Newsletter of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara

www.SBhumanists.org JANUARY 2020

Join us for our January Meeting…

Self Driving Cars?

Is designing a self-driving car a challenge worth solving? How hard would it be? What would such a car mean for us and for future generations?

Our Speaker: Currently a senior software engineer at one of the leading self-driving car companies, Horus Wu is focused on building infrastructure for machine Horus Muchen Wu, Sr. Software Engineer, learning, which is the lifeblood of self- autonomous vehicles. driving technology today.

Previously a software engineer at Google, Horus worked on multiple products including Android and Google Fi. She is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology.

When: Saturday, January 18, 2019 Where: Valle Verde Theater. 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA. Parking: Please park at Veronica Springs Church, 949 Veronica Springs Road. Free shuttle to and from meeting. No parking at Valle Verde (except for bicycles & handicapped parking). Shuttle driver has a dedicated cellphone: 805-679-3660 Time: Doors open at 2:30 pm. Program begins promptly at 3:00 pm Meeting Donation: $2 members, $5 non-members. Students with ID are free. ======Optional After Meeting Dinner Buffet: Join us for dinner at Valle Verde, $25 per person. We are required to provide a firm count for dinner, therefore please RSVP to Nan Cisney at [email protected] by noon Wednesday January 15. Parking lot shuttle also available after dinner. For More Info: Call 805-769-4772

The President’s Column (https://www.secularjihadists.com/), has often Distinguishing People From Their Beliefs remarked that the best way to oppose is to & Opinions befriend a Muslim. Welcome Muslims. Share with them. Get to know each other. Get to care By Judy Flattery about each other. Don’t criticize the person— Have you heard the term “the regressive left”? that’s an undignified ad hominem attack… but it Wikipedia defines it as follows: "’Regressive is fair game to criticize beliefs, opinions, and left’" is a neologism and political epithet, used as practices and to have our own beliefs, opinions, a pejorative to describe a section of left-wing and practices challenged. Better and more politics who are accused of holding views, such accurate to say “Your ideology is ridiculous!” as tolerating or opposition to free than to say “You are ridiculous!” speech, that conflict with liberal principles.” Consider the analogy to the ideology of white In other words, “regressive left” would apply to supremacy. Can we value the person who holds statements made or actions taken in the name of white supremacist views while vigorously inclusion or not offending a group of people opposing the ideology? Can we befriend them which actually undermine enlightenment and have them see another point of view? Can values, and are therefore contrary to what “the we step into their shoes and see how they came liberal left” is purported to be about. A common to hold the beliefs they do? Perhaps you have area of issue with “regressive left” actions arises relatives who hold “wacky” views. Can you love from confusion between “anti-Muslim” and the person and despise their views? “anti-Islamic” sentiments which serves to More importantly, can they separate their illustrate the distinction: identity from their views so as not to interpret Muslims are people; Islam is an ideology. “Anti- healthy debate as a personal attack and react Muslim” is not the same as “anti-Islam”. defensively rather than be open to an exchange of ideas? In a society that values open debate and free exchange of ideas, challenging ideas and For that matter, can we? We often describe ideologies is fair and healthy, therefore it is ourselves in terms of “being” our history, our acceptable for progressive liberals to be anti- views, our biology, our professions instead of Islam and criticize that ideology for the 7th “having” these experience-based characteristics. century unenlightened values and practices it I could make the following statements: entails. “I am an American Atheist Humanist ex-Catholic I consider myself to be anti-Islam and pro- woman engineer interior designer dog-lover” or Muslim. I view Muslims, particularly those in I could say Muslim-majority countries, as victims of Islamic “I am a human who possesses female physiology indoctrination supported by repressive who was born in America, descended from a line governmental regimes. I have great compassion of humans who previously lived in Eastern for these people. I am rooting for them and Europe, who was raised in the Roman Catholic supporting organizations which support them in faith tradition, who held those beliefs, then later having true freedom to choose their own, one discarded those beliefs in favor of science, best life. , and humanist values, and who was , (likely our May HSSB speaker) educated in and worked in both the engineering who leads and co-leads respectively, Atheist and interior design professions and who values Republic (https://www.atheistrepublic.com/) and the companionship of well-behaved canines.” Secular Jihadists for Muslim Enlightenment The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 3

