Humanvalues Weblog
type: channel
description: The Human Values Network Weblog (blog) offers visitors the opportunity to read and comment upon articles related to all aspects of Human Values, Ethics, and Human Rights.
date: 2023-05-31T05:52:52Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: Democrats Are Being Sabotaged
items: A View of the World Situation by Bernie Sanders
items: An Appeal for Creating Additional C-SPAN Channels
items: Hibernating Heart
items: Open Letter to Bernie Sanders
items: We Only Want the World
items: Introduction to newest printing of Lefties Are In Their Right Minds July 2020
items: We Need Ethical People Power
items: Lefties Have Been Right, All Along
items: Graduating from the Electoral College
items: Lady Liberty
items: We Have A Right To Bare Arms!
items: Let’s Celebrate Our New 2020 Vision!
items: Sanitizing Socialism and Needing to Create a New Kind of Capitalism With a Conscience!
items: The End of Mankind
items: Beware the ISM Schizim!
items: Moosical Holiday Greetings
items: DEMOCRACY! NOT HYPOCRISY!
items: Pete Seeger and The Smothers Brothers
items: Bernie is Coming to New York
items: Resistance Manual
items: Why I am NOT an ATHEIST
items: The Long, Slow Death of Religion
items: Code of Ethics for a Corporation
items: Flowerchild

Democrats Are Being Sabotaged
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2022-04-30T08:55:52Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: Capitalism over ethical democratic ideals.
encoded: DEMOCRATS ARE BEING SABOTAGED! Capitalism is allowed to “trump” ethical Democratic ideals! Loyal Democrats, deluged with unethical fund raising techniques, are subjected to insults created by questionable “professionals!” Of course, money’s needed for campaigns: wages for The Team; for travel; renting venues; printing, postage, etc. all are necessary! But, obtaining that money MUST NOT be harmfully exploitative! But the timing could not be worse, with Midterms coming up, it will cause a screamingly pivotal role in preserving Democracy! Thousands of passionate and dedicated Democrats, concerned with prevailing vital issues, and anxious to voice their opinions, by e-mail questionnaire, receive, instead, a “smack-in-the-face!” that says: “We don’t care what you think! You are totally worth nothing to this cause, if you are not willing to make a Donation!” Basic Psychology indicates this method is counter-productive! At the bottom of every fund raising appeal, you’ll find the, now traditional, 4 boxes that delineate a dollar amount to Donate! How about a 5th box for an ethical option for those of us who are struggling for survival, and still givadam! It could say; “I’m with this Cause, but cannot Donate now. Maybe later!” Just imagine! HELP! Jaime Harrison, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren! And All Democratic Candidates, running for Office! Your NAMES are being tarnished with this technique! PLEASE APOLOGIZE, AND PLEDGE TO CENSOR THOSE INSULTS! WE DEMS MUST HOLD OUR HEADS HIGH GOING TO THE POLLS!

A View of the World Situation by Bernie Sanders
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2022-03-20T20:25:12Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: Bernie Sanders on Ukraine and Russia.
encoded: Bernie Sanders (Bernie logo) A View of the World Situation by Bernie Sanders There must be no ambiguity in acknowledging that what the whole world is seeing from Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is nothing less than a blatant violation of international law and human decency. This war, in which a large powerful nation invades a smaller neighbor, has already killed thousands of innocent people, including many children. A large number of cities throughout the country are being leveled by long-range Russian missiles while others are under siege as people are running low on food, water and much-needed medical supplies. In the first week of the war alone, more than a million refugees crossed borders into neighboring countries. Some estimates now put the number of refugees at more than 3 million while many more have been displaced from their homes within Ukraine. This has been a humanitarian disaster for the people of Ukraine, but it is much more than that. The Russian invasion threatens global energy and food supplies, is contributing to greater economic instability and the rising prices we see everywhere. And oh, by the way, this is all happening at a time when the world is already struggling with a global pandemic that has killed millions and the devastating impacts of climate change which threaten the very existence of the planet. That is the bad news. And it cannot be sugar-coated. It is very bad. But, in the midst of all this horror, there is some reason for optimism. All across the world, people are waking up to the fact that there is a global struggle taking place between autocracy and democracy, between oligarchy and an economy that works for all, between authoritarianism and the right of people to freely express their views. There is also the beginnings of a new progressive global order that recognizes every person on this planet shares a common humanity and that all of us, no matter where we live or the language we speak, want our children to grow up healthy, hav…

