Humanist Society of Santa Barbara
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Secular Humanism is a philosphy of life guided by reason and science, free from religious dogma, motivated by an appreciation of life and the life of others, seeking to reach goals of human happiness, personal freedom and growth with responsibility and understanding on this earth, in this life, at this time.
We meet at 3pm on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Jefferson Hall, 1535 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara. If you would like a copy of this bulletin mailed to a friend or someone you believe would be interested in our Society please drop a line to us with their name and address to P.O. Box 30232, Santa Barbara, CA 93130. |
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SOCIETY OF SANTA BARBARA 2001 - 2002 OFFICERS OF YOUR SOCIETY Chairman: Roger Schlueter 962-6316 rogers@west.net Secretary & Web Meister: Colin Gordon 682-0545 colin3@juno.com Editor: Dick Cousineau 687-2371 rcous1geol@aol.com Treasurer: Russ Boggie 564-6086 rusans@mac.com Programs: Bea Duncan 964-3109 duddle4@home.com Social Director: Anne Rojas 564-6086 rusans@mac.com Membership: Mary Wilk 967-3045 wilk@electromatic.com Archivist: Hope Smith 967-5143 hsmith1923@aol.com Major Events Coordinator: James Kimberly 969-9686 drdoboy@home.com Member At-Large: Art Brody 692-8898 brodybiz@silcom.com Publicity: Mariette Risley 965-3866 Interviews: Lottie White 681-9863 lbwhite40@worldnet.att.net SPECIAL THANKS to Mary Wilk for her unending work of supplying the mailing labels each month and for keeping the membership books. Thanks also to the following for help in getting out the bulletin: The Brodys, Don Young, Ellen Jackson and Roger Schlueter. |
We are pleased to acknowledge and welcome the following new members to our Society: ANN CURIEL RUSSELL & TAKAKO TRENHOLME Professor Shirley Mullen, Westmont College, will speak at our regular meeting February 16 at 3pm on the topic "The Changing Challenges of Being a Good Humanist". She will explore how Humanism has been affected by the various cultural frameworks in which it has taken root, especially in this climate of Postmodernism. Prof. Mullen has taught History and Philosophy at Westmont for 18 years and her work in the latter deals with the ethical writings of David Hume. February meeting: Monday, February 11th. We will show a video produced by the Council for Secular Humanism's Paul Kurtz: "Response to Timothy LaHaye's 'MIND SIEGE: Attack on Secular Humanism'." Questions and discussion to follow. ($2.00 donation appreciated.) COMING EVENTS: 2/11, Monday: 7:30 PM, Monthly Meeting, Orchid Building, Jasmine Room, 816 Camarillo Springs Rd., Camarillo Springs exit, highway 101 2/15. Friday: 12:00 noon, Luncheon. Souplantation, Camarillo (near Target store). Las Posas exit. 2/24, Sunday: 10.00 AM, Joint Meeting with Santa Barbara Humanists to celebrate Darwin's birthday! The Greek Restaurant, Spinnaker Dr., Ventura Harbor, Ventura. Brunch and speaker: Rebecca Pecsok will speak on Charles Darwin. RSVP: Charlotte Poe at: (805)386-4232 or FrThVC@aol.com. |
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Please note that we are creating Special Interest Groups to accommodate our
ever growing Society. It is our goal to facilitate the socialization of our
members through smaller units catering to the many diverse interests of our
membership. Please look over the offerings and participate in whatever
interests you. Some chairpersons can use help, other groups need
leadership. We invite your involvement. Many members, both new and old,
have commented on the problem of "getting to know people." These smaller
groups are an excellent way to meet and know your fellow Humanists. Anyone
who would like to begin a Special Interest Group is encouraged to do so.
Please contact me for help in setting up.
Our January Dining Out at Yen Ching saw 25 diners, along with our excellent speaker Dr. Juan Campo enjoying the buffet. Our next Dining Out will be at Sizzler in Goleta, immediately following the program. We will have our private room and tables set in groups of no larger that 8 persons. This room arrangement
should facilitate good conversation in a quieter setting. We will order
individually off of the menu. We need a good turn out so we can have the
private room given to us again! The Sunday Brunch had 19 new and old members enjoying the Sizzler buffet
with champagne. I hope more of you will join us on the last Sunday of each
month. Guests welcome.
