The American Humanist Association filed a lawsuit last year on behalf of an inmate at a federal prison in Oregon in order to get Humanism added to the list of recognized religions in the prison system. The lawsuit wasn’t about changing Humanism into a religion, like Islam or Judaism, but to make sure inmates who identify as Humanists can receive the same special treatment members of traditional religions receive. This was all about equal protection under the law.
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Tag Archives: civil liberties
Chomsky: Human Aspirations Depend On Concern For The Common Good
Noam Chomsky and John Dewey
The other day I read an essay by Noam Chomsky that contained some obvious Humanist principles we should all support. The title caught my eye ‘What Is the Common Good?’. I was interested in Chomsky’s idea that a reasonable definition of the common good was a democratic social order based on workers’ control, respecting the dignity of the producer as a genuine person, and not a tool in the hands of others. In this way humans would be fulfilling our just aspirations. It isn’t currently what we have in the United States.
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Nelson Mandela: Reconciliation And Forgiveness Was His Motto
Former political prisoner and President of South of Africa Nelson Mandela passed away on Thursday December 5th. He was imprisoned for 27 years for battling against apartheid in South Africa. He was elected the first black President of the country after apartheid was ended.
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Social Contract Alive And Well With President Obama
President Obama giving 2nd Inauguration speech 01/21/2013
President Obama had his public inauguration today (1/21) and he gave his 2nd inaugural speech on the West Front of the US Capital. As I listened I couldn’t help but be impressed by the elements of the social contract he included in his speech. I have highlighted my favorite parts and plan on using these quotes in future essays and discussions I might have.
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Happy International Blasphemy Rights Day
Protests by Malaysia Muslims over Innocence Of Muslims film September 2012
September 30th is designated as International Blasphemy Rights Day. This is when we bring awareness to efforts to censor dissent using the false cover of “protecting religious beliefs”. Although very rare in the US, jail time and even death comes to people deemed to have committed Blasphemy. In the US, public bullying sometimes results in “voluntary” self-censorship. Blasphemy laws are bad for freedom. A vibrant society needs and allows dissent in all forms so that the people are able to make informed choices in their lives. And how tolerant we are of dissent says a lot about how we view our country and our freedoms.
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A Humanist You Should Know: Corliss Lamont
Corliss Lamont (1902 – 1995) was born into wealth but spent his life fighting for people who weren’t wealthy. He fought and won battles over civil rights and added his voice to the Humanist consensus. He authored the seminal introductory book about Humanism titled “The Philosophy of Humanism” in 1949, which at the time of his death, was in its eighth edition. He didn’t just talk about Humanism, he lived the philosophy.
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