All Is Not Completely Lost
When I’m not busy answering letters from adults who are incapable of writing a complete sentence in correctly spelled English, I sometimes do a speaking engagement. This week, I talked on a panel with Cathy Seipp, TV writer/producer/everything-er Tim Minnear, and two professors about separation of church and state. I, of course, am for it -- what’s left of it. Friday, the House passsed a resolution to “protect” Christmas. An entreaty was made that protection of Hanukah be included in the bill. It was denied. How lovely, that with all the real problems we have in this country and in the world, our representatives are busy, busy, busy passing legislation contrary to the Bill Of Rights.
I spoke, courtesy of Christian Johnson and the Arsalyn Foundation, "promoting youth civic and political engagement," to a ballroom of southern California high school students. Now, I grew up in suburban Detroit, where everybody was white, white, white until junior high school…and even then, I didn’t realize Jamie Leon was Puerto Rican until I went to New York. “Shhh, don’t tell anyone,” he said. Well, it was pretty amazing to walk into a room of almost entirely Asian faces. Cathy’s daughter Maia, who recommended me to Arselyn, and maybe two other kids, were the only non-Asians there. Pretty incredible to see.
Anyway, the most exciting part of this for me (in addition to reports that I was actually coherent), was the level of interest and intelligence of all the kids there. For starters, as Christian noted, they were spending their Saturday night listening to a discussion about religion and the Constitution. but also, they asked really good questions. One guy in particular, who looked to be of Mexican origin -- actually, he looked like he walked out of a drawing of the Aztecs -- asked particularly smart questions, which showed me that he didn’t just suck down everything he was told. Because time ran out, I didn’t get in what would have been my parting remark to the kids: “Don’t settle for hand-me-down thinking or values” -- something all kids should be taught.
I just read something that I thought you might enjoy:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/20/intelligent.design/index.html
In the Dover, PA case the judge has thrown out (un)Intelligent Design.
Brian at December 20, 2005 10:17 AM
"Liberalism", by Dr. Harry Neumann
Fritz at December 25, 2005 4:19 PM
Fritz, is that a book you are recommending? You're a man of few words. A few more would be helpful. Such as, why do you recommend the book, if you do? Brevity is the soul of wit, some say, but here it's simply .
Amy Alkon at December 25, 2005 4:37 PM
I recommended it because it's an interesting and intelligent discussion of atheism, from an atheist, aimed at atheists. I've taken a number of classes at CGU from Dr. Nuemann, who used to be a research assistant for Leo Strauss at the University of Chicago, and to this day I find what he has to say on the subject of atheism and modernity fascinating and provocative. Which, of course, wasn't exactly what you were talking about during your presentation at the Arsalyn Program's Town Hall Forum, but might be interesting to you, if you're interested in what a philosopher has to say about atheism.
Fritz at December 25, 2005 7:53 PM
Thank you. Much more descriptive. I'll have to read it.
Amy Alkon at December 25, 2005 8:59 PM
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