1 THICAL IEWS E June 2019 Vol. 133, No. 10 Newsletter V of the Philadelphia Ethical Society w S U M M E R E D I T I O N Sunday, June 9, 11:00 AM Sunday, June 23, 11:00 AM Summer Sundays Omar Khayyam, An All Ethical Page Turners – on the Square Around Man, Facilitator: Javad Lives of Others Mohsenian, MD, PES member Facilitator: Betsy Lightbourn, The Philadelphia Ethical PES member Society – a popular summertime Dr Javad Ethical issues are destination for members, friends, Mohsenian, Summer often creatively and visitors – offers relaxed but an Iranian- Reading explored through stimulating summer programs American fiction. Literary fiction presented by PES members and author/ especially can illuminate friends, coordinated through the psychiatrist, ethical issues and enhance an Education Committee. While will look at understanding of the lives of others. we seek to inspire and inform all Khayyam’s life This summer, our reviewers will year around, we try especially hard and Edward briefly review books that have led during the summer months to offer Fitzgerald’s translation of his them to a better understanding of more informal (and sometimes poetry. He will examine the those who are not like them – i.e. lighthearted) programs. poet’s complicated life and his psyche through the window of race, gender, ethnicity, class, values, his poetry. and historical time. How can an J U N E Here with a loaf of bread enriched understanding of the lives Sunday, June 2, 11:00 AM beneath the bough. of others help us honor the worth of “Sing Out Louise!” A flask of wine, a book of every individual? verse - and Thou Facilitator: Robert Edwin Beside me singing in the Sunday, June 30, 11:00 AM (Steinfort), professional wilderness. Drawing for Everyone: Basic musician and PES member And Wilderness is Paradise Principles Many of us know that famous line anew. Arthur Pielli, Artist, Art delivered by Mama Rose to her - Omar Khayyam, The Rubaiyat Educator and PES member young daughter Louise in the Broadway musical, Gypsy. Sunday, June 16, 11:00 AM Learn how to “Sing out, Louise!” will be the Locating Our Ethics: An create a 3D image mantra for the June 2 summer Exercise in Discovering and from a 3D object, platform as Robert Edwin Living Out Our Values and on a 2D format. If (Steinfort), Director of Principles, Christian Hayden, you bring The PES Pop-Up Chorus, will show Leader in Training something edible us how to better use our voices at What’s your ethical framework-- is to draw, you can PES. Music plays a major role in it Kantian, utilitarian or relativist? eat it at the end of our community and the quality of What can we learn from feminist the platform. :) our speaking and singing certainly ethics? How are values different than Platform continued on page 2 principles? Part teach-in, part share- impacts our interactions. Be ready to SEEK (Sunday Ethical Education for “Sing out, Louise” along with Drew out, learn about various approaches Kids) will not be offered during the and Henry and Kate and Ron and to Ethics and leave with a better summer. For further information, Lelah and Bob and Maureen and understanding of your values and contact Nick Sanders Chuck and… your own guiding principles. [email protected] 2 Sunday, July 28, 11:00 AM WHAT IS J U L Y Connections: Reality, Religion, Politics and Honest COLLUQUY? Sunday, July 7, 11:00 AM Living, Facilitator: Richard A colloquy is a time for shared Stories from the AEU Kiniry, Leader Emeritus, reflections. Participants explore a Assembly, 2019 Edition Philadelphia Ethical Society theme with music, readings, parables, Facilitator: Bob Bueding, PES and discussion. The purpose of President Living in an ethically-challenged culture can be compared to the colloquy is to inspire participants, Bob and other PES in a communal setting, to develop members who image of the ostrich with its head in the sand, and religion too often practices of self-reflection and deep attended the listening. Sharing thoughts and AEU Assembly can be a big part of that escape from reality. Trying to fathom what living feelings on selected topics can help in Tampa, Florida us live our lives in congruity with our will share their Ethical Culture means demands an examination of the actual reality in values. Everyone is asked to use “I” take-aways and statements and speak from their own moments of inspiration. which we live, meaning the cultural reality in which we are embedded experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Sunday, July 14, 11:00 AM and which we too often mindlessly accept. Annual Picnic at Camp Sunday, August 18, 11:00 AM Linden Rain date is July 28th Colloquy: “Wisdom” (For details, see announcements) Facilitator: Temma Fishman, If the picnic PES member rained out, A U G U S T Temma will offer a guided discussion Richard Kiniry Sunday, August 4, 11:00 AM with