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Show 309: The Future of Politics in America

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Humanist Manifesto II

Eighth Principle

‘We are committed to an open and democratic society. We must extend participatory democracy in its true sense to the economy, the school, the family, the workplace, and voluntary associations. Decision-making must be decentralized to include widespread involvement of people at all levels – social, political, and economic. All persons should have a voice in developing the values and goals that determine their lives. Institutions should be responsive to expressed desires and needs.’

This Sunday, Matthew LaClair will host a call-in special about President Obama’s ‘State of the Union‘ address, and the issues discussed in it. The HealthCare debate, the Supreme Court decision allowing corporations the right to essentially purchase elections, and more will be discussed… in addition to the impact of Obama’s speech.

Does Obama’s SOTU speech show an interest by Obama to have a more open and participatory democracy than before? Will Obama’s speech finally open the doors for significant change in American Politics as we know it?

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Show 308: Haiti

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The eyes of the world are still on Haiti and hearts everywhere are aching. Aid and volunteers have poured in from around the world. And yet, the U.S.’s 12,000 troops have taken over Haiti’s main airport and are turning back much of this aid. An estimated 20,000 people a day died this past week under the rubble for lack of rescue. Surgeries and amputations among survivors were carried out without anesthesia or electricity.

Meanwhile, we are told – through the mainstream media over and over again – of the stories of worship and praise throughout Haiti. It is almost as if we are supposed to believe their suffering is not so great because of their faith. At the same time, Christian fascist Pat Robertson blamed the history of Haitians, who waged the only successful slave revolution in history, for bringing a curse down on themselves and causing their own suffering. As widely denounced as Robertson was, his voice was still treated as legitimate and promoted throughout the mainstream media.

This week on Equal Time for Free Thought Sunsara Taylor and her guests, Carl Dix and Rob Boston, will dig into the real history of Haiti, the dangerous and influential role of fundamentalists like Robertson, and shine a spotlight on the people who are not falling down on their knees and praising god, but waging active resistance both in Haiti and in the U.S. to demand humanitarian aid be let through.

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Show 307: Norm Allen, Jr.

African-American Humanism

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Michael O’Neil interviews Norm Allen, Jr…we talk about the efforts of skeptics in Africa to oppose fundamentalist Christianity imported by the West, and the need to recognize non-theist African American leaders in US history.

Norm Allen is the Executive Director of African Americans for Humanism (AAH), an educational organization primarily concerned with fostering critical thinking, ethical conduct, church-state separation, and skepticism toward untested claims to knowledge. He is the editor of the ground-breaking book African-American Humanism: An Anthology, AAH Examiner, and an Associate Editor of Free Inquiry magazine. His most recent book is The Black Humanist Experience.

Mr. Allen has traveled and lectured throughout North America, Europe, and Africa. His writings have been published in scores of newspapers throughout the US, and he has spoken on numerous radio and television programs. Mr. Allen’s writings have appeared in such books as Culture Wars and the National Center for Science Education’s Voices for Evolution.

Norm Allen has spoken at many institutions of higher learning including Harvard, Cheyney University, Temple University, the University of Minnesota, and Ohio State University. He has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows, including “the O’Reilley Factor” on the Fox News Network, the Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio, BBC Radio, and the Ghanaian Broadcasting Corporation.

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Show 306: Atheism or Humanism?

Atheism Vs. Humanism?

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With the advent of the ‘New Atheists’ and their amazing popularity, and the watering down of humanism by many organizations in the US, we wonder what is the difference between humanism and atheism? Is atheism the foundational core of humanism as many “secular” humanists argue? Can anyone self-identified as an atheist be called a humanist? If humanism is, as some state, an ethical worldview, why do many argue that people can hold any political position and still be a humanist? Matthew LaClair will host a special call-in show to have YOU address these questions…