An Appeal for Creating Additional C-SPAN Channels
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2021-03-28T00:01:10Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: Promotion of additional television C-SPAN Channels.
encoded: Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN logo) An Appeal for Creating Additional C-SPAN Channels C-SPAN, a brilliant creation of the Cable TV Industry, gave us in 1979, our first glimpse into the inner workings of our very own Government! From the beginning of Congress, centuries ago, and before this wonderful innovation, we could only learn about what was going on in our seat of democracy AFTER it happened, when we citizens read about it in the newspaper, or in later years, with “newly developing technology”, we could hear about it, announced and discussed on the RADIO! But, today, with newest technology, C-SPAN 1 gives us TV live access to our own House of Representatives. C-SPAN 2 gives us TV access to our Senate. C-SPAN 3 is for books, etc. This is truly amazing to see our Democracy in action! BUT! What do you think of initiating a request for newer access in the form of C-SPANs 4, 5 and 6? These new C-SPAN TV channels can provide us with perhaps federally subsidized, and non-commercial, public access for the explicit purpose of political campaigns. A grievous paradox, counter to the ideals of a true Peoples’ Democracy, wherein our own voices should be given respect and listened to, is the ironic, often quoted saying that: “WE HAVE THE BEST DEMOCRACY THAT MONEY CAN BUY!” Shameful! By adding 3 new C-SPAN channels, it could be: Democrats on C-SPAN 4; Republicans on C-SPAN 5; and Independents on C-SPAN 6. And every word of the campaigns, and discourse for each of the political parties, can be spoken directly to C-SPAN watchers, bypassing expensive advertising. As a matter of ethical “cleanliness”, we’d need to require that monetary input be forbidden, and perhaps donations to C-SPAN, itself, can be the mechanism by which this more democratic innovation might be funded. A sad detriment to the ideal of democracy, is the way the two-party system has developed, that almost assures that they will be adversarial and highly competitive, rather than cooperative. Big …

Hibernating Heart
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2021-02-07T08:17:42Z
subject: General
subject: music
subject: video
description: Beth Lamont sings her song "Hibernating Heart".
encoded: Hibernating Heart Here’s a new feature for the Human Values Weblog. Beth Lamont, the hither to unrecognized Poet, has her opportunity to perform with the Rimes of The Ancient Mariner Silver Tongued Devil (she prefers ANGELS!) Anthology Book Launch and sing one of her songs called “Hibernating Heart” on Zoom on Saturday, January 23, 2021. Running time: 4 minutes 0 seconds Download this video in MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC H.264 480×270p/AAC-LC format (right-click and “Save As…” to download): Hibernating_Heart_by_Beth_Lamont.mp4 (MPEG-4 AVC/AAC — 41,605,988 bytes)