The first statement is used as efficient shorthand past 6 weeks, several so that they could attend for the second statement but runs the risk, upon this special “members-only” event. frequent repetition, of having the speaker conflate what they have, what they do, what they The Voices of Reason choir was profiled on LA’s think, and what they value with who they are… KPCC 89.3 NPR radio on December 20, the day and may obscure the freedom we have to before our party. The Take 2 program interview explore, discover, think, and do other things starts at 32:35 and ends at 38:58 at the following (setting aside the arguments around free-will… link: KPCC Voices of Reason Interview. we are not going there this month!!!). HSSB Winter Solstice Party! Voices of Reason Choir – 12-21-19 By Judy Flattery Approximately 75 people attended the HSSB Winter Solstice Party held at Mulligan’s Café. Strong demand had the party planners, Anne H Rojas & Nan Cisney, scrambling to fit more diners into the reserved room. It was a tight fit (with space for the restaurant’s large Christmas tree and performance area for the choir), but worth it to allow more HSSB members to attend. This year’s attendance was about double last year’s party and at least triple the typical Josette & Lou enjoying the party. Photo by Russell Orrell. attendance of our monthly after-meeting dinners. The interviewer actually reported on air that VoR was to perform at the Humanist Society of

A big draw for this year’s party was our Santa Barbara the following night. How great to entertainment, L.A.’s Voices of Reason (VoR) an get a favorable mention on the #3 public radio a capella atheist choir. They are the ONLY news station in the United States! atheist choir in the U.S. and one of only three in the world. Eighteen people joined HSSB over the Discovering the VoR choir was quite serendipitous. My husband, Dave, and I were visiting relatives in Orange County last June. I was listening to secular Youtube videos and ran across a talk by Dan Barker, ex-evangelical preacher, author of Godless, and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The video led me to do an on-line search which landed me on a page announcing that Dan Barker (also a composer and pianist) would be performing at the Heretic House in Los Angeles the next day accompanied by the Voices of Reason choir… HERETIC HOUSE?? VOICES OF Voices of Reason Choir performed at HSSB Winter REASON CHOIR?? TOMORROW IN L.A. JUST OFF Solstice Party. Back row: Don, Al, Kate, Amanda, Jennifer, 101 ON OUR WAY HOME?? We have to go! kt, Yari. Front Row: Samwise, Jenny, Erin, Christine. Not pictured: Kelly. Photo by Russell Orrell. The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 4

We found Heretic House, attended the concert, and were thoroughly charmed. We decided to bring the VoR to Santa Barbara to share with our society.

Choir Members head down the cliff to check out the cottage converted from a look-out bunker formerly used to watch for WWII Japanese submarines, arguably the most historically interesting accommodation offered up by our generous members. Photo by Heather Brodhead. Heretic House in Angelino Heights, Los Angeles.. Voices of Reason Song Lyrics

HSSB typically has a single speaker so At our Solstice Party, the choir sang two sets of economically hosting a group of 12 singers with 4 songs each: one set before dinner and the 4 partners was quite a challenge. Several HSSB second at the end of the evening. members generously offered up lodging in their homes to host choir members and a few of their Several HSSB members asked for a copy of the guests. choir’s song lyrics. The lyrics are reprinted below along with links to the original songs so readers can hear the melodies.

Evolution (Sung to the tune of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”) Hallelujah Chorus Video

Evolution, evolution, evolution, evolution... Nature brings gradual readjustments Adaptations and adjustments

Only the strong survive—the weak die out and those that last are known as the fittest Choir practice at board member Clover’s home. Photo by Heather Brodhead. Natural selection These member-hosts were treated to Survival of the fittest impromptu in-home concerts, great Earth is old: it’s billions and billions conversation, and the company of several new As Darwin told: survival of the fittest and interesting friends. Species grow (some species may grow, some species may go) The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 5

And species go (species grow and species go) Australopithecus would really have been sick of us And we can learn the future from the past Debating out while here they're catching deer We evolve forever and ever (we're catching viruses) The world revolves forever and ever Religion or astronomy, Descartes or And we can learn forever and ever Deuteronomy Forever and ever It all started with the big bang! Evolution, evolution, evolution, evolution, evolution! Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology It all started with the big bang! Big Bang Theory It all started with the big bang! (Bare Naked Ladies): Big Bang Theory Video

Our whole universe was in a hot dense state, Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait... The Earth began to cool, The autotrophs began to drool, Neanderthals developed tools, We built a wall (we built the pyramids), Math, science, history, unraveling the mystery, That all started with the big bang! (Bang!)

