Tulsa Humanists

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Bob Hooper - Muskogee Phoenix and the Tulsa World.

I choose NOT to believe in the supernatural--any flavor. I have long been disturbed by the numbers of people who are convinced they know "what God says," blissfully oblivious to the fact that hundreds of other churches also "know"--differently, as evidenced by the hundreds of different churches just in our region of Oklahoma--never mind the "knowledge" of same claimed by the benighted people who happen to be born into other countries, and other beliefs. That is why when I read, in May, that the American Atheists are dedicated to "the complete and absolute separation of state and church" and "is organized 1) to stimulate freedom of thought and inquiry concerning religious beliefs...and practices...2) to develop and propagate a social philosophy in which humankind is central and must itself be the source of strength, progress, and ideals for the well-being and happiness of humanity" I decided I wanted to support those ideals. (For the sake of brevity, I have cited only some of their "Aims and Purposes.") The man we twice elected [beg pardon--the first time Florida and the Supreme Court did] to lead the world's most powerful nation, seems to think that God has chosen him to fight Evil, and has used his executive position to direct that federal funds be provided for faith-based initiatives. Many times, in many ways he has suggested that government should be closely allied with religious aims ( his religion, of course). I wonder if an Islamic or Buddhist--or even Mormon or Christian Scientist--church group would qualify for the funds? Once a pope or priest or church becomes influential in government we've begun the path of discrimination, and are reversing the progress our "founding fathers" made in preventing the tyranny and massacres typified in the Inquisition, Salem witch trials, the Crusades--and in the suicide bombing dictated today by yet another God--some say. The clash of "Gods" in the Middle East continues to shed the blood of everyone involved, though to be sure, that is hardly the only motive in our involvement in other people's turmoil.

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July 4th, 2007

Scooter Libby's adventure began when Joe Wilson went public casting doubt upon White House claims that Iraq was building nuclear weapons. Someone leaked the information that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, was a CIA officer, thereby "violating law," and endangering her life. Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald tried to determine who the culprit was; Libby was uncooperative.
September 30, 2003, in commenting on the Valerie Plame case, Bush declared, "If the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of." (Maugre the constitution, the Decider chooses who, including American citizens, is to be jailed w/o trial, decides that he does not need congressional or judicial approval to surveill/listen to American citizens. And apparently he has not erred--yet! ) There is no need for any of his staff to testify under oath or publicly. According to the editor of Newsweek International (June 11), "we have managed in six years to destroy decades of international goodwill, alienate allies, embolden enemies, and yet solve few of the international problems we face." After a jury convicted Libby of lying to the prosecutor and obstructing justice, the judge insisted Libby deserved a harsh sentence, to show that perjury is unacceptable; someone so highly placed should be expected to set an example, and sentenced him to 2 1/2 years plus a fine and probation. So the Decider did indeed "take care of" Scooter Libby--by seeing to it that he does not serve one day in jail for lying or obstructing justice. Six years of presidential commutations: 1849 requests pending, 4,108 denied, 4 (including Scooter Libby) granted. One of those he denied includes Willie Mays Aiken, who has served ten of a twenty year sentence for selling 2 oz. of crack cocaine. Aiken was a Kansas City Royal, but he is black, and perhaps not Republican or sufficiently high-placed. Commutation means prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald now has no hope of persuading Libby to tell the truth that might perhaps incriminate Karl Rove or his boss, vice president Cheney. Amazing what one president can do to the United States, serve two full terms, and never make a mistake.

Bob Hooper 515 Ross, Fort Gibson. 918-478-4575

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On quoting Thomas Paine

7/17/2007

In response to the letter from Michael C. Turley ("Older, wiser perspective," July 17), my suggestion is that he revisit the circumstances for the Thomas Paine quote, "These are the times that try men's souls." Paine made that statement in "The Crisis" which was written at a time early in the American Revolution when General Washington was leading a dispirited volunteer army and facing an occupation military which was reinforced by mercenary soldiers. Those words back then could be quoted accurately in context by the citizens of Iraq today.