Open Letter to Bernie Sanders
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-12-24T18:36:39Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: AN OPEN LETTER OF APPEAL TO BERNIE SANDERS FOR ACTION! Hello Dear Jane and Bernie, I’m including Jane in this greeting because I DO believe that Your powerful Partner is a precious part of the Team! I applaud every one of your TV presentations and your point-of-view in ALL matters. Please, speak to the people […]
encoded: AN OPEN LETTER OF APPEAL TO BERNIE SANDERS FOR ACTION! Hello Dear Jane and Bernie, I’m including Jane in this greeting because I DO believe that Your powerful Partner is a precious part of the Team! I applaud every one of your TV presentations and your point-of-view in ALL matters. Please, speak to the people by TV at every opportunity. Please, your power with the people is so very important! PLEASE CREATE opportunities! YES! Wearing a mask shows leadership, but not when you’re only facing a microphone, please? We need to SEE your Face! I’m so worried about the extremes to which trump, himself, might resort in his erratic and insane behavior. How I wish that Congress could intervene and rescind his Executive Powers. I fear his finger on the Nuclear Button. Studying the rise of fascism in Hitler’s Germany is instructive, and with all the hateful trump rowdies that are destined to “Be in the Streets”, continuing to protest the alleged fraudulent voting, I fear BLOODSHED! We Dems and Lefties might have an advantage that the Good Germans did not. This is a scheduled democratic process when on January 20th the Inauguration of a New Administration will occur. If the protestors haven’t caused an effective “capitulation” by then, they may give up! Because your Voice is rational and listened to, it would be an ethical consideration to caution our Democratic Patriotic Americans, who truly believe in Democracy, to aloofly IGNORE the promised impending craziness! We must absolutely RISE ABOVE this insanity, and adamantly refuse to even acknowledge the trumpites. I mean literally, do not STOOP to acknowledge their ILLOGICAL AND ILLEGAL protests. They are WRONG! If all of the good and ethical Americans STAY OUT OF THE STREETS, when chaos is threatened, and absolutely REFUSE to have any confrontations with these crazies, this will be the necessary and needed REBUTTAL to their lies and demands. They will be INSULTED to be IGNORED! We all know enough about basic psychology to recogn…

We Only Want the World
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-10-26T00:05:40Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: Beth Lamont called in to the live broadcast of the We Only Want the World show hosted by Sunsara Taylor on WBAI-FM Pacifica Radio in New York City on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Topics covered include fascism, the Nuremberg principles, the Electoral College, and unethical political fundraising techniques. These were her comments. Running time: 4 […]
encoded: Beth Lamont called in to the live broadcast of the We Only Want the World show hosted by Sunsara Taylor on WBAI-FM Pacifica Radio in New York City on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Topics covered include fascism, the Nuremberg principles, the Electoral College, and unethical political fundraising techniques. These were her comments. Running time: 4 minutes 40 seconds Download this audio file in MPEG-4 AAC-LC format (right-click and “Save As…” to download): We_Only_Want_the_World.m4a (MPEG-4 AAC-LC — 6,776,970 bytes)

Introduction to newest printing of Lefties Are In Their Right Minds July 2020
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-09-29T00:10:24Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: A new Introduction to my book, Lefties Are In Their Right Minds (ISBN 978-0-578-00782-3), originally published in May 2009 and available from Amazon, was written in July 2020 and is presented below. Hello Dear Folks who are Passionately Immersed in The Long overdue Revolution! We Lefties have been right all along! We know, of course, […]
encoded: A new Introduction to my book, Lefties Are In Their Right Minds (ISBN 978-0-578-00782-3), originally published in May 2009 and available from Amazon, was written in July 2020 and is presented below. Hello Dear Folks who are Passionately Immersed in The Long overdue Revolution! We Lefties have been right all along! We know, of course, that Left is where the Heart is! We care for and protect each other! May each of us be safe and well! Dear Jane and Bernie Sanders, Dear Elizabeth Warren, and all of the many precious and ethical persons of courage, who aspire to lead this Country in the correct, ideal direction, we know that the word SOCIAL is not a word to fear, but is the essence of our togetherness. You’ve inspired us all, to help make necessary changes that will enhance our still-developing democracy. In joining with the others, whom we hope will be of like mind, we will determine that our firm principles of respect and of sharing and caring are firmly welded into the Democratic Platform, and will not be tampered with! We are bringing with us not just hope, but wisdom and experience. The looming threat of fascism, and the very elements of control, that we’ve been propagandized to fear, are upon us, but wrapped in Nazi-like patriotism! Securing an ethical Voting system, whereby ALL voices can be heard, is the only way we can achieve People Power. And making those necessary changes, without having GAINED that power, is one of life’s perplexing ironies that we must still deal with. Passionate demonstrations in the streets…demanding justice and equality, needing protection from abuse, and reminding that Black Lives Matter, must be honored! These courageous Leaders tell it like it is! And YES! We can’t BREATHE, when we’re sprayed with teargas! How DARE federal forces come to stop the alleged rioting in a surprising show of national leadership after having completely abandoned us, and worsened the ravages of this devastating Corona Pandemic. I was shocked to see a hot-sp…

