INQUIRER Volume 6, Issue 02, February, 2003, 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.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) Governor Ryan & the Death Penalty
2) Letters to the Editor
3) Origins, Part 5
4) Making the Rounds with Norm
5) Where Do Our Loyalties Lie?
6) QUICKIES!
7) New Leader @ EHSLI
8) More Lies in Service of the Truth
9) To the Boy Scouts
10) Ingersoll on DarwinLISH BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION! Every February, two or three members of the LISH Board of Directors have their 3 year terms come to an end and therefore those positions are up for election. This year, the terms of Norm Roscoe, Bill Wade and Bill Mohrman all expire and Mr. Roscoe and Mr. Wade have offered to return, subject to re-election. However, Bill Mohrman has requested that LISH seek to replace him in light of his health concerns. Fortunately, Jay Appleman has offered to have his name placed in contention for the vacant Board seat.
Voting will take place by secret ballot at the Darwin Day Event on February 8, 2PM, at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library. By-laws require personal attendance for voting.BIOS:
Norm Roscoe: Active Humanist since 1972. Engages in many workshops including leading many of them with Ethical Culture, AHA, & Unitarian Universalist Humanists. Also Humanist Counselor and carried out many ceremonies. Very active in coalition work over the past two decades with North American Committee on Humanism, joint AHA/American Ethical Union conferences. Currently working with Multi-Faith coalitions locally and nationally. Of course an active Council member supporter and LISH board member.
Bill Wade: He is a long time freethinker who helped to found LISH. He prepared the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. He has served as the LISH Vice President since the first election. He founded the LISH Book Club and is its current moderator.
Jay Appleman: Education B.S. (Bklyn Coll.) 1971; M.S. (NYU) 1973; Ph.D. (NYU) 1987. All in mathematics. Currently Professor of Mathematics, Queensborough Community College (since 1979) of CUNY. Chapter Chair of Union (Professional Staff Congress/CUNY) chapter at QCC. Member, LISH, CFI-Metro NY, SHSNY, NYC Atheists. Attend as many mtgs. as possible of these groups. Marched in GAMOW, 11/2/02. Helped coordinate LISH participation in Queens Gay & Lesbian Pride March and LI Pride March, June 2002; also St. Pat's for All March, Woodside, March 2002. Designed, ordered and picked up LISH banner.
LISH MEETING INFORMATION
Darwin Day will be celebrated on 2PM, Saturday, February 8, 2003 at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Road, Plainview. Guest speakers will include former senior editor of Discover Magazine, Carl Zimmer, Stony Brook Prof. Elof Carlson, LISH President Gerry Dantone and musical guest Sonny Meadows.
Carl Zimmer will talk about a little known aspect of Darwin's work -- the years he spent poring over barnacles and orchids. Most people who know about this time think of it as a period when he was avoiding dealing with his theory of evolution. But just the opposite is true -- this gentleman's hobby revealed to him one of the most important features of evolution -- how radically new body plans emerge from ordinary variation. The title of the talk will be: “Barnacles and Orchids: Darwin Killing Time or Discovering Evolution?
Carl Zimmer is a science writer who has produced numerous articles and books about evolution. He was a senior editor at Discover magazine from 1994 to 1999 and now contributes articles to magazines including National Geographic and Science. His column "The Evolutionary Front" appears regularly in Natural History. His books include “Parasite Rex and Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea.” His next book, “To Paint the Soul,” will appear in October.
Prof. Elof Carlson's talk will be entitled: “Darwinism confirmed through comparative genomics.”
Elof Axel Carlson is distinguished teaching professor emeritus from the department of biochemistry and cell biology at Stony Brook University. He is the author of several books, his most recent being “The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea” (CSHL Press 2001) and his current book in production is a history of classical genetics (due out spring 2003. He is also a science columnist for several LI Northshore newspapers. In his retirement Carlson is writing about science. He is a geneticist and historian of science.
LISH 's Gerry Dantone's talk will be “Evolution: Is it Moral?”
Friday, March 21, 7:15PM @ the Library: Margaret Downey of the Anti-Discrimination Support Network! She will focus on Star Jones and media bigotry.
Visit LISH on the web: http://nyhumanist.org/lish.htm
Email LISecHum@aol.com [TOC]
GOVERNOR RYAN & THE DEATH PENALTY Gerry DantoneThe news articles covering Gov. Ryan's (Rep-Ill.) change of heart on the death penalty in January 2003 have been most illuminating and should serve to inform the rest of us. As has been reported, George Ryan was a supporter of the death penalty in his previous career as a state legislator, voting to restore the penalty in 1977. As he rose through the ranks politically, he remained a typical “strong-on-crime” elected official, knowing that any sign of “weakness” towards criminals was death, politically.
In 1998 he became Governor, and was immediately confronted with the case of Anthony Porter who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death, and spent 16 years on death row. Porter was completely exonerated and freed just two days short of his execution.
Soon after Governor Ryan saw another death row inmate, Steven Smith, exonerated, marking the 11th time someone was freed after being sentenced to death in Illinois. Many of the exonerations were not the workings of the “system,” but due to the work of civilians who had volunteered to work on their cases.
These cases inspired Gov. Ryan into a personal skepticism about the workings of the criminal justice system in Illinois, and he set out to find out the facts.
Fortunately, in an ironic way, Gov. Ryan was free to pursue the ethical course because he was being forced out of office by a corruption scandal that may or may not have involved him personally. In any case, since he would not be running again for office, his remaining motivation, one would hope, would be to do the right thing.
Just days before his term ended he said in a speech at Northwestern University's Law School that “The facts that I have seen in reviewing every one of these cases… raised questions not only about the innocence of people on death row, but about the fairness of the death penalty system as a whole… Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.” The death penalty was handed out differently in Illinois, depending on where people lived in that state, who their prosecutor was, who their defense attorney was, how poor they were, and what race they were, in the governor's opinion.
Specifically he acted to pardon outright a number of apparently innocent men, and he commuted the sentence of all on death row to life in prison without parole. Though there has been an outcry by some murder victim relatives and some law enforcement officials, one must keep in mind that no guilty person has been freed or given a chance at parole.
Rather than “tinker” with each case, Gov. Ryan has chosen to deal with the real problem - a broken death penalty system. By commuting the sentences no harm is done, and some harm may be prevented; the execution of an innocent person, and/or the arbitrary and capricious exercise of justice.
In a sense, Gov. Ryan's conversion on the death penalty question is a model for the rest of us: It was decidedly non-ideological and non-dogmatic. As a former supporter, no one can accuse him of being a “bleeding heart,” “pro-criminal” or being simply “liberal.” At first he believed the death penalty was fair, and as he investigated it fully, he factually found it to be unfair.
That is a very humanistic way of looking at any policy: Is it working to improve the human condition, and if it's not, what can be done about it? Contrast this approach with the tact taken by new Republican Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich who has said, according to the American Humanist Association, that the release of a state sponsored report detailing the flaws in Maryland's capital punishment system would have no effect on his decision to end the state's moratorium on executions. Apparently evidence is superfluous to Gov. Ehrlich.