I encourage Mr. Turley and others to read more of Thomas Paine's writings, in particular, "The Rights of Man". Paine wrote it in defense of the French Revolution in response to criticism by British Parliamentarian Edmund Burke. This can be found in the library or on the Internet. Some quotes from that Paine treatise are:

1) "War is the common harvest of all those who participate in the division and expenditure of public money, in all countries."

2) "It (war) is the art of conquering at home: the object of it is an increase of revenue; and as revenue cannot be increased without taxes, a pretense must be made for expenditure."

3) "... taxes (are) not raised to carry on wars, but ... wars (are) raised to carry on taxes." and, finally,

4) (The warring classes) “fatten on the folly of one country and the spoils of another ; and, between their plunder and their prey, may go home rich."

One big difference between wars in the late 1700's and war today is that we cut taxes for political popularity and charge the fraudulent, bloated war expenses to our children, grandchildren, and even later generations if our nation can endure that long. Please do not doubt that Americans are waking up. Thank goodness young soldiers such as Kyle Tibbits are willing to write their eyewitness reports.

Larry Hicks, Tulsa

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Jon Harle - 11/07/2006

In all the clamor over Iraq one simple fact seems to be singularly overlooked: people would much rather be very badly ruled by one of their own kind than very well ruled by a foreigner. This was true in the past and it is true now. Xenophobia---loathing of the alien---is endemic in nation states. The current regime in Baghdad is perceived as nothing more than a client satrap of the United States---an extension of the hated American presence. The Iraqi people want us out, and they want us out now. We have inflicted too much injury (650,000 Iraqi dead), and too much damage, while doing far too little to improve the lot of the average Iraqi for us to have continued influence in Iraq. It is time to go.

The argument is specious that if we leave Iraq immediately the country will be plunged into a blood bath. When we do leave, in all probability there will indeed be massive carnage as Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites vie for power. Tragically that is going to be unavoidable. As the United States sowed the wind in Iraq, it now must be prepared to reap the whirlwind.

History sheds some light here. For example, when Britain pulled out of India in 1947, having completely failed to achieve peace between the Hindu and Moslem populations, they simply divided the sub-continent between India and newly created Pakistan, unintentionally leaving the two countries to fight it out between themselves.

Algeria too is an example of moral courage, which should give Washington some guidance. In the 1950's France, enmeshed in the struggle for Algerian independence, brought Charles de Gaulle to power who, despite violent criticism had the courage and wisdom to give Algeria its freedom. That action saved France from civil war. History is replete with examples of nations realizing they made a mistake and withdrawing from a country after failing to control its affairs. Again, people do not want to be ruled, or controlled, by a foreign power. History teaches this absolute truth.

So what does all this amount to? Simply this: we are going to have to get out of Iraq quickly, and let Iraq settle its own destiny. We can't stay there indefinitely because we want their oil. It's time for real courage. We are going to have to admit the war was a mistake, pull up stakes, and go home. This is not the first time we have done this (remember Viet-Nam?), but hopefully we have learned enough not to make the same mistake in the future. Failure to do so will only insure the moral and financial bankruptcy of the United States.

Jon Harle

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Larry Hicks - 08/18/2006, Tulsa World

A study reported in the journal Science , the premier American journal of science in the US, reported in the Aug 11 issue that America ranks near the bottom of 34 countries for the public acceptance of evolution. Only Turkey ranked lower. Factors identified with America's low score was a poor understanding of biology, particularly relating to genetics. Writers also linked the literal interpretation of the Bible by many Americans and the mixing of science, politics, and religion.

What an embarassment for our country which is supposed to be an enlightened beacon for the rest of the world. Not only embarrassing, it's scary.

Maybe I underestimate many of my fellow Okies, but I would bet that we as a citizenry are close to the bottom in scientific literacy in the US.

Folks who would bring industry and innovation to Oklahoma are certainly not excited when they hear of this scientific ignorance. I as a grandfather with children in our public schools am not excited when I hear of this. Also as a senior citizen looking forward to quality health care and well-trained scientists in our hospitals and labs, I do not welcome the idea that our scientific minds may lag behind, or even not accept, the best of current scientific thought.