We Need Ethical People Power
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-09-16T21:21:51Z
subject: Politics
subject: people power
description: Come witness a “Grannyrant” (Beth is 91!) that, in these scary times of multiple disasters: Covid; Voting Rights; Military-type non-solutions; and Mother Earth’s anger that’s causing Climate Change; might inform you Young Folks of a few things you might never have even known! GO..GRANNY! Running time: 9 minutes 40 seconds Download this video in MPEG-4 […]
encoded: Come witness a “Grannyrant” (Beth is 91!) that, in these scary times of multiple disasters: Covid; Voting Rights; Military-type non-solutions; and Mother Earth’s anger that’s causing Climate Change; might inform you Young Folks of a few things you might never have even known! GO..GRANNY! Running time: 9 minutes 40 seconds Download this video in MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC H.264 480×270p/AAC-LC format (right-click and “Save As…” to download): We_Need_Ethical_People_Power.mp4 (MPEG-4 AVC/AAC — 118,890,198 bytes)

Lefties Have Been Right, All Along
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-05-04T17:55:35Z
subject: General
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: politics
subject: socialism
description: BERNIE, hang in there, and keep all the young and devoted advocates of Social Justice and the ideals of a real Democracy, all continuing to believe that we have the power to make change.
encoded: Lefties Have Been Right, All Along! BERNIE, hang in there, and keep all the young and devoted advocates of Social Justice and the ideals of a real Democracy, all continuing to believe that we have the power to make change. We know you haven’t given up, but the screaming need to get rid of trump has compelled you to withdraw. The middle-of-the-road Democrats actually believe that dumping those “too far Left Socialist ideas” is the way to go! No! No! No! Millions of us are being betrayed…there is no middle ground. We must promote the truth more than ever: WE WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG! We who stand for the Rights of the Workers…even screamingly more important than ever…and equal access to the precious privilege of voting in fair elections that do not thwart the voices of the People. And the mercenary interests of the unethical capitalist economic system have shown themselves to be destructive to the best interest of the caring, sharing, concerned, loving human beings of planet Earth. The Corona Pandemic has proved that People are precious, not profits. We desperately need your continued Leadership. Democrats will benefit if OUR PRINCIPLES are embedded into the revised Democratic PLATFORM! Let’s DO IT! Please download Lefties Are Right by Beth K. Lamont (PDF, 10 MB): Beth_K_Lamont_-_Lefties_Are_Right.pdf

Graduating from the Electoral College
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-04-19T07:39:21Z
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: politics
description: We can create an ideal direct democracy.
encoded: GRADUATING FROM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE When faced with a ballot that offers two choices, neither of which are meeting your own expectations for ethical and democratic Leadership, oftentimes you must choose “the lesser of two evils,” as the old saying goes. But, in this age of enlightenment wherein information is readily available at our fingertips, and electronic amazement is happening all around us, there is a way that this problem might be solved. We each come to our philosophic and political persuasions through our life experiences, and perhaps with the influence of those teacher-leaders whom we admire and respect, as well as the information that permeates our world and is almost blasted at us through the corporate media. Since the invention of the radio, then television, we are literally being inundated with information, or in some cases, mis-information. We’d really have to make a conscious effort to avoid these media, which, of course, is almost impossible to do. The volume is even increased when advertising comes on, because, you the viewer/listener may be going to the kitchen or the bathroom during the break, and the advertiser doesn’t want you to miss a word. This is so contrary to little more than a hundred years ago, when all of the information that came to your attention had to be researched…there was your local newspaper that you had to make the effort to read in order to glean any information…or go to the library, etc., but the responsibility was yours…to actively search out information; a far cry from being the passive receivers that we are presently, wherein we’re inundated with “TMI”..too much information! This very availability puts us in touch with round-the-country and round-the-world matters, some of which we had no knowledge previously, and once we KNOW, we cannot UN-KNOW. Therefore we have multifaceted concerns…with war, with the ecology, human rights issues, with discrimination, with labor issues, with worrisome religious extremism, for instan…