Gov. Ryan has taken personal responsibility for his actions and has done what he has seen as the right thing, seemingly unfettered by religious dogma, politics or other irrelevant influence. Was the death penalty system good for the people of his state or not? A person, Gov. Ryan, with access to the evidence as no other person has and who was not predisposed to a particular answer has come to this ethical conclusion. He is to be congratulated for making the journey. [TOC]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
9/9/02 In the September issue Carl Schulz objects to my statement that "the PETA attitude is religious, not scientific." He asks "What would one call our societal prohibitions against murder, rape, pedophilia, etc." He says these prohibitions are neither religious nor scientific, I disagree; I define them as scientific.
There is evidence in evolution that human altruistic behavior toward other humans has survival value. There is also survival value in our use of animals: as beasts of burden, for food, clothing, and experimentation. These attitudes, based on evidence, could be called scientific. I know of no valid evidence tending to show that refusal to exploit animals has survival value or is consistent with any scientific principles. This position is based on emotions and faith; I would call it religious.
Schulz implies that animals have rights since "we grant equal rights to the severely retarded." Sure we do, but the severely retarded are humans. He gives a list of human abuses to animals, and I certainly sympathize with the well-meaning impulse to be gentle with our fellow creatures. I strongly agree that our use of animals should be tempered with kindness. My beef is with the extremists. They range from the annoying who throw things at people wearing furs to the thugs who destroy research facilities. These are people who prefer animals to humans. To save a few animals these hoodlums are willing to deprive thousands of humans of a possible life-saving medicine.
Carl Schulz says he also deplores the fanatics. But it is the extremists who make the news and do the damage and set the tone. I would like to see a strong statement from PETA condemning the extremists and their activities. We all have a right to our beliefs. I have no quarrel with vegetarians or those believing in "animal rights", unless they engage in criminal activities or try to force their religious attitudes down my throat. Regards, Marvin J. Schissel, Long Island, via Internet.
Response: The issue of animal rights versus animal welfare is indeed and complex and controversial one. Humanists have simply not reached a consensus, though there is nothing wrong with impassioned debate on an important topic. No one seems to argue against animal welfare; however fanaticism regarding any issue is not the humanist way, and I believe that fanaticism is the issue that is being criticized. G.D.
9/9/02 Re: Susan Cheever's Spiritual Communities essay: The "200 years ago, everybody went to church" is a gross exaggeration. 200 years ago very few went to church. I believe the figure is close to 10% and this was primarily the city dwellers. Farmers could not afford to give up a day, and usually had to travel too far to find a church except for perhaps Easter. Christmas services were almost unheard of. When she say's “everybody,” does she include the slaves? There were millions of them in the south who never saw the inside of a church either. If I recall correctly, only about 20% of the population professed to be "religious" at the time. Cheers, John Hill, Washington state via Internet
Response: Also consider that many colonies had mandatory church attendance laws that probably coerced at least some of those who did attend. How many, then, actually went to church willingly? G.D.
11/1/02 The Bible portrays God as being very angry toward those who do not believe that he exists. Today we would recognize that such a reaction is typical of insecure individuals. Except for being personally insecure, why would a god worry about whether underlings would believe, know or care about his existence?
Perhaps we should recognize that when zealots want to kill or otherwise punish us for not believing, it's because they are personally insecure in their beliefs. While an omnipotent god would not be feel threatened by the non-belief of underlings, the zealots would be very disquieted by seeing non-believers do just as well in life as they do. their reaction is to expel the unbeliever, or perhaps kill him, in order to quell the threat to the believer's security. Neil Slater via Internet
Response: This makes a lot of sense. People seem to be itching to be instruments of God, for better or worse. G.D.
11/7/02 Dear Gerry, In your article "what Have We Learned" you express outrage that two American citizens are being detained as enemy combatants and being denied due rights. Have you considered the compelling reasons why or the legal precedents for such an action.
During WW2 several German American citizens were also held as enemy combatants, a distinction upheld by the US courts. In both cases these individuals were actively working to attack americans ion behalf of a foreign enemy at war with the U.S. That this is a defacto war is a distinction without a difference.
By denying these individuals the "right to remain silent" as you would when interrogating any enemy soldier you might obtain vital life saving information. In any case there are no massive violations of American citizens civil rights and if American Taliban soldiers are being inconvenienced in their attempt to kill us so be it. John Lucania, Whitestone via Internet.
Response: Overall, the practice of detaining American citizens without charges was a disgrace if one also counts interment camps where Japanese-Americans were held. There should be a mechanism to determine whether these American citizens are indeed enemy combatants. Aren't you concerned about a system where YOU can be held without charges, trial or access to an attorney based on the decision of our President, a person not known for penetrating analysis? G.D.
11/27/02 The primary focus of humanist groups is to foster a better human condition through rational analysis and practices. While friendly debate and even proselytizing about the basis and logic of secular humanism is useful, interesting and fun, we need from a pragmatic viewpoint, to be circumspect in our focus. This country very badly needs the largest possible pool of capable political aspirants. Candidates who do not gush religion stand little chance and open atheists have no chance, yet the reasoning powers that led to their positions are not proportionally represented in public life. So, at least part of our efforts should be directed toward greater political representation. Unfortunately, the realities of politics require a less than open approach.
It is an interesting challenge to formulate a humanist model platform with some likelihood of real results. That should be a focus or mission for coalitions of humanist, atheist and freethinking groups. Frank J. Mandriota, via Internet Bayport, NY.
Response: One of the things LISH tries to do is to make the community more humanist friendly by increasing our visibility and thereby making others more comfortable with us. G.D.
11/29/02 (Sent to the Queens Courier newspaper) "The Origins of Chanukah" article was fine except for the part about the "miracle" of the oil lasting eight nights. There is nothing in the historical Apocryphal Books of Maccabees about any such miracle. Six hundred years after the Maccabees successfully rebelled against the Syrian Greeks, the Rabbis determined that the Jews were having too much fun on Chanukah and that there was no religious significance to the holiday, so they invented the "miracle." This is recorded in the Gemora part of the Talmud. I do not believe in miracles, especially if they are ex post facto. Edward J. Klein, Member, Queens Society for Humanistic Judaism via Internet.
Response: Thanks for the info which I'd guess, few know about. G.D.
11/23/02 Re: The Newsday report, "Fleeing to London; Pageant leaving Nigeria after Riots" (Nov. 23): Doesn't the brutal and deadly mayhem in Nigeria over a perceived "slur" against the prophet Mohammed once more underscore the historic reality -- widely unadmitted -- that deeply held religious beliefs, while greatly comforting and reassuring to individuals in our frighteningly uncertain universe, are disastrous to society as a whole?
How else can we view the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Holocaust, the current Arab-Israeli chaos and the reviving anti-Semitism in many parts of the world today, as well as the multitude of less prominent religious wars , past and present, that have destroyed millions of human lives?