REFRESHMENTS AT MEETINGS - Cookie Sign-ups for the upcoming meetings. Anne will call you one week prior to the meeting to remind you of your date. Please bring 4 to 5 dozen small but nice cookies (half each if two are bringing). If for some reason you have to miss your date please arrange with someone who has another month. Thank you for your cooperation:
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by ROGER SCHLUETER We have all heard about the Executive Order that authorized, among other things, the use of military tribunals to try "terrorists." But reading or hearing media reports should not be relied upon for full and complete information on this important matter. The actual text is quite interesting - and disturbing. In the limited space here I can only highlight a couple of issues that are most troubling Section 1, Findings, Subsection (d) states: "The ability of the United States to protect the United States and its citizens, and to help its allies and other cooperating nations protect their nations and their citizens, from such further terrorist attacks depends in significant part upon using the United States Armed Forces to identify terrorists and those who support them, to disrupt their activities, and to eliminate their ability to conduct or support such attacks." What is most disturbing about this clause is that sole responsibility is vested with the "United States Armed Forces." In practice, as we have seen, the FBI, CIA, and the newly created Office of Homeland Security among others come into play, but when push comes to shove our military will have controlling authority by this Executive Order. Given the enormous pressures to prevent further attacks, I do not trust our military to operate with full respect to our Constitution nor do I trust Congress to exercise its mandated oversight of the military. The potential for abuse under this clause is evident. Section 2, Definition and Policy, Subsection (a)(2) might give some assurance to US citizens but will cause concern among others since it states: "(a) The term 'individual subject to this order' shall mean any individual who is not a United States citizen with respect to whom I [the President] determine from time to time in writing that (2) it is in the interest of the United States that such individual be subject to this order." United States citizens would seem to have no concerns, but note the all encompassing language of this Subsection. Stated more plainly, this Executive Order applies to any non-citizen we want it to apply to. Imagine our reaction if, say, Indonesia promulgated a corresponding Order and arrested Donald Rumsfeld for exacting terrorism upon Indonesian Muslims. Now for the worst part. Section 7, Relationship to Other Law and Forums, Subsection (a)(3) states that: "(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to (3) limit the lawful authority of the Secretary of Defense, any military commander, or any other office or agent of the United States or of any State to detain or try any person who is not an individual subject to this order." In other words, you and me. Our basic Constitutional protections are obliterated by this Order. I encourage you to read this Executive Order in full (it is readily available on-line). I suspect you will not like what you find. Another Humanist Society member who tries to make a difference in the world, Jerry
Fallert has worked towards equality for all people, and a peaceful world, most of his life.
Jerry was born in Chicago in 1922 to Catholic people who sent him to parochial school
where he spent "eight terrible years getting a poor education." After hearing a priest's homily
exalting husbands as heads of family, Jerry rejected Catholicism. His father, a famous
photographer whom Eastman awarded a prize for the color process he developed, expected Jerry
to attend Notre Dame and to choose the family profession - photography. Jerry rejected both.
Instead, he took a job as courier for the Continental International Bank in Chicago's "Loop."
There, too, he spent his evenings - drinking - a vice he "enjoyed" for 40 years.
When he heard about Olivet College's Oxford tutorial method of education, Jerry was
intrigued He enrolled and immediately knew he was in the right place. Sculpture was - and is -
his passion, and at Olivet, although he studied sculpture, all the other usual academic subjects
were taught as they related to art. He was getting the education he'd dreamed of. Then World
War II broke out, Jerry enlisted in the Air Force. He trained as a pilot and ended up as an
intelligence specialist. Every man in his unit was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, but Jerry is
alive today because of a strep infection; he was in the hospital and missed that deadly battle.
After the war, Jerry returned to Olivet on the G.I. Bill. There he met Joan who was soon
to graduate. They fell in love and were married by the notable Humanist, David Muzzy. When
McCarthyism found Olivet, Jerry and Joan became involve in an academic freedom issue and as
a result were investigated as suspected Communists. Their efforts to keep maligned professors
and students of color in the school were fervent and well organized, but heartbreakingly fruitless.
With others, Jerry tried to establish a new college with Olivet's educational philosophy, but that
too failed. He finished his college degrees at Macalester College, and earned an M.A. in
Education.