Lady Liberty
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-04-11T07:07:53Z
subject: General
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: Excerpt: Lady Liberty, being repaired, is today's symbol of our endangered democracy!
encoded: LADY LIBERTY, BEING REPAIRED, IS TODAY’S SYMBOL OF OUR ENDANGERED DEMOCRACY! Statue repair work being conducted in 1984. WITH OUR NEW 2020 VISION, RECOGNIZING THE WHOLE HUMAN FAMILY, PROTECTING THE PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, WE’LL WORK HARD TO RESTORE OUR LADY’S INSPIRING LIGHT OF LIBERTY! Re: Necessary People Power For more info please contact beth@humanvalues.net Download a PDF file of this blog post (one page – 433,149 bytes): Lady_Liberty.pdf

We Have A Right To Bare Arms!
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-04-05T09:01:48Z
subject: General
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: We roll up our sleeves and get to work!
encoded: WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BARE ARMS! WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK Thanks for the Reminder, ROSIE! Poster produced by J. Howard Miller in 1943 for Westinghouse Electric. Wikipedia references: We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter

Let’s Celebrate Our New 2020 Vision!
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2020-01-08T03:57:30Z
subject: General
subject: Humanism
description: LET’S CELEBRATE OUR NEW 2020 VISION! IT ENABLES US TO RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS PLANET, RESCUING ALL OF IT’S ENDANGERED PRECIOUS LIFE! OUR PLANET EARTH IS A GIFT TO US! APPRECIATE AND LOVE THIS GIFT! RECOGNIZING WE’RE EARTHLINGS ALL, WE’VE PROGRESSED BEYOND OUR TRIBAL BEGINNINGS, AND CAN, AT LAST, LIVE UNMOLESTED, IN […]
encoded: LET’S CELEBRATE OUR NEW 2020 VISION! IT ENABLES US TO RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS PLANET, RESCUING ALL OF IT’S ENDANGERED PRECIOUS LIFE! OUR PLANET EARTH IS A GIFT TO US! APPRECIATE AND LOVE THIS GIFT! RECOGNIZING WE’RE EARTHLINGS ALL, WE’VE PROGRESSED BEYOND OUR TRIBAL BEGINNINGS, AND CAN, AT LAST, LIVE UNMOLESTED, IN A WORLD OF PEACE AND HARMONY! A Humanist Message: For more info please contact beth@humanvalues.net Download PDF (one page – 219,861 bytes): Let’s_Celebrate_Our_New_2020_Vision.pdf

Sanitizing Socialism and Needing to Create a New Kind of Capitalism With a Conscience!
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2019-05-24T10:10:06Z
subject: Politics
subject: socialism
description: This post is sticky. Scroll down for more recent posts. Beth Lamont and Corliss Lamont Note: This post was updated June 25, 2019 to reflect recent events. $15. Minimum Wage? Free Health Care for all of us? Free Education for all of us? Equitable Taxation on giant Incomes? No longer allowing the US Capitalist […]
encoded: This post is sticky. Scroll down for more recent posts. Beth Lamont and Corliss Lamont Note: This post was updated June 25, 2019 to reflect recent events. $15. Minimum Wage? Free Health Care for all of us? Free Education for all of us? Equitable Taxation on giant Incomes? No longer allowing the US Capitalist Economic System to Dominate the People? The largest part of our money going to support the Military! Reform the Inequitable Voting Systems? WOW! Bernie! Bless Your Heart! You have the attention of the distressed American Public! We are Listening! YES! We, the People, may at last have a say in the governance of our lives! We now have People Power! And Bernie is articulating its details! Bernie is feeling our frustration and responding in a marvelously affirmative way! I’d also love to see our first Woman President, and be proud to vote for Elizabeth Warren, if chosen for the Democrat ticket. What a team they would make! There are so many young hopefuls that have jumped into the Arena, articulating the need for change, and promoting respect and proper wages for the workers, for health care, for education,, for all the right things! It’s almost a new focus on, Omygod! Social Programs? What? Bernie, championing People’s Rights, has inherited the fearful “Evil Empire” stigma! Omygod! Not Socialism! Even prefacing the word with Democratic, hardly lessens the kneejerk impact response by much of the public! We have truly been propagandized to fear Socialism, without knowing its values! Come sit by my side and listen to this wise old granny (I’m left-over at 89 because there’s work to be done!) I have a story to tell, and, here’s an innovation of which we could never avail ourselves in The Olden Days! I wish for each of you good children to check every detail with Google. Likely, you’ve never heard this story before I’ll take you way back to a Christmas time in the last century, more than 100 years ago; it was 1917..I’m about to describe a pivotal moment in the history o…