What is the answer? Secular humanists contend that a society devoted to ethics rather than deities would eliminate the intense parochial hatreds of conflicting religions, and allow for more reasonable solutions to world problems. (Is this topic too "hot" for Newsday to touch?) Gerald Albert, Nassau County, via Internet.
Response: It amazes humanists how people still often turn to religion after their lives are destroyed by religion, with the most obvious examples being the World Trade Center attacks and terrorism in general. And yes this topic is a bit too hot for Newsday. G.D.
12/11/02 Re: SECULAR HUMANISM is the philosophy of life guided by reason and science, freed from religious and secular dogmas...
Me: Why do you need a guide? The dogmas that you segregate yourself, their creeds are centered on guidance from an outside authority. Your definition of secular humanism is an authoritarian system as well -- only in lieu of god you have reason and science as your authority. Sounds to me like just another dogma. MonkeyBoyBlues via Internet
Response: Your argument might have some credibility if it was argued without the use of reason.
Another thing: The definition of dogmaticism is NOT consistency. Being dogmatic means sticking to a belief or practice in the absence of evidence supporting that belief or practice, or evidence that the practice or belief leads to more human misery than good.
I guess you can try to rebut this, but please refrain from using reason. Refraining would add weight to your argument that the use of reason is dogmatic. Of course, an argument that is not reasoned might seem like jibberish, but whatever.
If you prefer to argue by use of pointing to revelation as the foundation of your argument, I'm wondering what argument you could use to convince a person that revelation is reliable as a foundation of an argument - without resorting to reason. G.D
12/11/02 Your monthly publication is one of the dozens I receive each month that I cannot put down. I must read it cover to cover.
With your permission, and with your credit, I'd love to “redistribute” several of the items in the newsletter. Some of them are real gems, like the Robert Ingersall “What I Want for Christmas”. Whenever I receive an offensive prayer from a friend via email, this nugget is invaluable as an item to cut and paste into a “reply to all” response. I started to collect a file folder on them so they're handy and convenient to deploy. Of course, the source will be included. Okay? Warmest regards to you and your family this Solstice. Mario Maltese, Long Island, via Internet.
Response: The Ingersoll piece is probably public domain, and it is available on holiday cards. LISH has sent one to Father Tom Hartman, who co-wrote the “God Squad” column claiming that without God, there is no reason to be good. G.D.
Re: Bush Wins!
12/11/02 An excellent commentary, Gerry. Really outlines all the key points.
Here's a thought for a future editorial: Bush is the stealth candidate. We all know he is a far right wing Christian, yet he tries to act very moderate, because his true feelings would alienate most of America. So what he has done is appointed far right wingers to key posts so they can do his dirty work while leaving him sparkling clean, and these things get much less publicity so most Americans don't even know what's going on.
Examples are the new head of the FDA who is going to review the approval of RU482, or the new head of the CDC who has had all information about abortions removed from government web sites, or the new head of the UN delegation for the committee for world-wide birth control, who is reneging on earlier US agreements. Kevin via Internet
Response: Thanks, and all INQUIRER supporters should feel free to send columns for publication. We need to hear the various voices of humanism and freethought. G.D.
12/11/02 Gerry, I don't see the correlation between unilaterally, UN and ... Preemptively.
Preemptive to me means that A would do it to B, before B could do it first to A.. In this particular case, attack Iraq before any attempts are made by Iraq to attack the USA.
Kinda taken the gun away from somebody under the pretext that “I think that the other guy is going to use it against me.” Could you please elaborate on your statement? Thanks, Abel via Internet.
Response: Good question. Technically speaking, the UN could sanction a pre-emptive strike, but the UN is not at this time inclined in any way to authorize a pre-emptive strike. Even if Iraq is found to have NOT complied with the inspection regime, a strike is STILL not yet sanctioned. Another vote is necessary and the results are very much up in the air about its outcome. If the UN were to ever sanction an attack, I suspect that the evidence would have to be pretty compelling and the danger pretty real and imminent. Maybe I have too much confidence in the UN (in this case) to NOT sanction a strike under the looser terms Bush would prefer.
There is little point in debating that now since no such evidence has been found at this time and the kind of evidence needed is speculation. But possible examples would be the findings that Iraq gave Al Qaeda help on 9-11 (doubtful) and/or gave them chemical weapons since then that are used against the West. That would take it out of the pre-emptive category since the attack would be a response to violence fostered by Iraq. Iraq and Hussein would have to be nuts to do such a thing, but then again, Hussein IS probably nuts. I do not think this will be the case however. The chance even exists that the US will not attack Iraq. GD.
12/14/02 Liked your lead article (Bush Wins!) in the December LISH newsletter very much. As usual, you're right on the mark! Jay Appleman, Bayside, NY via Internet
Response: I hope I am able to frame the debate as opposed to simply offering my opinion. In raising the relevant issues and tossing out the irrelevant, perhaps someone, anyone, will come up with solutions. G.D.
12/16/02 There should be no surprise that the Vatican has behaved like a clearing house for a pedophilia ring. Their central tenets have been that 1) Forgiveness clears all previous sin, and 2) Religious law is supreme over civil law. Neil Slater via Internet.
Response: There's no question of the latter point. The adopted policy approved by the Vatican calls for priests and bishops to obey the law - no more, no less. This is the policy that enabled abusers in the past since, amazingly, in many places, there is no legal obligation to call in law enforcement. G.D.
Re: The Future of LISH and the Center for Inquiry:
12/23.02 I strongly urge the board to move forward in the direction of a merger with CFI as presented by Austin Dacey.
I understand several of the objections that were raised regarding the relationship with CFI in the past. We are fortunate to have individuals on the board with strong skeptical skills, and I trust them to guide us towards identifying and overcoming them. The improvements will be a benefit to the Long Island humanists, and no doubt be a benefit to other groups that may join CFI in the future.
I also understand that as humanists, we blindly follow no one.
Nevertheless, consider today's critical social environment, and what is at stake. We must “transcend divisive parochial loyalties” in order to gain the strength necessary to effect a positive social change. Gerry has given a Herculean (yet entertaining) performance in giving Long Island humanists a voice, but I sometimes feel others are shouting. We need to get on with the program, continuously improve, and increase momentum. Society desperately needs humanism, not religion.
The herd is on the move. Let's not be strays. Regards, Mario Maltese, Long Island, via Internet
Response: Thanks for the ideas. We'd like to hear from many LISH supporters on this topic. G.D.
Re: QUICKIES! The Catholic World Report editorialized, “the crisis in American Catholicism will not end until the US bishops recognize their own side of the scandal.”