"Since the dawn of man" is really not that long, As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song. Ron & Dave at dinner. Photo by Russell Orrell. A fraction of a second and the elements were made. Rift Valley (Roy Zimmerman): The bipeds stood up straight, Rift Valley Drifters Video The dinosaurs all met their fate, They tried to leap but they were late You were born about three point five million And they all died (they froze their asses off) years ago The oceans and Pangea In a valley warm and fair near the equator See ya wouldn't wanna be ya You had hair on your feet Set in motion by the same big bang! And you grew four feet You were even taller generations later It all started with the big BANG! Fifty thousand years ago you left Africa It's expanding ever outward but one day And you stayed ten thousand years in central It will pause and start to go the other way, Asia Collapsing ever inward, we won't be here, it With no saddle and no stirrup, won’t be heard You walked all the way to Europe Our best and brightest figure that it'll make an So I'll see your race card partner, and I'll raise ya. even bigger bang! Rift Valley, where we left our mom and dad The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 6

Drifted out across the world and messed it up Christians have their hymns and pages real bad. Hava Nagilas for the Jews We're all one (dysfunctional) family Baptists have the Rock of Ages No matter where we roam Atheists just sing the blues Rift Valley drifters drifting home Romantics play Claire de Lune. Genome by genome Born Agains sing He is Risen. But no one ever wrote a tune Every Western boy and girl is descended from For godless existentialism. Mohammed And the first real REAL Americans were Russian For atheists, there's no good news, And then Indian (yes Indian) They'll never sing, a song of faith. And Barrack Obama's cousin In their songs, they have a rule, Is Dick Cheney, well now doesn't The "he" is always lowercase (the "he" is always That make for some interesting townhall lowercase) discussion? Some folks sing a Bach cantata. Lutherans get Christmas trees. Rift Valley, where we left our mom and dad Atheist songs add up to nada Drifted out across the world and messed it up But they do have Sundays free (Have Sundays real bad. free) We're all one (dysfunctional) family Pentecostals sing, (halleluh they) sing to heaven, No matter where we roam Coptics have the books of scrolls, Rift Valley drifters drifting home Numerologists can count to seven, Genome by genome Atheists have rock and roll.

Take a look inside your genes, and partner then For atheists, there's no good news, you will see. They'll never sing a song of faith. We've all got a birth certificate from Kenya In their songs, they have a rule, (Kenya). The "he" is always lowercase. The "he" is always lowercase.

Atheists don't have no songs

Christians have their hymns and pages Hava Nagilas for the Jews Baptists have the rock of ages Atheists (they) sing the blues

Catholics dress up for mass, And listen to Gregorian chants. Atheists, they take a pass, Watch football in their underpants.

kt conducts. Photo by Russell Orrell. Atheists they need more songs!

Atheists Don’t Have No Songs (Steve Martin): Atheists Don't Have No Songs Video

The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 7

If You Were Gay (Avenue Q Musical) If You Were Gay Video

If you were gay That'd be okay I mean 'cause, hey I'd like you anyway Because you see If it were me I would feel free to say that I was gay (but I'm Full house at Mulligan’s for HSSB Solstice party. Photo by not gay) Russell Orrell. Free As (Canadian Centre of Diversity and If you were queer Inclusion) I'd still be here Free As Video Year after year Because you're dear to me David here believes in God, and Jenny is a witch. And I know that you Christine is an atheist, and Sam's a Jewish Would accept me too mensch. If I told you today But just because they disagree, I think I’m gay (but I'm not gay) It don't mean they are schmucks, 'Cause when we're free to be ourselves, I'm happy just being with you then we're free as... So what should it matter to me what you do in bed with guys? Phil is white and Tracy's black, and Lynne is in between. If you were bi Mark has got the greenest skin that you've ever I would not mind seen. Because it’s fine And though they might look different, That you like girls and guys No, they don't pass the buck, Just look inside 'Cause when we're free to be ourselves, And show your pride then we're free as... You would not need to hide That you were bi Franny's gender fluid, and Jack sure is a man. Andrew snipped her testicles, and now she goes If you were gay by Anne. I'd shout hooray! In spite of different genitals, And here I'd stay Their lives don't run amuck. But I won’t get in your way 'Cause when we're free to be ourselves, You can count on me then we're free as... To always be Beside you every day Fredric leans conservative, Yvonne and Don lean To tell you it's okay green. You were just born that way Alex wears a tinfoil hat, thinks voting is obscene. It’s in your DNA And though they might think different, You're gay! They don't think each other suck, 'Cause when we're free to be ourselves, then we're free as... The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 8