In short, I prefer that my physician not pray or chant over me for recovery. I want him or her to be aware of the evolution of pathogens and the responses of my immune system to them. I prefer that the doctor throw superstition out the window and approach my problems with the most receptive scientific mind.

Biology is the study or understanding of life. Medicine is biology. Ecology is biology. Agriculture is biology. Evolution is the unifying theme of all biology and all its disciplines. To deny evolution as the basis of biology is to strip it of all foundations and, hence, the framework for future breakthrough discoveries.

Larry Hicks

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Larry Hicks - 04/02/2006 Tulsa World

Religious are hypocritical

The consequences of major corporate media and our politician's campaign to delude and misdirect the clear thinking of common Americans today is devastating. In Iraq, we are buried in an illegal war, as defined in our national and international treaties and law, and engaged in illegal torture and seizure of another sovereign nation's resources and infrastructure. Yet most decent Americans are unaware of the massive crimes we have and are committing against this planet's other citizens. Our nation's media ignore, at the behest and intimidation of our government, the murderous consequences of our military actions against too many innocents in Iraq and other countries.

I am an atheist, and I find many of the religious of this country to be hypocritical when they can condone governmental war policies that have been shown to be in error, deceitful, manipulative and destructive of innocent human life, and yet they not only do not condemn it, they remain silent as it is waged.

My conclusion is that not only are they are being failed by their media, their elected officials, and possibly, their enlightened religious leaders, they are also guilty of being sheep.

Larry Hicks

Tulsa

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Brian Hill - 11/16/2006, Tulsa World.

Weather-worn

"Braving stormy weather" (Nov. 7) rakes over the same old discredited coals. Historically, believers have strained to attach theological significance to catastrophic weather. But the Bible is replete with erroneous predictions of the Apocalypse.

Jesus taught that his generation would witness the advent of God's kingdom. At Matthew 4:17, he states, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He miscalculates again in Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27 and Matthew 16:28.

St. Paul says in I Corinthians 7:29, "the appointed time has grown very short." The opening sentence of the fabled Book of Revelation cites Jesus speaking of things that must shortly come to pass.

No viable construction can expand "shortly" to extend to nearly 2,000 years. Would the early Christians have been so willing to face persecution if they had realized how mistaken their leaders were about their collective fate? No telling, but there is no doubt that many of today's believers will continue to ignore biblical passages that disrupt their cherished notions.

Brian Hill, Tulsa

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Randy Bradley - 10/02/2005,Tulsa World

Judge Lawrence Karlton's ruling is correct. The phrase "Under God" does violate school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." I would prefer that Oklahoma officials support the U.S. Constitution rather than gloat that the majority has the power to force its superstition on the rational.

A persistent misrepresentation made by the religious in America is that our Founding Fathers desired to make America religious. That assertion is not true. The framers of our constitution argued vehemently against the governments providing support to religion. Of our first six presidents, none attended an established church. During the term of our second president, the U.S. Senate agreed unanimously, in the Treaty of Tripoli, that the United States was in fact not a Christian nation.

Language cannot be more plain than that used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to William Short:
"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth."

Randy Bradley, Tulsa

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Kathy Warren - 8/16/05, Tulsa World

Unfortunately, few of us asked the hard questions when it came time to send the Casey Sheehan's to Iraq. Instead, we blindly followed our leader, never once thinking through the unreasoned “facts” that demanded we act so irrationally. Even so, we need to be asking those questions now because they are just as important today as they were when we launched the war.

Once again: there were no WMDs, no Iraqi terrorists connected to 9/11 — although we can be sure there are plenty of volunteers now — and no Jeffersonian democracy within sight. Yet, Bush’s mantra remains the same as the one repeated over and over again during Vietnam: “We are there, so we must stay.”