1/9/03 Amen Brother Gerry!! Meg via Internet
Response: Glory! Kudos to the Catholic laity (such as Meg) who generally have better ethics than their Church's hierarchy. G.D. [TOC]
ORIGINS PART 5 THE KINGDOM OF THE MICROBES Oleg Dei
It is enough for me to contemplate the mystery of conscious life perpetuating itself through all eternity, to reflect upon the marvelous structure of the universe which we can dimly perceive and to try to humbly comprehend even an infinitesimal part of the intelligence manifested in nature… Albert Einstein
A DEAD EARTH
Four billion years ago, the planet earth looked like an alien world. The newly formed continents and islands were barren of life. There were no trees reaching for the skies, no flowers blooming in the meadows, there was no vegetation at all. There was no singing of birds, no animals running about, the land was silent and lifeless. In the seas the music of life was preparing to play its melodies. Rich organic compounds carried to earth by comets and asteroids were assembling into complicated molecules.
Given the physical and chemical conditions that prevailed on the pre-biotic Earth, these molecules were caught in a series of spiral reactions of growing complexities. The sequence of chemical reactions that started four billion years ago continues in every living creature and plant on this planet today.
THE STUFF OF LIFE
The seeds of life arose with the various combinations of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous as well as sulfur. Under the influence of electric charges, radiation and other sources of energy, the atoms were reshuffled and recombined to form amino acids - the building blocks of life.
The results of these chemical combinations caused an organic blanket to form in the seas of a yet lifeless Earth. The shocks of volcanic explosions and earthquakes carried rich minerals into the seas. A rich organic soup formed, out of which life would eventually evolve began to form.
In the pre-biotic soup, thiols were present together with amino acids and other organic acids. Thiols and acids readily joined to form thioesters. Thioesters in turn provided protometabolism with two essential ingredients: catalysis and energy. Thioesters became the primary energies of the early biogenic process.
ATP - BIOLOGICAL CONDENSING AGENT
Nature continued to experiment and produce more complicated organic chemistry. Pure base adenine combined with the sugar molecule ribose to produce adenosine. In association with one phosphate molecule, adenosine forms adenosine monophosphate or AMP. When a second molecule of phosphate is added to AMP, the resulting molecule becomes adenosine diphosphate or ADP. Continuing this process, when a third molecule of phosphate is added to ADP the end product is a molecule of ATP.
ATP is the universal biological condensing agent otherwise known as a chemical water extractor. Life would quickly end if ATP was not continually reassembled from the hydrolysis reactions. In virtually all biological organisms foodstuffs provide the energy in the form of electrons with oxygen as the final acceptor. When we burn our food, the energy released by these processes is partially given off as heat, much of it is retrieved in the form of reassembled ATP.
THE EMERGENCE OF RNA
The catalysts then became the peptides and peptide like substances, that prefigured present day enzymes and guided the first building blocks, that later evolved into more complex forms of life that would dominate the planet Earth through various epochs.
The processes that guided the very first products of the pre-biotic chemistry, would eventually evolve into RNA and later into the RNA - protein world. The early primordial conditions that led to the abiotic synthesis of adenine and guanine as well as cytosine and uracil, may have spawned the formation of a wide array of nitrogen bases. These later formed the nucleotides which led to the evolution of RNA.
The first RNA molecules were probably random associations of nucleotides which contained the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil which join at the ribose unit of the phosphate - ribose backbone.
Once the RNA molecule appeared, it was able to join with amino acids, which later gave rise to protein synthesis.
THE APPEARANCE OF DNA
All living organisms are constructed according to a blueprint that is transmitted from generation to generation. The genetic blueprint of all living things on the planet Earth is written into the molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. DNA is the stuff of our genes, its function, however is strictly limited to the storage of genetic information.
When the DNA molecule formed the chemistry world evolved into the information world. The sequence of nucleotides determines the information content of the molecules. This material is closely related to RNA and is similarly constructed from four different kinds of nucleotides. When it comes to expression of the genetic code DNA must first be transcribed into RNA. Transcription is not very different from replication, as RNA is chemically similar to DNA.
In the double helix of DNA, thymine replaces uracil and the two strands are linked by the bonds between the nucleotide base pairs adenine and thymine and the other two base pairs cytosine and guanine. Thymine is really uracil to which a methyl group (CH3) has been added. The sugar ribose is replaced by deoxyribose, which is a ribose molecule from which an oxygen atom has been removed and hence the prefix “deoxy” and the name deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE
RNA is a much more versatile molecule than DNA. RNA can exhibit catalytic activities, as in ribozymes and thereby expresses the information received from the transcribed DNA in the performance of chemical reactions. RNA is responsible for the assembly of amino acids into proteins, a process of overwhelming importance in all living organisms. Cells by and large and the organisms that they serve are the final endpoints of proteins. The sequences of amino acids in proteins are specified therefore by the sequences of the four base pairs of nucleotides found in the DNA genes. Because proteins are constructed with an alphabet of twenty amino acids as opposed to the four nucleotides that exist in RNA or DNA, the transfer of information from RNA to protein is called translation.
To summarize the process, DNA provides the replication information, this transcribed or replicated to RNA and finally translated to the sequences of amino acids that comprise proteins which are the building blocks of life. The mechanism of DNA replication is universal throughout the planet Earth. All livings things on this planet replicate and function by this process.
PROTOCELLS
For a fully operational genetic system to develop, emerging life had to become partitioned into a population of protocells capable of multiplying by division so that cells and not molecules became subject to the process of natural selection.
All living cells are surrounded by a filmy envelope called the plasma membrane. Once this encapsulation took place the first cells were born. At last the cosmos became alive. The membrane served as a barrier that protected the cells from the environment, it allowed “foodstuffs” to enter and waste products to exist.
SCIENCE - IN SEARCH FOR ANSWERS TO LIFE
On April 23, 1953 the British magazine Nature published a brief note entitled “a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid” by the American James D. Watson and the Englishman Francis Crick. This epoch making paper earned the authors the Nobel prize nine years later. This introduced the double helix of DNA which became the foundation for understanding the origins of life on the planet Earth.
Three weeks later another brief and momentous note entitled “ a production of amino acids under possible primitive Earth conditions” by Stanley L. Miller inaugurated the modern research on the origin of life. Miller who worked in the Chicago laboratory of Harold Urey a physicist who won the 1934 Nobel prize for the discovery of heavy hydrogen.
Urey believed that the atmosphere of the primitive Earth consisted of hydrogen, methane, ammonia and water vapor. Miller stimulated this mixture with electrical charges inside a sealed flask in which the water was recycled.
Within days this mixture showed the presence of amino acids and other organic molecules found in living organisms. Science was on the road to discovering the origins of life.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF LIFE
Life probably originated near deep sea vents called black smokers, where carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and nickel can be found. Reactions that are essential to the beginning of life, evolved on ferrous sulfide. Gases found at black smokers will form acetic acid when in the presence of a mixture of ferrous and nickel sulfides.
The carbon atoms are chained together much as living cells structure themselves. The first protocells then evolved into bacteria which are the smallest living creatures today. These first bacteria that evolved were the archaebacteria an ancient type. They evolved on an ancient Earth and now live in extreme environments such as hot springs where the temperature never falls below 131 degrees F.