inspirational readings and will offer a Listening for a Beautiful music. colloquy on Sound Facilitator: “Truth”, at 1906 Rollin Wilbur, pianist, S. Rittenhouse Philadelphia Ethical Society, Square. Founder, Fine Arts Music Gathered around Rollin and the Sunday, July 21, 11:00 AM piano, we learn about qualities within Warrior to Revolutionary: differing styles of classical music My Story, Facilitator: as we carefully listen to find what Brandi Fishman, Director, affects us. Zefer Foundation A story about a personal journey Sunday, August 11, 11:00 AM involving disability, acceptance, Support for Greener Living: perception and advocacy. Brandi Sharing Eco-Friendly Ideas Fishman will also discuss her work and Practice, Facilitator: with the Zefer Foundation.” Lelah Marie, PES member Sunday, August 25, 11:00 AM Where are we on the journey Fragile Encounters toward globally sustainable lifestyle Facilitator: Sylvia Metzler and choices? Whether just starting out Erik Younge, PES members or muddling along or well on our Inspired by Robin Deangelo’s book way, all of us seek information and White Fragility, members of the support for our efforts. This will be ERTF (Ending Racism Task Force) an opportunity to share successes, will act out real life scenarios of challenges, failures, and concerns interracial exchanges illustrating about eco-ethical living in a small implicit racial bias for group group setting (fun and humor discussion. included.) 3 a sexual identity and to be known S As I learn and grow, I want to honor simply as a person. The second LEADER’ “inherent worth” by celebrating concert is on gender equality ( July OLUMN the many ways people embrace 21), and the continuing effort to C various aspects of sexuality. This assure that people of all identities get summer you’ll be able to honor treated equitably. The third concert Joy, Gender, and worth and celebrate pride through a is on gender expression (August 18) Queerness, six-part program called On Gender and will celebrate how people want Hugh Taft-Morales, Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society & Queerness. It consists of three to express their sexuality – or not – concerts, organized by Cory O’Neill in public. Walker (aka Cookie Diorio) and Part of three dialogues using various text Obviously there is a lot more to the 2010 and mediums hosted by Christian sexuality than gender identity, American Hayden. (Check out the schedule gender expression, and how society Ethical elsewhere in this newsletter.) treats gender. There is how you are Union assigned a sex at birth, and if you Assembly We hope the events will raise identify with that label then you are in awareness and generate funds “cisgender.” You should not assume Scranton, to benefit non-profits working someone’s identity from how they PA, was a for inclusion of people of all were labeled, or even how they celebration identities, orientations, and express themselves. Some people at a drag expressions. Underlying the will identify in ways you think differ show. It was part of a program I programs is the assumption that from how they express their gender. organized called Inner Worth and everyone can decide on their gender Outer Pride that linked together identity and form of expression, Gender identity and expression need Ethical Culture and LGBTQ and that these identities and forms not determine the nature of one’s activism. Ethical Humanists strive can change over the course of a sexual desire. Identity to honor “inner and expression are worth” - to treat distinct from every person as sexual desire and being of unique, orientation, and irreplaceable understanding worth that is desire and pleasure wrapped up in the is a whole other very nature of the topic worthy of individual. It is not something we LGBTQlifetime. I know that some of us educational effort. Some may be give to people. It’s not something are unsure about the ever-changing asexual (without sexual desire). they have to earn. It is who they are. vocabulary surrounding aspects Queerness and gender diverge but of sexuality. Let me offer a few they also intersect. We need to “Outer pride” is a part of a decades- hints about some of the language, develop a fluency of language in old sexuality revolution that throws though I need – we all need - more both so that we are the accepting, off shame and oppression. I’ve education. inviting, celebratory community we always been impressed by how wish to become. LGBTQ activists who choose The first concert on June 16 focuses to come out of their respective on gender identity. You may see Let this program be a step forward. closets show that pride. Of course yourself as a woman, man, gender We are all learning. Please attend, it’s not anyone’s right to tell non-conforming (neither) or gender enjoy, and grow this summer! people if and when and how to fluid (both).