This is the weekly summary of the Humanist Network News (HNN). The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and on the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) Web site. This diary is a slightly reformatted copy of the weekly email they send me, which I post here every Thursday. (CP @ DKos, MLW, BT)
September 15, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- Judge: “Under God” Pledge Unconstitutional
- IHS meets stars of women’s rights movement
- Humanists speak out on genital mutilation
- Save the Date: Bioethics Event — Beyond Cloning
- Sir Hermann Bondi, 1919-2005
- Will civil marriage survive?
- Special rights for minorities and religion
- War on racism?
- Great news for Canada
- Sweet Reason, we’ve got a real hypothetical situation here
- Film Review: The Constant Gardener
- Letters to the Editor
- Cathartic Comics
- Humanist Humor
- Poll of the Week
Summaries and links across the break. As always, anyone and everyone is more than welcome to write a more in depth diary on any of the stories.
1. Judge: “Under God” Pledge Unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton (San Francisco) ruled Wednesday that the inclusion of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional establishment of religion. MORE
2. IHS meets stars of women’s rights movement
Staff members of the Institute for Humanist Studies meet some of the most extraordinary leaders in women’s rights last week. MORE
3. Humanists speak out on genital mutilation
Humanist Bioethicist Ana Lita speaks out on the ethical question of genital mutilation. MORE
4. Save the Date: Bioethics Event — Beyond Cloning
The IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics invites HNN readers to attend its first panel discussion, “Beyond Cloning.” MORE
5. Sir Hermann Bondi, 1919-2005
The community of reason mourns the loss of Hermann Bondi, one of the greatest humanists and scientists of the twentieth century, who died on Saturday at age 85. MORE
6. Will civil marriage survive?
In this guest column, Molleen Matsumura, a.k.a. “Sweet Reason”, explores the status of gay marriage and civil domestic partnerships. MORE
7. Special rights for minorities and religion
Tim Gordinier, IHS public policy director, examines an bill that would create a separate race based government in the United States of America. MORE
8. War on racism?
We have declared war on drugs and war on terrorism. Lately I’ve been wondering what would happen if we declared war on racism. Column by Duncan Crary, HNN editor. MORE
9. Great news for Canada
On Sunday, Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario announced that the province would not go ahead with the inclusion of Sharia law in the Arbitration Act. Guest column by Doug Thomas. MORE
10. Sweet Reason, we’ve got a real hypothetical situation here
A nonreligious couple is asked by a religious couple to raise their childrend for them should anything ever happen to them. But the religous couple has a double standard when it comes to raising children. MORE
11. Film Review: The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener digs deep into a world of violence and corruption. MORE
12. Letters to the Editor
Letters on philanthropic giving, the definition of secular and MORE
13. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE
14. Humanist Humor
The rabbinical student is about to leave for America. When he asks his mentor for advice, the rabbi offers an adage that, he tells the student, will guide him for the rest of his life. “Always remember,” the rabbi said sagely, “life is like a fountain.” MORE
15. Poll of the Week
Michael Newdow, the atheist parent and lawyer who argued to remove “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, is back in the news. Do you think he’ll take the case all the way to the top and win this time? CAST YOUR VOTE
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About the IHS:
The IHS promotes nonreligious perspectives on social, political, and ethical issues and serves as a resource for and about the humanist community. Questions, comments, concerns, got a better joke or a story? Send a letter to the editor.
If anything here interests you, you may also be interested in my diary on what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.