Second to evolve were the eubacteria, these organisms existed in an enormous variety of ecosystems and their capabilities ranged from nitrogen fixers, sulfur users and the important oxygen producers. Both archaebacteria and eubacteria are prokaryotes because their DNA is not based in a nucleus but inside their outer cell membranes.
The other bacteria to evolve were the oxygen producers and their capability to produce oxygen, would later change the alien Earth to the modern world and help launch the evolution of more “advanced” organisms like the dinosaurs and later - us humans.
The bacteria multiplied and took over the planet, it was indeed The Kingdom of the Microbes and their reign would last uninterrupted for over three billion years.
SOURCES: (1) Vital Dust - The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth by Nobel Laureate Christian De Duve - Basic Books - Harper Collins Publishers. (2) The Book of Life - Edited by Stephen Jay Gould - W W Norton & Company. (3) A Science Odyssey by Charles Flowers - William Morrow and Company Inc.
In the next Origins Part 6 we will explore the wonder of evolution in “The Cambrian Explosion - The Proliferation of Life.” [TOC]
MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH NORM Norm Roscoe
December 8, Bellport UU Fellowship: On this day Frank White Eagle Schaefer gave a presentation of Native American traditions. As pointed out previously White Eagle emphasizes the ecological values. We also noted the major role of women in this culture. Also it is noted that Our Founding leaders received much wisdom on governance from Iroquois traditions.
It was interesting to note the role of myths in this culture. They point out that they cannot take these stories literally but only as allegory. Look for messages but not literal interpretations. It was pointed out that if the biblical folks were more allegorical there might be less controversy and conflict since strict fundamental meanings would not be necessary.
Also many of the delayed rights of Native American folks were pointed out, such as a much later voting rights as well as freedom of religious practices which were established as late as 1972.
December 15, Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island: Interim Richard Kiniry gave his final platform regarding two major functions; one was the importance of community and its continuity as changes occur. The second role was the official change of leadership. We had Arthur Dobrin, Anne Klaeyson, and Richard in the middle as there as the formal changing of leadership, from Dobrin to Kiniry to Klaeyson. This was a sort of "apostolic secession."
The major focus was the stability of community in the midst of change. We see that a system of leadership change under a democratic structure. The importance of community is highlighted. Support systems are maintained as changes occur.
Are we in the Secular Humanist movement able to maintain this stability as we someday will undergo leadership changes on numerous levels? We are now at an important juncture; can we take lessons from our cousins in Humanism as we make these critical decisions?
Of course we note that in the Ethical Culture community the intergenerational feature is an obvious plus also. We hope to tackle this issue in mid January.
Bellport UU Fellowship, Dec 24, 5:00 PM: On this occasion Rev. Lou Schebius, the new and dynamic minister of this Fellowship gave a fine sermon on real gift giving. Imagine entering a store and instead of finding the usual large inventories of things one sees small packets with labels on them such as peace, end of hunger and many other wonderful moral decencies. Rev. Lou sees these as seeds of these values. We give each other the "seeds" of hope, love, and give us the opportunity to make these good things happen. It sounds somewhat like the Ethical Culture value of bringing out the best in others.
Rev. Lou brings a wonderful enthusiasm to this fellowship.
Bellport UU Fellowship, Jan. 12, Noon: On this day, Reverend Tom Goodhue, Executive Director of the Long Island Council of Churches, and Multi-Faith Board Member, addressed this group.
Most interesting was his views of "man" and Jesus. He sought to show the special nature of Jesus by showing features which placed him "ahead of his time." These points were well presented. In all fairness, he did point out some of the weaknesses of the personality of Jesus (e.g.: maybe a bad temper at the temple.) He also pointed out the nature of man as being quite far from perfect. His major point here was we did not have to be perfect to be loved (by Jesus and maybe by others.) This might be called a variation on unconditional love.
Good deeds were not necessary to obtain love. We did not have to be good to "prove anything".
Other folks in history showed extraordinary features for their time (e.g.: Buddha, Confucius, Socrates, etc.) Each of these showed their foibles but so did Jesus.
Good deeds are more important to preserve and enhance life here and now, not to obtain love and "prove anything.” Interestingly, Rev. Goodhue's projects with the Long Island Council of Churches do so much good works and help so many people. Maybe we are loved anyway and these noble acts are not done to prove anything, but they certainly enhances the lives of many people on Long Island.
One can only deeply admire and respect this wonderful individual. The disagreements seem to provide little impediments to future cooperative ventures.
Syosset Public Library Tuesday January 14, 10:30 AM: Rev. Paul Johnson, the New Senior Minister at the Shelter Rock UU Society spoke at the Library on Unitarian Universalism. (The Shelter Rock Society is one of the most affluent churches in America.)
Rev. Johnson gave a brief history of the UU movement showing how it evolved from a variant of Christianity to a movement which became Christian and more. The principle of "A free and responsible search for truth and meaning" was the impetus for the rather dramatic evolution of the UU theology. The emphasis was upon basically rejecting the supernatural (transnatural) events and seeking reasonable and natural explanations for events reported in various parts of scripture.
Rev. Johnson, who is a HUUmanist, retains much of the Classic Humanism while recognizing the influx of younger more "spiritual minded" newcomers to UUism. He therefore is engaged is a juggling act of ministering to old line Humanists and also trying to meet the needs of the newcomers.
Rev Paul Johnson recognized the larger tent housing UU beliefs. Seven principles similar to our common moral decencies anchored around the free and responsible search for truth and meaning is what he maintains holds this "large tent" together.
My thoughts about this situation are that we wish to see if many of the newcomers are practicing the FREE and RESPONSIBLE search for truth. Some folks practice free thought while others may simply practice free belief. The first requires the free and disciplined search, while the latter only has believe what "feel good"; this may have opened the door into this "big tent" for other ideas such as the "New Age" and "Post Modernism."
Rev. Johnson has quite a challenge ahead. He did point out his appreciation of our newsletter and commends it. I suspect Rev. Johnson could be a possible speaker further down the road.
WHERE DO OUR LOYALTIES LIE? Norm Roscoe
After thirty years involved in Humanistic activities and affiliations I now will be involved in making decisions about my loyalties within the Humanistic movement. I must consider long standing loyalties and long standing friendships and how my personal philosophy has evolved. I also must look at the effectiveness of the final product that we come up with as we make affiliate decisions.
I have been involved with Unitarian Universalism, Ethical Culture and AHA variety of Humanism since 1972. I have attended conferences with the likes of Paul Beatty, Corliss Lamont, Ed Wilson as well as Unitarian Universalists such as Forester Church, Khoren Arisian and many others. Many times we heard much debate and even controversy within the movement.
A major area of controversy has come down to the term "Religious". Some folks say we make too much of this difference while others point out the implications with the confrontations with Fundamentalists.