In St. Paul, Minn., where the couple next lived, Jerry went to work for The St. Paul
Gallery and School of Art. He also taught high school classes. However, Joan's persistent
bronchitis forced them to leave St. Paul and move to San Bernardino where they lived for 25
years. There, while teaching high school drama, Jerry worked in junior college and U. C.
Riverside. He also established a children's theatre program, believing kids learn best by doing.
They did a playa month, mostly children's classics.
Jerry retired at age 55. (He decided it was time, also, to retire the bottle and has been a recovering alcoholic ever since.) They lived near Lake Arrowhead for awhile and then moved to
Santa Barbara where Jerry formed the "Unitarian Players" at the Unitarian Society. Jerry also
worked for the Peace Resource Center telling stories to public school children. This is something
he occasionally still does for special groups - of adults. His tales entertain, and inform, all ages.
The Fallert home is a virtual gallery, inside and out. Although other artists' work is on
walls and table tops, most of the work is Jerry's. Wood, his favorite medium, has been shaped
into pieces named such things as "The House" (Monica and members of the House of
Representatives) and "Sacrifice" (the scapegoat), but there are numerous stained glass pieces as
well - lovely, brilliant surprises set in a window, a fence or a gate.
Jerry has a prodigious memory; at the drop of a hat, he recites poems from the ridiculous
(maudlin poems such as Eugene Field's "Little Boy Blue") to the sublime (Dylan Thomas' "A
Child's Christmas in Wales). He also sings sad songs ("The Baggage Car Ahead," "Father Come
Home With Me Now"), which, of course, bring more laughter than tears. And that, perhaps, is
the mix that is Jerry Fallert; he has a marvelous sense of the joy life holds if we but see it, but he
also knows it's a serious world out there, one we all need to work on to improve. Even though he
hasn't the energy he once had, Jerry's still striving to do just that.
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BY REVEREND RICHARD The Big Rocks One day an expert in time management
was speaking to a group of business students and,
to drive home a point, used the following
illustration;
"Okay its time for a quiz you high powered
overachievers", then he pulled out a one gallon
glass jar and set it on the table in front of him and
he produced about a dozen fist sized rocks which
he carefully placed, one at a time, in the jar. When
the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks
could fit in, he asked "Is this jar full?" Everyone
said "yes" "Oh really?" He then reached from
under the table and poured in numerous gravels ,
which worked themselves into the spaces between
the rocks. "ls it full now?" he asked. The class was
on to him and said "Probably not" they replied.
"Good" he said. Then he added sand which filled
all the spaces. Once again he asked "ls it full?"
"No" they shouted. And again he said "Good" and
he poured water into the jar right to the brim of
the jar. Then he looked at the class and said "What
is the lesson here?" One eager student replied
"The point is, that no matter how full your
schedule is, there is always room for one more
thing to fit in".
"No" the instructor said "That's not the
point at all. The truth in this is "If you don't put
the big things in first they'll never get them in at
all".
"What are the big rocks in your life, your family,
your integrity, your education, time for yourself,
helping others in need, your health? Remember
to put these big things in your life first". So upon
reflection ask yourself tomorrow when you
awaken, "What are the big items in my life?" Put
those in your jar first.
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Dale McGowan Last Fall I was in contact with author Dale
McGowan who had reportedly just written a very
humorous book on the experiences of a fictional secular
humanist professor teaching at a small Catholic College
in Minnesota. Recently Dale sent me an advance copy to
read and, if appropriate, "talk up" with my humanist
friends. In the book "Humanism is presented at its best:
as a sometimes messy, stammering, and frustrating
attempt at intellectual honesty". Needless to say I found
it uproariously funny, so funny that I laughed out loud
many, many times. There are doltish, foolish, hypocritical
Christians in the book as there are doltish,
foolish, hypocritical humanists. As Dale says "Over the
course of the book, my early readers report an increasing
willingness to embrace the clear-eyed complexity of the
humanist point of view rather than the pat answers of
the Christians. The most breathtakng response to date
has been that of my mother who after reading the book
informed me that she finally felt empowered to leave the
Catholic Church". High tribute! I highly recommend
this book to our member especially us ex-catholics who
lived through similar experiences.