Francois parles Francais, Amanda speaks her mind. Katie uses curse words most eclectic she can find. And though they might speak differently, Agreements can be struck, 'Cause when we're free to be ourselves then we're free as...

Frankly we're all wacky (spoken) Everybody's got their quirks (spoken) But we've laid aside our differences, To make sure we're not jerks. In this land we fought for freedom, So, vote! Don't count on luck, 'Cause when we're Colin & Anne at the HSSB Solstice party. Photo by Russell Free to be ourselves then we're free as…fuck! Orrell.

We're Defenders of Marriage In three-button suits We'll raise our double standard and see who salutes Defenders of marriage Defending the institution against people who want to get married.

Every time we think about same-sex parents "Oh, my gosh!" we exclaim I mean, two people who want to provide a protective And nurturing family environment Engaging conversation at the HSSB Solstice party. Have they no shame? Photo by Russell Orrell. It's so deviant! Defenders of Marriage (Roy Zimmerman): It's the Lord's holy word, as my second wife said Defenders of Marriage Video to my third That a family's based on obligation and fear. Every time we think about same-sex marriage It makes us sick to our guts We're Defenders of Marriage I mean, two people who want to commit to a Connubial narcs, stable Ever vigilant and patriotic patriarchs Monogamous life-long relationship Defenders of marriage What are they, nuts? Defending the institution against people who It's unnatural! want to get married Now a man should not lie with a person who is a guy One summer evening when my woman was He should only lie to his wife, the bible is clear. doing laundry The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 9

I shared a six-pack with an old John Bircher And we believe that sharing is an answer. And oh so wisely he imparted an ancient quandary, to ponder We seek the honest answers to the questions of He said, "It's nature versus legislature." this life. We seek to put an end to all the waste of human We're an army of dicks strife. With a militant stance We search for truth, equality, and healthy peace Let's get the government out of our lives and of mind. into our pants And then, we come together here, to make sense Defenders of marriage of what we find. Defending the institution against people who want to get married And we believe in life, and in the strength of love, And have their insurance carried And we have found a need to be together. And be beneficiary’d And in our search for peace, maybe we’ll finally And be next to the ones they love when they are see: buried. Even to question, truly is an answer.

Solstice Party Cartoon Caption Contest At the party, we also enjoyed a table competition game, which challenged tables to compete for Starbucks gift cards.

Choir members were scattered among the tables and joined in the challenge. Three uncaptioned cartoons were provided and each table was asked to select one cartoon and come up with a caption with a Humanist theme. Voices of Reason performs for HSSB Solstice Party. Photo by Russell Orrell.

We Laugh, We Cry (Anonymous – traditional hymn)

We laugh, we cry, we live, we die; we dance, we sing our song. We need to feel there’s something here to which we can belong. We need to feel the freedom just to have some time alone. Roger, Ellen & choir guest, Brandon brainstorming the But most of all we need close friends we can call table competition challenge. Photo by Russell Orrell. our very own. The winning table came up with a clear winner And we believe in life, and in the strength of among many admirable entries. It definitely hit love; a nerve, probably because insurance coverage And we have found a need to be together. (or lack thereof) is a very hot topic given recent We have our hearts to give, we have our California wildfires and mudslide events. thoughts to receive; The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 10

”I’m sorry, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Since you are Atheists, VoR members: Samwise, Yari, Amanda, kt, & Don in the ‘Acts of God’ are not covered under your policy.” rain at Clover’s house. Photo by Heather Brodhead.

Members Enjoying the Party. Photo by Rusell Orrell.

HSSB President Judy Flattery announcing the evening’s events. Photo by Russell Orrell.

VoR members rehearse at the Flattery home: Amanda, Jenny & Christine. Photo by Russell Orrell. The Caption Contest. Photo by Russell Orrell.