Our history finds it very difficult to avoid the Religious term when such luminaries as William James, John Dewey and Julian Huxley had a great deal to do with these terms and applied them to non supernatural movements. Even with the Manifestos the term Religious presents itself in redefined ways. This form of inertia makes it difficult to counter the use of this term by many humanists. The heroic effort of not having a prefix in Humanism seems like a great effort but so many folks from liberal religions are happily using the term "Humanism," such as Sikhs, Buddhists, and even Muslims. Many folks from mainline religions are also using the term Religious Humanism. Is this just more confusion?
We are also seeking to work together to be more effective in carrying out our values, the “Common moral decencies,” etc". Various coalitions have helped us locally to create a more concerted voice as well as carry out programs. On a larger scale, coalitions with such groups as Unitarian Universalist, Ethical Culture, and mainline religions in the collection of folks called the Inter-Faith Alliance can speak as one large voice in written communications in areas such as separation of church and State, anti vouchers, anti war, and flag pledge issues. Coalitions really give us a much bigger voice.
So when we make our choices of affiliation we must consider two major points: One, our true philosophy, and two, our desire to work effectively in appropriate coalitions.
We have a disproportionate number of very strong leaders whose different views make for some conflicts. Our challenge would be to effectively blend these great minds to more effectively put together a Humanist package which would be a more effective voice in our efforts to enhance the Humanist movement. I believe that an effort as the CCR (Coalition for Community of Reason) was a step in this direction. [TOC]
QUICKIES! Gerry Dantone
Item: (AOL News) Senate Republican leader Trent Lott, battered by a sharp backlash from a comment at a birthday party, has apologized for implying the country would have been better off had Strom Thurmond won the presidency when he ran in 1948 on a segregationist ticket.
``A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embraced the discarded policies of the past,'' Lott said in a statement issued Monday night. ``Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement.''
At a party celebrating retiring Sen. Thurmond's 100th birthday, attended by hundreds of Thurmond's family members and friends from South Carolina, Senate colleagues and members of the Supreme Court, Lott said that when Thurmond ran for president on a states' rights, anti-integration ticket in 1948, Mississippi voted for him.
``We're proud of it,'' Lott said to applause. ``And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either.''
In a 1948 campaign speech the then Governor Thurmond had said, “I want to tell you ladies and gentlemen, that there's not enough troops in the army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the Nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches.”
In a statement Monday before he apologized, Lott insisted his comments last week had been lighthearted and in no way endorsed Thurmond's positions of more than a half-century ago.
``This was a lighthearted celebration of the 100th birthday of legendary Sen. Strom Thurmond,'' Lott said in his first statement. ``My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life.''
Thurmond entered the Senate in 1954 and became one of the South's most vocal opponents of integration. He opposed the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education school desegregation decision and filibustered against civil rights legislation.
In 1998 and 1999, Lott was criticized after disclosures that he had been a speaker at meetings of the Council of Conservative Citizens, an organization formed to succeed the segregationist white Citizens' Councils of the 1960s. In a 1992 speech in Greenwood, Miss., Lott told CCC members, "The people in this room stand for the right principles and the right philosophy. Let's take it in the right direction, and our children will be the beneficiaries." Lott claimed he did not know the group was “racialist” even though he had contributed columns to their magazine.
Asked to comment on Lott's remarks at the Thurmond celebration, Gordon Baum, CEO of the Council of Conservative Citizens, said, "God Bless Trent Lott."
Comment: It sure is a funny and lighthearted thing to say we wouldn't have had “problems” over the years if segregationist Strom Thurmond had been elected. That Trent Lott sure is one funny guy. He is a great representative for the Republican Party. I'm sure Mr. Lott agrees he is blessed. I'm sure he is telling the truth. There are absolutely no grounds for impeachment on the basis that he has lied to the American public about his racial views which affect millions of Americans. And after all, he has not been accused of having illicit sex. Has Lott learned anything? Read on...
Item: (NY Daily News) Sen. Trent Lott, after resigning his Senate leadership role over his remarks praising Strom Thurmond's presidential run on a segregation platform in 1948, told the AP in an interview in December 2002 that “When you're from Mississippi and you're a conservative and you're a Christian, there are a lot of people that don't like that. I fell into their trap and so I only have myself to blame.”
Comment: Exactly what “people” and exactly what “trap”? So much for his “sincere” apologies! What a shock! Mr. Lott has done more to confirm the religious basis for his racial beliefs than his detractors could ever do. I'm shocked again!
Item: In the wake of Sen. Lott's slight downfall, there has been some scrutiny directed at Sen. Robert Byrd (Dem.-W.Va.) for his March 5, 2001 interview with Tony Snow of Fox News. In that interview, Byrd said, “There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time… if you want to use that word. We all… we all just need to work together to make our country a better country…” Byrd apologized soon afterward, saying, “I apologize for the characterization I used on this program. The phrase dates back to my boyhood and has no place in today's society.” Republican apologists have pointed to the mild rebuke Byrd received for his gaffe as evidence of different standards for Democrats and Republicans.
Comment: IS there a double standard? Perhaps, but the two situations are clearly not the same. Trent Lott pined for the days of segregation and wished that one of its most fervent promoters had prevailed in the Presidential election. Sen. Byrd, on the other hand, used a term offensive to persons of color, and applied the term to persons of Sen. Byrd's own ethnicity. In fact, there is good reason to believe that Sen. Byrd was referring to Bill Clinton(!) in the passage under scrutiny and has not explained his reference further for that reason. What he said was STILL offensive, because it legitimized the offending terminology, even though it was not directed at the original victims. In any case it does not equate for a desire for segregation's champion to be President and to the referral of the heroic civil rights struggle as a “problem.” (For more info on Sen. Byrd, go to www.bannerofliberty.com/OS3-01MQC/3-5-2001.1.html and www.blackelectorate.com/printaricle.asp?ID=337.)
Item: (AP) (Jan. 14) - It helps to have a white-sounding first name when looking for work, a new study has found.
Resumes with white-sounding first names elicited 50 percent more responses than ones with black-sounding names, according to a study by professors at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The professors sent about 5,000 resumes in response to want ads in The Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune. They found that the ``white'' applicants they created received one response - a call, letter or e-mail - for every 10 resumes mailed, while ``black'' applicants with equal credentials received one response for every 15 resumes sent.
The study authors, including University of Chicago associate professor of economics Marianne Bertrand, said the results can solely be attributed to name manipulation.
Comment: In the past the INQUIRER has noted studies regarding unequal treatment of persons in the criminal justice system, and in the credit application process. The job application process is now added to the list. These studies are helpful because they indicate a consistent pattern where racial minorities get worse treatment even if they are arrested, charged, and/or convicted of the same crime or have the same credit background, respectively. End affirmative action? Fine, but replace it with what? Now that we know that racial discrimination is still significant in the job market, what can be done? Proving a specific incidence of discrimination is a near mathematically impossible task if one goes on a case by case basis since a sample of one is insignificant - the problem is only uncovered in wide ranging studies with large samples. Outside of affirmative action, the alternative seems to be the unfair status quo. Any suggestions?
