The Texas State School Board has mandated that students learn about "the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schlafly, the Contract with America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association." It is okay with me if they want to include this material in the history books, as I suppose some of it is part, if an unpleasant part, of history. But they do not want to just add to the textbooks, they want to erase things they do not like, like Thomas Jefferson for hell's sake! That's right folks; apparently they are taking him out of the history books. I'm not sure how one does that as he was a pretty big player in the American Revolution as well as President. Furthermore, I gather from the news releases I receive from the AHA, CFI, Alternet, and others, that they are including lessons on the Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas, as well as the tired argument about "Separation of Church and State not being intended by the Founding Fathers."

How stupid are these people? I'm sorry, but I can't be nice after I read this stuff. It is bad enough when they try to add creationism to science classes, but to erase Thomas Jefferson from the history texts! I guess it is true that the facts don't really change people's minds when there is conflict with their values or religious dogmas.

I plan to be much more vocal about these attacks on science and history; with as much civility as possible. But when certain individuals or groups attempt to rewrite history with what I consider, at best, deceptions and often pure lies, it drives me crazy. When I open our Darwin Day celebration, I try to make it known that we are there to not only celebrate Charles Darwin, but to disseminate knowledge. We need to be, or at least I need to be, much harder on those who try to tell us the earth is only 6,000 years old or who try to put Jefferson on the shelf of obscurity the way, somewhat successfully, that has happened with Thomas Paine.

I call myself any number of things: agnostic, humanist, evolutionist, and Geographer. But I do not want to call myself docile anymore in the face of these attacks on reality and reason. The opposition is relentless in pursuit of their goals. And this is the one area where we should take a lesson from them.

Switching gears, at our last board meeting we discussed the need for the chapter to be more active in keeping in touch with our members, to be willing to lend a helping hand when needed. As humanists go, we as a group have tended to leave this area of "human fellowship" somewhat neglected. We intend to rectify this, by perhaps setting up a fellowship committee or something similar. We don't wish to bother anyone, so if we call on you in the future and you wish to be left alone, just say so. And if you would like to be a part of this fellowship effort, please let us know. I have to admit that I have never been very good at this sort of thing and some members I have talked to admit to the same.

This flaw of mine was brought to mind recently, when I learned that an old friend had died. He had been a heavy drinker for many years, and I grew somewhat distant toward him, as I don't like to be around people who are always inebriated. He was older and stubborn and I doubt I could have changed him very much. But the point is I never tried.

I know many of you are much better at being warm to others and my criticism is mostly directed towards myself. I know that many of you are involved in other organizations such as the Gandhi Alliance, hospice, etc. and that is laudable. But as an organization, I believe that Humanists of Utah needs to improve in the fellowship area. All suggestions in this endeavor are welcome and appreciated.

Our summer schedule is over and once again, the annual Summer Picnic was great. Special thanks to John Young for the use of his lovely yard and to Cindy and Art King for their hard work in helping make it a success.

--Robert Lane
President, HoU