Tag Archives: civil rights

A Humanist You Should Know: Dr. Henry Morgentaler

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Dr. Henry Morgentaler – 1975 AHA Humanist of the Year

Dr. Henry Morgentaler, 1975 American Humanist Association Humanist of the Year, signer of Humanist Manifesto II (1973) as well as being the first President of the Humanist Association of Canada, died Wednesday at age 90. He profoundly changed Canada by challenging and eventually winning against anti-abortion laws. Morgentaler, risking his career, safety, and personal freedom, used Humanist principles in a way that helped women who needed their rights protected.
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Social Contract Alive And Well With President Obama

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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

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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:
A. Philip Randolph

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A. Philip Randolph

Asa Philip Randolph (April 15, 1889 – May 16, 1979) was a leader in the African American civil-rights movement, and the American labor movement. He organized marches on Washington DC that led to integration in war industries during World War II, integration in the armed forces at the end of the 1940’s, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He was named Humanist of the Year in 1970 by the American Humanist Association and he signed on to the Humanist Manifesto II in 1973.
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