Item: (Newsday) In an extraordinary departure from the White House's carefully crafted public stand on affirmative action, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice Friday issued a statement saying that using race as a factor to achieve diversity on college campuses is "appropriate.” In making the statement, Rice -- the highest-ranking black on the White House staff -- broke the silence of Bush officials on that specific politically charged question a day after administration lawyers filed briefs siding with white students challenging the University of Michigan's use of race in admissions in an important Supreme Court case. Senior administration officials said Rice's statement was her personal view. They said it was prompted by a front-page Washington Post story, about her prominent role in shaping President George W. Bush's response to the Michigan policies that she felt misrepresented her view of affirmative action. The article reported that Rice met with Bush several times and used her experience as Stanford University's provost "to help convince him that favoring minorities was not an effective way of improving diversity on college campuses.” Rice has long believed in affirmative action, although she opposes racial quotas, the official said.
Comment: There are a number of issues in this story. First is the probably deliberate mischaracterization of Ms. Rice's input into the Bush administration decision. Her obvious unhappiness reflects poorly on the administration - they should just have admitted that Colin Powell disagreed with their decision, and Ms. Rice's position is nuanced in certain ways. Of course, this honest approach would have been most embarrassing coming on the heels of the national realization that the former Republican Senate leader was an unrepentant segregationist adding to the somewhat racist image of that party' right wing, but hey, if the shoe fits…
The other story is the decision itself. Of course Affirmative Action (AA) is a ridiculous policy, but racism, in this day and age, is ridiculous as well. If a class of persons is discriminated against, there is no pleasant solution available, unless one has no problem facing the inevitable unrest and chaos that will undoubtedly follow a completely unjust state of affairs. A previously reported story regarding discrimination against job applicants with African-American “sounding” names, plus previous surveys of unequal treatment within the nation's credit system, housing and legal system, is extraordinary evidence that racism, perhaps non-deliberate but just as unfair, still exists to a great degree. What is to be done when individual cases are near impossible to prove in court, yet overall studies of large samples offer indisputable evidence of bias? Those who oppose AA decry both discrimination and reverse discrimination, but are unwilling to actually do anything about it except end the reverse bias. How convenient!
Affirmative Action is a method, when thoughtfully used, that can counteract unconscious (and conscious) racism and level the playing field. Of course it can be misused but the good it has done of the years is tangible: Colin Powell's success for example. (I'd mention Clarence Thomas as a symbol of AA's success, but I will defer for now.) There is no doubt that Affirmative Action is needed in the job market, credit market, housing market and justice system - why should college admissions be any different?
The argument that reverse discrimination is just as unfair is simply denying the existence of bias in the first place. The point is to militate against bias. The final result with an AA process should ultimately be fairer overall though in some individual cases, the result is not perfectly fair. Overall fairness should be the goal for everyone. Income status should not matter - discrimination is not directed at the poor, per se, but at an ethnic trait. Why should the white middle class get an easier path to greater success than the black middle class?
The Bush administration's opposition to Affirmative Action is ultimately duplicitous. This President is not going to be confused with Einstein, or even Condoleezza Rice for that matter. So how did he get into Yale? Answer: Affirmative Action for the children of alumni, of course! What were G W Bush's SAT scores? The New Yorker printed them in Talk of the Town: Bush's verbal: 566; Bush's math: 640. Good scores to be sure, but not enough, typically, for Yale. Affirmative Action for a primarily white class of persons led Bush to Yale, and later on, Harvard, and ahead of many better scoring persons of all races. Why are we not shocked?
Item: (Amnesty International) For the first time, Amnesty International is condemning attacks by Palestinian armed groups on Israeli civilians as “crimes against humanity and possible war crimes.” AI examined 128 attacks and called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. The attacks, which killed 338 civilians, “were widespread, systemic, and part of an explicit policy of attacking civilians.” The Palestinian Authority said moderates had condemned suicide attacks but, “What is happening to Israeli citizens is a normal consequence of their occupation and rejection of Palestinian rights.” Until the July 2002 report, AI had not determined that violence in the Occupied Territories reached the level at which the rules of conduct of hostility in international armed conflict apply. “We believe that is now the case,” AI's Curt Goering.
Comment: This report, which was long overdue, does not exonerate Israel in any way for their occupation and their tactics in dealing with the Palestinian uprising. More frequently their armed attacks involving bombings in civilian areas are reckless and inflict more casualties of non-combatants than is acceptable under any measure. Their use of US made weapons under many circumstances may be illegal under US law and a case can be made for suspension of weapon supply.
It is clear both sides have transgressed mightily and have lost any claim to a moral high ground. Increasingly both sides are becoming dominated by groups committed to the non-existence of the other side - in other words, mirror images of the other, Hamas and the extreme right wing of the Likud Party. It is hoped, though not expected, that with elections upcoming for both sides (now postponed by the Palestinians because of the occupation), more moderate-minded leaders will emerge. The US should be throwing its weight around and demand moderation, but has been more invisible than assertive. Real change is not expected.
Item: A top Vatican official, Cardinal Estevez, has advised against bringing gays into the priesthood, saying their ordination would be “imprudent,” and “very risky.”
New guidelines are expected to address whether gays should be barred. Some elements of church leadership have reacted to a spate of sex scandals involving Catholic priests, some homosexual in nature, by saying that men with homosexual inclinations should not be ordained.
Italian gay rights group Arcigay condemned Cardinal Estevez' position, saying the Vatican was using gay priests as a scapegoat in the sex abuse scandal. Estimates of the number of gays in the priesthood in the US range up to 50%.
Comment: No word of the Roman Catholic Church barring lying, two-faced, duplicitous double speaking homophobic enablers of rape, pederasty and sex abuse from the position of bishop and cardinal. At least they're not gay.
Item: In a blow to the Bush administration, a Manhattan federal judge ruled that a man who allegedly plotted with Al Qaeda can meet with his attorney and challenge his detention. The judge, Michael Mukasey, held that a federal court has jurisdiction to determine whether Jose Padilla, a US citizen, was properly designated an “enemy combatant.”
Comment: Will the nation fall if Mr. Padilla, and others in his situation, get their day in court? Answer: No. Will it fall if he doesn't? Answer: Multiply Mr. Padilla by enough persons under similar conditions and the answer is yes. The US is a free country for the rights Mr. Padilla has - those very rights the Bush administration seeks to eliminate. [TOC]
NEW LEADER for Ethical Humanist Society of LI (EHSLI) Gerry Dantone
The EHSLI, a LI Humanist Coalition member, will install their new leader, Anne Klaeysen on February 1. She will only be the 5th leader of the 52 year-old Society, replacing interim leader Richard Kiniry who replaced long-time leader Arthur Dobrin.
A long front-page article on the Saturday Newsday Faith section on Jan. 11, 2003 featured Anne and the Society. Hopefully it will bring attention to humanistic alternatives to religion and mark the beginning of a long and successful leadership at one of Long Island most valuable institutions!