Non HSSB Events of Interest HSSB Contact Information Upcoming Events in California: Officers:  January 9, 2020: Elaine Pagels, religious President: Judy Flattery, [email protected] historian and author of The Gnostic Gospels in Secretary: Diane Krohn, [email protected] conversation with essayist & novelist Pico Treasurer: Neal Faught, [email protected] Iyer. UCSB Arts & Lectures event. Campbell Hall, UCSB. Pagels Event Board Members at Large:  January 25: 8pm, January 26, 5pm.: For the Wayne Beckman, David Echols, Mary Wilk, Nan Love of a Glove: An Unauthorized Musical Fable Cisney, Clover Brodhead Gowing About the Life of Michael Jackson, As told by His Glove. This is a developmental premiere of an Newsletter Editor & Submission Deadline original musical, telling the story of Michael Judy Flattery [email protected] Jackson, using his glove as the play’s narrator. Deadline for submissions to the Secular Circular is Center for Inquiry West, Los Angeles. Michael midnight, the last day of each month. Jackson Musical HSSB Speaker meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday  January 30: Jon Meacham: America Then and of each month at 3:00 pm, in the Theater Room at Valle Now: What History Tells Us About the Future. Verde, 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara. June UCSB Arts & Lectures event. Granada Theater. and December social events are held elsewhere. Meacham Event  February 6: Dr. Mary-Claire King: Speaker Meeting Parking (with free shuttle service 805 Understanding Genetics and Cancer. UCSB 679-3660) is at Veronica Springs Church, 949 Arts& Lectures event. Campbell Hall, UCSB. Veronica Springs Rd., Santa Barbara. No parking at King Event Valle Verde unless you have a handicapped parking placard.  February 29: Bill McKibben: Our Changing Climate: A Global Movement of Reform. UCSB Check our web site: www.SBHumanists.org for past Arts & Lectures event. Campbell Hall, UCSB. issues of SC. At meetings, a donation of $2 from McKibben Event members and $5 from non-members is appreciated.  March 5: David Wallace-Wells: Surviving the First-time visitors and students with ID are welcome on World: Making the Best of a Burdened Planet. a complimentary basis.

UCSB Arts & Lectures event. The New Vic Annual HSSB membership dues: $36 for a single Theater. Wallace-Wells Event person, $60 for a couple, $100 for a Society Supporter,  March 31: Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE: Gombe: 60 and $300 (or more) for a Society Patron. Non-members Years of Discovery. UCSB Arts & Lectures event. may subscribe to hardcopy of this newsletter for an Arlington Theater. Goodall Event annual fee of $20. E-mail copies provided at no charge.

To join HSSB: Send your contact information and a Upcoming Events Outside of California: check for your membership dues to Humanist Society of  April 9-12, 2020: American Atheists 2020 Santa Barbara, and mail to Mary Wilk, Membership National Convention. Speakers TBA. Phoenix, Chair, 4384 Via Presada, Santa Barbara, CA. For further AZ. https://convention.atheists.org membership information contact Mary Wilk at [email protected].

Everything happens for a reason. For any information about HSSB, call 805-769-4772. The reason is physics. Copies of this and past newsletter are posted on the HSSB website.

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The HSSB Secular Circular – January 2020 12

Humanist Society of Santa Barbara

PO Box 30232 Santa Barbara, CA 93130

HSSB Calendar

Tuesday January 14: Board Meeting. 5:30 p.m. Home of Mary Wilk. Members are invited to attend. Dinner provided by Wayne Beckman. Saturday January 18: Speaker: Horus Wu, Getting to Self-Driving Cars. Location: Valle Verde Theater, 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara. Tuesday February 11: Board Meeting. 5:30 p.m. Home of Mary Wilk. Members are invited to attend. Dinner provided by David Echols. Saturday February 15: Monthly Meeting 3:00 pm. Speaker: Melissa Krawczyk, Center For Inquiry/Richard Dawkins Institute. Secular Rescue & The Translations Project. Location: Valle Verde Theater, 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara. Tuesday March 10: Board Meeting. 5:30 p.m. Home of Mary Wilk. Members are invited to attend. Dinner is pot luck. Saturday March 14: Speaker: Hugh Neighbour, Smithsonian Lecturer & former U.S. diplomat. How Foreign Policy Really Works: Diplomats’ Tricks of the Trade. Location: Valle Verde Theater, 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara.