2009 is upon us and as I keep saying, there may be hope with President-elect Obama to be sworn in soon. Almost daily I contemplate the horrors of the last eight years. That pondering brings forth a variety of thoughts: about the lies, the blunders, the lost opportunities. The list is mind-boggling. I find it amazing to realize that I, without having spent a single minute as a politician, could have done a better job than "W", but that's not saying much.

But enough of that, I plan to get the year going by working with the other board members in preparation for our second annual Darwin Day celebration. With this year being the 200th anniversary of his birth, there is a much broader base of interest in the community. This year our event is one of several that are scheduled to take place at the University of Utah. Throughout the month of February there is much planned: plays, movies and video series, receptions, displays, etc. As his birthday on February 12 gets closer, we will have a better round up of events. At our December social I announced that Professor Frank Brown will be the speaker at our event. I took a couple of classes from Professor Brown many years ago and he was one of the science professors who helped cultivate a love for science in me. He is currently the Dean of the College of Mines and Earth Sciences, and a distinguished Professor of Geology & Geophysics. At our next general meeting on January 8, I will have more to say about Professor Brown. All this expanded information will also be in the February newsletter and on our website. There is a lot to do, but I am excited about the prospects of a successful month of celebration of the birth of a man who brought us a discovery which rivals any in science.

As soon as we wrap up Darwin Day it will be time for us to start working on our other annual event, Thomas Paine Day. I think it will be a good idea to make the focus of Thomas Paine Day be the Constitution and the role of our founding fathers. After the way it has been abused lately, I feel it will be useful to examine its language, what the framers mindset was, the historical context, what they wanted to do, and what they wanted to avoid. Of course, my original motivation for Thomas Paine Day was to bring Paine "off the" shelf where religion has managed to put him throughout history and give tribute to the man who first coined the name "The United States of America."

Finally, I wish to say a few words about the Mormons and other religious groups in regards to their support of California's Proposition 8. There continues to be a number of letters to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune on both sides of this issue, and I have mentioned it a couple of times myself in previous newsletters and in conversations with members of our chapter. I want to address the complaints from these groups. Some of them think--that after involving themselves and their official church in an effort (as I see it) to enact laws to deprive certain citizens their civil rights--they should be left alone and not criticized.

But the way I see it, if the officials of the churches and the members use their organization and its resources in this effort, the organizations and its people become not only a religion, but also a political action group. Having done that, they are fair game for any and all derision and criticism, from those deprived of their rights and from those who stand with the deprived. And, in fairness, they are also welcome to receive praise from their like minded friends.

That's all for now, hope to see you January 8 at our general meeting.

--Robert Lane
President, HoU