Volunteers Needed to Wait on Line @ Cablevision Offices, Tuesday, February 11 in Woodbury and Hauppauge! Email Gerry @ LISecHum@aol.com. [TOC]
MORE LIES IN SERVICE TO THE TRUTH Gerry Dantone
In a column in Newsday on January 1, 2003, defending Pres. Bush's latest faith-based initiative directive, “compassionate conservatism” founder Marvin Olasky dismissed the charge that tax dollars would be directed to religious groups that discriminate in hiring and servicing, and that critics "miss the point." Really?
Although Olasky dismisses it, this is precisely the point. Any religious or secular organization that discriminates should not be entitled to our tax dollars, period. Religious groups are NOT being singled out in this directive. If only religious groups are allowed to discriminate, then they would be singled out for a privilege. Olasky omits the fact that if a religious group does not discriminate, such as Catholic Charities, they can and do receive tax dollars right now.
Olasky also talks about "secular alternatives" for those within the religious institution's programs. However Olasky reassures the Religious Right in an Aug. 4, 2001 column in World Magazine, that a Bush administration official involved in the faith-based initiatives believes that, for example, if a program had a religious sermon after dinner, those who were uncomfortable with attending could be offered a "secular alternative" such as writing a paper or some other more odious work, clearly an unfair and coercive choice. Olasky wrote that the official said that biblical and secular teaching could be interwoven "as long as you do it right and keep separate books."
Mr. Olasky's charge of discrimination against faith-based charities is equally duplicitous: What it amounts to is that he objects to discriminating against those who discriminate with tax dollars. What he and the President seek is a special "right to discriminate with tax dollars" for religious charities. Most Americans say "no."
For reference see: http://www.worldmag.com/world/issue/08-04-01/cover1.asp and http://www.au.org/press/pr8601.htm. [TOC]
TO THE BOY SCOUTS of America from a Former Scout Dr. Marvin J. Schissel
To the National Council: I am a long time Scouting enthusiast. I have always considered Scouting to embody the very highest standards of our culture, the very essence of being an American. I was a Boy Scout as a youngster during World War II. At one point our scoutmasters were drafted, one after the other, and my Father, then overage for the Army, stepped in and served as scoutmaster. As a Scout I learned the principles of basic first aid, how to chop and whittle wood, how to make a fire and cook with it, how to communicate with Morse Code and semaphore, how to travel pacing myself with the scout's pace, how to recognize trees, plants and animals, and so much more. We collected scrap metal for the war effort, assisted the Air Raid Wardens. We went hiking, made campfires, sang the old songs. I have wonderfully happy memories of Scouting.
After the war, in college, I was an active member of Alpha Phi Omega, the Boy Scout fraternity. Alpha Phi Omega practiced the ideals of scouting: We avoided the excesses of the social fraternities and we provided many services for our college which otherwise might not have been available for lack of funding. I was proud to be in Scouting, and I think it played a significant part in making me a decent and accomplished citizen.
I have always, with pride, told the story of Dan Beard, one of the founders of the American scouting movement. At first it was proposed that the scouts become something of a military type organization, and be trained with guns. Dan Beard objected. He said: “Give the kids knives and axes, not guns; teach them how to survive in the woods, teach them to love and appreciate nature.” Dan Beard had his way, and that is why Scouting always meant the very best of America to me. My wife and I have brought up our children based on the Scouting-inspired love of nature, self-reliance, and civilized behavior.
But now things may have changed. The Boy Scouts have been charged with bigotry, which is vile and un-American, certainly not in keeping with the traditions and ideals of Scouting that I remember. I refer to what was reported to me recently which I could hardly believe, namely that the Scouts today are discriminating against people on the basis of religion or sexual orientation. This to me is so grotesquely un-American that I can only conclude that the Scouting hierarchy has come under the control of un-American extremists.
Please tell me that this is not so. Or if it is, please correct it, and come back to the beloved and valuable scouting experience I remember from some 60 years ago. Most sincerely, Dr. Marvin J. Schissel. [TOC]
INGERSOLL ON DARWIN (From Orthodoxy, 1884)
This [19th] century will be called Darwin's century. He was one of the greatest men who ever touched this globe. He has explained more of the phenomena of life than all of the religious teachers. Write the name of Charles Darwin on the one hand and the name of every theologian who ever lived on the other, and from that name has come more light to the world than from all of those. His doctrine of evolution, his doctrine of the survival of the fittest, his doctrine of the origin of species, has removed in every thinking mind the last vestige of orthodox Christianity. He has not only stated, but he has demonstrated, that the inspired writer knew nothing of this world, nothing of the origin of man, nothing of geology, nothing of astronomy, nothing of nature; that the Bible is a book written by ignorance -- at the instigation of fear. Think of the men who replied to him. Only a few years ago there was no person too ignorant to successfully answer Charles Darwin; and the more ignorant he was the more cheerfully he undertook the task. He was held up to the ridicule, the scorn and contempt of the Christian world, and yet when he died, England was proud to put his dust with that of her noblest and her grandest. Charles Darwin conquered the intellectual world, and his doctrines are now accepted facts. [TOC]
DARWIN DAY 2PM, Saturday Feb. 11, Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library 999 Old Country Road, Plainview Supporters encouraged to bring food, drinks!
Book Discussion Club!
If you are interested email LISH. All meetings are at 8 PM unless otherwise noted.
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".
Be Sure to Watch
"Humanist Perspective" hosted by Joe Beck, on Cablevision Public Access, can be seen Wednesdays @ 7:00PM PM on Channel 20 on the Woodbury, Hauppauge and Brookhaven systems.
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, @ 6:30PM Tuesdays and on the Hauppauge & Brookhaven Cablevision systems Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM, on Channel 20.
WBAI 99.5 FM Radio
EQUAL TIME FOR FREETHOUGHT!
Listen to the show for and by humanist, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc. on Sundays @ 6:30 PM, WBAI FM, 99.5 on the dial.
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 in Patchogue, as follows:
Feb 11, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 3 - The Harmony of the Worlds
Feb 25, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 4 - Heaven and Hell!
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.
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.
WBAI 99.5 FM Radio EQUAL TIME FOR FREETHOUGHT! Listen to the show for and by humanist, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc. on Sundays @ 6:30 PM, WBAI FM, 99.5 on the dial.
Become a Member of LISH
Membership in LISH has its benefits! Membership entitles one to: use of the LISH Freethought library (contact librarian Bill Mohrman, 516 795 3318; for a catalogue and requests, or if you want to register a book for others to borrow); 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 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.
Errata: 1) In the 1/1/03 issue, the article “The Purpose of Gods” was adapted from essays by Emma Goldman. 2) The QUICKIES item about Chris Smith should have stated that the “… and the Population Research Institute's president described contraceptives as "offensive to human dignity.” For the whole story go to: http://www.populationconnection.org/Communications/Reporter/Oct2002/page6.pdf
Copyright LISH 2003 A Thumbs Up Publication Gerry Dantone, editor John Wilmarth, design [TOC]