations in the United States. We respect our sister organizations, and are
willing to work with them on concrete projects. Nonetheless, there are genuine differences
between the Council and the American Humanist Association, the American Ethical Union, the
Friends of Religious Humanism (now HUUmanists), and the International Institute for
Secular Humanistic Judaism. All of these groups have religious impulses and religious tax
exemptions. We need to reiterate that [we] are post-religious. We have educational and
scientific exemptions; more important, we wish to dissociate ourselves with any and all
attempts to ape religion. We believe in science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and
developing an alternative to the religious doctrines of the past. Similarly, we are open
to a wide diversity of political views, and we cannot be identified with left-wing
liberalism or right-wing libertarianism. We open our pages to liberals and
conservatives, social democrats, radical nonconformists, and libertarians.”
What is to be done?
(For LISH: Austin Dacey of the Center for Inquiry Metro NY will speak on this subject at
the LISH December 20, 2002 forum. Your ideas and arguments are requested in the form
of the LISH Question of the Month. The Board will gather all input and make a
decision in early 2003.)
[TOC]
MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH NORM Norm Roscoe
Bellport UU, Oct 13, 2002:
On this day the Multi-Faith Forum presented to the fellowship, Werner Reich, a Reform Jew
who presented an informative talk about Judaism and the history as perceived by this
Holocaust survivor. He did not highlight his personal experience but the story of a
people was presented. He only showed his survival as a parallel of the Jewish
people. He showed how cultural features of the Jews helped them be survivors as a
group. Some of these values included education and taking on the jobs that no one
else wanted. Not only did the Jews survive, but they thrived and were in general
quite successful.
Actually one can see surprising parallels with the Sherwin Wine Talk on Sat. Oct 5.
Mr. Reich did not dwell on the super natural. He emphasized values.
Upon further questioning he did address the branches of Judaism and how various branches
better adapted to changing times so that the Reform movement updated more effectively to
these changes which included greater roles for women.
Another comment as I visited the Bellport UU Society. Much time was spent on the
issue of the Bush Administration and concerns about a war in Iraq. I pointed out
that a much more effective tactic would be a coalition not only of Humanists and liberal
religionists but a huge body of folks from main line religions; not only Christian and
Jewish but also the other major world religions.
The Interfaith Alliance representing 50 major faith groups not only sent a collected
letter to the Bush administration but each of most of the faiths also sent separate
letters.
We need big voices.
On the other hand, Unitarian Universalism is thought of as being very leftist in it
politics and some wonder if this is good even in a "liberal religion" Do
Libertarians feel at home? How about more moderate views? As a UU Humanist I
wish to not only maintain a good situation but to enhance it. [TOC]
WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899)
If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next
Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to
govern themselves.
I would have all the nobility drop their titles and give their lands back to the people. I
would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he
is not acting for God -- is not infallible -- but is just an ordinary Italian. I would
have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know
nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of human
race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angles. I would have them tell all their
"flocks" to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do
all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.
I would have all the professors in colleges, all the teachers in schools of every kind,
including those in Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what they know, that
they would not palm off guesses as demonstrated truths.
I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen, -- to men who long to make
their country great and free, -- to men who care more for public good than private gain --
men who long to be of use.
I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and
nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let private
affairs of the people alone. I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both
abolished.
I would like to see corporal punishments done away with in every home, in every school, in
every asylum, reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness
reforms and ennobles.
I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good.
I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the
toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life.
I would like to see an international court established in which to settle disputes between
nations, so that armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed to rust and rot in
perfect peace.
I would like to see the whole world free -- free from injustice -- free from superstition.
This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas I may want more.
(The Arena, Boston, December, 1897)
[TOC]
SOS Meeting on Long
Island!
SOS is a program for those who abuse alcohol or other substances.
Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous, it does not require that those attending meetings accept the
religious claims of the program.
The meeting is in the North Fork of Long Island, N.Y. The contact person is Matthew
R., 631-477-0746. The meetings are each Tuesday from 6 to 7 P.M., at the Unitarian
Universalist Church, Main Road, Route 25, Southold, Suffolk County, NY.
The home page of SOS is http://www.secularsobriety.org. This web site has much
information for downloading on running SOS groups.
Book Discussion Club!
If you are interested email LISH @ LISEcHum@aol.com. All meetings
are at 8 PM unless otherwise noted.
Date: 13 December 2002, Place: Patchogue, Book: Richard Hofstadter, "American
Political Tradition" (first half).
Date: 10 January 2003, Place: Baldwin, NY, Book: Richard Hofstadter, "American
Political Tradition" (second half).
Date: 14 February, 2003, Place: Commack, Book: Gordan Prange, "At Dawn We Slept
(first half),
Date: 14 March, 2003, Place: Amityville, Book: Gordan Prange, "At Dawn We
Slept" (second half).
Date: 11 April, 2003, Place: Massapequa, Book: Susan Blackmore, "The Meme
Machine".
Freethought Calendar!