There are certainly things worth fighting for. And, yes, there are even some worth dying for. But Iraq is not one of them, and Casey’s mother, camped outside Tiananmen Ranch, understands this and sees it as both her humane and patriotic duty to ask those long forgotten questions about this false war we now find in our laps. As both an anguished mother and once proud citizen, she begs us to listen — and question, too — so other mothers can avoid the same sorrow that haunts her so pitifully.

Kathy Warren - Tulsa, OK

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Larry Hicks - Tulsa World:

I'm approaching the year I might be considered a sage. So I'm comfortable offering my wisdom gained through years.

One thing I've learned is that at any time, what the majority of people think is wrong. That's it. Majority truths are in error. Famous financial gurus, like Baruch, Soros, and Buffett have made millions recognizing this simple truth, and popular investment newsletters sell millions in subscriptions under the guise of "contrarian" financial advice.

But, that same contrarian principle is also true in both the socio/religious and economic metaphysics of America. Those who believe in the Christian-Judaic-Muslim religious worldview are also wrong in almost every aspect of their belief system. Their concept of a personal God for good and, except for most Jews, a personification of evil called Satan, is foolish, irrational, superstitious and a dangerous concept for the future of human survival. The folks believing that junk are flat out wrong. And, in my old mind, dangerous.

Those who believe that the laboring masses are benefitted by big corporate tax breaks, and "voluntary" regulation deserve picking up the bill to fix "Super Fund" failures. ("By golly, they gave us a job back then, no matter that my grand baby might be brain damaged. And besides, where can you find them now, anyway>").

When a law is passed that is supported by the Chamber of Commerce, look out, working folks. Get set for a screwing. When Ken Lay, George Bush, and others tell you a law or "reform" is needed, guess who's gonna be "deformed".

More majority errors:

1) a bunch of Americans believe in a Genesis account of the creation. They're wrong.

2) Many believe that what's good for GM is good for America, and they're being proved wrong.

3) Most Okies believe that President Bush is a humble man of God working for the best interests of laboring and reverent Americans. And yep, no surprise, they're also wrong.

Larry Hicks - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Randy Bradley - 03/26/2005,Tulsa World

Sir,

The lawn monument of the Christian Ten Commandments on the Haskell County Courthouse grounds is unconstitutional and should be removed. The monument is another attempt by fundamentalist Christians to force their superstitions on the rest of us. The Declaration of Independence states quite clearly that the power of our government derives from the consent of the governed. It does not say that those powers derive from God.

As far as being reasonable law, I offer the following: The first 4 commandments are specific religious edicts – enforcing them would deny the rights of all other religions and the rights of those who hold no superstition. Commandments 5 and 10 are thought crime laws and therefore impossible to enforce. As for commandment 6, the Old Testament offers a confusing example of how it applies

Exodus Chapter 32 verses 26-28

26    Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27    And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
28    And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

The old testament relates that Moses led the murders of thousands of his tribe on the first day that the decalog was delivered to the Israelites. Christians, your beliefs are preposterous. Do not force them on me.

Randy Bradley - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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On her radio show Dr. Laura Schlesinger said that homosexuality is
an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be
condoned under any circumstances. The following response is an open letter
to Dr. Laura.

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have
learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as
many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle,
for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to
be an abomination...end of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of
God's Law and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord- Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of
menstrual uncleanliness- Lev. 15:19-24. The problem is how to find out? I
have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, provided they are
purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this
applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own
Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. The
passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to
kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination- Lev.11:10, it is a lesser abomination that homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there "degrees" of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a
defect in my sight. I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20,
or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around
their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How
should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev. 24:10-16. Couldn't we
just burn them to death at a private family affair?

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable
expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan,
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D.
Professor Emeritus
Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia

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Humanist Principles

HAT is a Chartered Chapter of the American Humanist Association and a Cooperating Local Group with the Council for Secular Humanism.

*Web Pages by Randy Bradley. Please send email to me with any material that you would like to see posted. I am grateful to all of you who stand up for Reason and Tolerance. (Please see humanist principles above.)

Randy.Bradley@gmail.com

The Night I Saw the Light

by Gina Allen