By Dick Cousineau. Can be ordered through the Bookstore at: xlibris.com |
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INTEREST GROUP LEADERS Book Discussion, Theater, Symphony Annette Goodheart - 966-0025
Beginning Spanish Conversation
Russ Boggie - 564-6086
Gourmet Dining
Emilie Hight - 682-6814
Intermediate Chess
Lois Crowell - 681-0185
Creative Writing
Verdun Trione - 898-1410
Intermediate Bridge
May Smith - 967-2673
Travel Club
Jossette Barskey - 962-4009
Hiking and Walking
Louis Barskey - 962-4009
Summer Solstice Party
Bob Michael - 963-5614
Refreshments at Meetings
Diane Freeman & Parkie Parker - 964-8603
Hospitality Committee
Position Open - Volunteer needed
Diane Freeman diane@silcom.com For additions, suggestions,or comments on these or any other social aspects of our group please contact Anne Rojas, 564-6086 (rusans@mac.com) "Philosophy is questions that may never be answered Religion is answers that may never be questioned" The fundamental cause of trouble in the world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt" - Bertrand Russell "The world would be astonished if it knew how great a proportion of its brightest ornaments, of those most distinguished even in popular estimation for wisdom and virtue, are complete skeptics in religion" John Stuart Mill "In my estimation, these Afghan Mujahideen are the moral equivalent of the American Founding Fathers" Ronald Reagan, 1986. |
MEASUREMENT SCALE A KIMBERLY = An Exuberant Introduction
viz. "My gosh she received a 9 kimberly!"A BOGGIE = A Withering Stare
Viz. "Jeez he just got a 6 boggie!"A WILK = Level of Business Acumen
viz. "My gosh this is 10 wilk plan".A DUNCAN = Degree of Contacts
viz. "Talk about your 6 degrees of duncan".A COUSINEAU = Lumens of Pate Reflection
viz. "Close the blinds, I'm getting 10 cousineaus".A ROJAS = Value of Raffle Item
viz. "Oh good! I won an rojas 8 item".A SCHLUETER = Complexity of Syntax
viz. "That talk was only a 5 schlueter".A BRODY = Degree of Irony
viz. "Boy was that a 10 brody or what?".A GORDON = Length of Web Page
viz. "Oh yeah, well I have 12 gordon page".A LWHITE = Depth of Interview Question
viz. "Well I'm not going to answer such a lwhite!"
Leading Scientists Reject God Belief
The July 1998 "Nature" reports its new survey this year finding that
93% of what it categorizes as "great" scientists do not believe in a god.
The 1998 study follows up on the landmark 1914 survey by U.S.
psychologist James H. Leuba, who found that 58% of 1,000 randomly
selected U.S. scientists expressed disbelief or doubt in the existence
of a god, and that this figure rose to nearly 70% among the 400 "greater"
scientists within his sample. When Leuba repeated his survey some
twenty years later, he found that these percentages had increased to
67% and 85% respectively.
Nature replicated Leuba's initial 1914 study in 1996, reporting little
change, with 60.7% of American scientists generally expressing
disbelief or doubt. This year it replicated the second prong of Leuba's
study, studying "greater" scientists (criterion: membership in the
National Academy of Sciences). Its survey found "near universal
rejection of the transcendent by NAS natural scientists ...We found
the highest percentage of belief among NAS mathematicians (14.3%
in God. 15.0% in immortality). Biological scientists had the lowest rate
of belief (5.5% in God, 7.1% in immor1ality)."
Specifically Nature found only 7% of "greater" scientists expressed
belief in a personal god, compared to 27.7% in 1914 and 15% in 1933,
while 72.2% expressed a "personal disbelief' and 20.8% a "doubt or
agnosticism." Similar numbers disbelieved in immortality.
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by COLIN GORDON Another special deal this month - two for the price of one. The first, recommended by Chairman Roger, is: the preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference and verse providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the web free of charge. This is a mine of information where almost anything literary can be found. Named "Best Literary Resource" for 2001 this site has an incredible wealth of information online and searchable - including the Bible (obviously of great importance to us).If that is a little heavy try some light entertainment at a site suggested by Dudley Duncan http://www.jesusdressup.comI disclaim all responsibility for this one! Colin Gordon |
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