The 2003 version of the Council for Secular Humanism's Freethought
Calendar features Robert G. Ingersoll! Great pictures and dates of significance to
humanists and all freethinkers are featured in this handsome calendar.
Send $10 to LISH, PO Box 119, Greenlawn, NY, 11740.
LISH Email Action Info!
To encourage LISH member letters to the editor, here are email
addresses of local print media: Daily News, voicers@edit.nydailynews.com; NY Magazine,
NYLetters@primediamags.com; NY Post, letters@nypost.com; NY Press, mugger@nypress.com; NY
Times, letters@nytimes.com; New Yorker, themail@newyorker.com; Newsday,
letters@newsday.com; USA Today, editor@usatoday.com; Village Voice,
editor@villagevoice.com; Wall Street Journal, editors@interactive.wsj.com.
WBAI 99.5 FM Radio
EQUAL TIME FOR FREETHOUGHT!
Listen to the show for and by humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc. on
Sundays @ 6:30 PM, WBAI FM, 99.5 on the dial.
TRANSCRIPTS!
We now have a number of transcripts available of LISH forums at the
Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library and other locations.
Among the availabilities transcripts are “Darwin, the Other Great Emancipator”
by Elof Carlson; “Don't You Believe in Anything?” by Ron Barrier; “Darwin
Before the Penny Dropped,” by Hugh Rance; “Misconceptions on Evolution and
Creationism” by Kieran McNulty; “What Is Separation of Church and State?”,
“Media Infidels” “Why We Need a Humanist Coalition on Long Island,”
“The Ten Commandments in Public Facilities,” “James Madison and
Separation,” “Why Be Good?” and “Science and Creationism,” by
Gerry Dantone.
LISH members ONLY email LISecHum@aol.com to request a copy.
Be Sure to Watch
"Humanist Perspective" hosted by Joe Beck, on
Cablevision Public Access, can be seen Wednesdays @ 7:00PM PM on Channel 70 in the
Hauppauge and Brookhaven systems and Wednesdays, 6:30PM on Channel 71 on the Woodbury
system.
LISH ON CABLE!
“Long Island Secular Humanists; What is Secular Humanism?” a
LISH one-hour self-produced show will be shown on the Woodbury Cablevision system, Channel
71, Tuesdays @ 6:30PM; it will be aired on the Hauppauge & Brookhaven Cablevision
systems, Sundays @ 2:00 PM on Channel 70.
The Science Club
LISH will be providing LI Humanist Coalition members the opportunity to
view outstanding science videos and participate in discussions in LISH member homes, and
if necessary, larger settings. A schedule of videos, all to be shown at Warren &
Mary Jane's home, in Patchogue, as follows:
Tuesday, Dec. 10, - Precambrian evolution;
Tuesday, Dec 23 - Cosmos - the Shores of the Cosmic Ocean;
Tuesday, Jan 7 - Cosmos - One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue;
Tuesday, Jan. 21 - Cosmos - the Harmony of the Worlds.
For further info or to confirm the location or schedule episodes contact Norm Roscoe at
normrhum@aol.com. This series is open to all Humanist coalition members. Hope
to hear from you soon.
LISH Book Club:
I wish to express my gratitude to Bill Wade for his wonderful work with
the group. This group has grown to the point where we sometimes run out of room to
convene.
During the last meeting on a book about hypnosis, Bill had different people express their
personal experiences in this area with fascinating results. Future events look even
more exciting with maybe an author or two making personal appearances.
SOMEBODY BLEW UP AMERICA
(excerpts) By Amiri Baraka
Who killed and hired/Who say they God & still be the Devil/Who the biggest only/Who
the most goodest/Who do Jesus resemble… Who own them buildings/Who got the
money… Who the banker… Who/ Who/Who… Who own television/Who own
radio/Who own what ain't even known to be owned… Who the Beast in Revelations/Who
666/Who decide/Jesus get crucified/Who the Devil on the real side/Who got rich from
Armenian genocide/Who the biggest terrorist...
Who know why Five Israelis was filming the explosion/And cracking they sides at the
notion… Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get bombed/Who told 4000
Israeli workers at the Twin Towers/To stay home that day/Why did Sharon stay away? …
(For more info for to http://www.amiribaraka.com
)
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.
Become a Member of LISH
Membership in LISH has its benefits! Membership entitles one to: use of the LISH
Freethought library; voting rights; mailed newsletters; invitations to non-public
functions, dinners, and perhaps movies and plays as well!
Let us grow into the humanist voice of Long Island! Only $40 for membership for one
year, $5 more for each extra family member who seeks voting rights, or $12 per year for
the newsletter only. Send a check with your name, address and phone number, to LISH,
Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740.
All articles in this newsletter may be reprinted by organizations affiliated with the
Council for Secular Humanism, American Atheists or the American Humanist Association, with
a reciprocating reprinting agreement with LISH, so long as the article is used in full and
with complete crediting. Edited versions can be used with written permission.
Editor: Gerald Dantone
Design: John Wilmarth
A Thumbs Up Publication
Copyright LISH 2002
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