The End of Mankind
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2019-04-25T18:32:27Z
subject: Religion
subject: humanism
subject: philosophy
description: The End of Mankind This pronouncement sounds scary and forbidding, but actually it’s an accounting of a win-win moment for “Humanist” progress, and a symbolic evolutionary triumph for half of us humans. So, don’t worry. This is a very happy story! The telling of this story is even a bit funny, as well, you’ll see, […]
encoded: The End of Mankind This pronouncement sounds scary and forbidding, but actually it’s an accounting of a win-win moment for “Humanist” progress, and a symbolic evolutionary triumph for half of us humans. So, don’t worry. This is a very happy story! The telling of this story is even a bit funny, as well, you’ll see, after I describe a few moments of worrisome anxiety! But, first, let me preface the main theme of this story with a little preamble…that of my own experiencing increasing annoyance, over my growing-up years, to find insistence, in spite of continuing inquiries and doubts, that a creator of all the universe and life as we know it, is a man-god. I grieved, picturing him as probably bearded with a booming authoritative voice. But, what about Mother Nature?… I would plead. Mothers are the nurturers, the beings that give birth! And a source of love and protection! It’s through this rejection route, that I had become a NON-believer, resenting all traditional religion as being tribal, contrary to science, and based upon illusion. I hadn’t yet learned that I’m a Humanist. And, what an amazing revelation to accidentally happen-upon the great researched works of Corliss Lamont! And, even more amazing to be eventually welcomed into the physical presence of this great researcher, philosopher, author of The Philosophy of Humanism, Corliss Lamont, himself! His works had been based upon extensive historical written evidence, and his own inspired conjecture, but necessarily written in the traditional academic style for accreditation. Upon reading the 7th Edition of The Philosophy of Humanism, I was both inspired and dismayed by the almost obligatory use of that same word that crowds-out a vision of newly empowered womanhood. Sheesh! We’re hardly recognized, and didn’t even get to vote until 1920! Sister Humanist, Beverly Earles and I converged upon an amiable Corliss Lamont, with our sort-of giggly conspiratorial, but inspirational plot, to point out the book’s currant er…

Beware the ISM Schizim!
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2019-04-24T18:49:33Z
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: politics
subject: socialism
description: Beware the ISM Schizim! Three little letters of the alphabet, harmless in appearance, are still creating havoc in this bewildered “would be” Democracy! How on Earth can it be, that these three little letters cause such harm? Does this sound impossible? But, here’s the case in point: CAPITAL, FOR INSTANCE: Without expenditure or investment of […]
encoded: Beware the ISM Schizim! Three little letters of the alphabet, harmless in appearance, are still creating havoc in this bewildered “would be” Democracy! How on Earth can it be, that these three little letters cause such harm? Does this sound impossible? But, here’s the case in point: CAPITAL, FOR INSTANCE: Without expenditure or investment of Capital, there can be NO creation of alternative energies for the purpose of countering the impending climate change danger! Investment in science and technology, is essential, and in food production and businesses, all work… that creates paychecks! CAPITAL IS IMPORTANT! ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR LIVING! We’re in complete agreement at this point as to definition. OK? Another truth, regards a beautiful, Human-connectedness word: SOCIAL! This concept is also essential, and necessary for living! Let’s start with the meaning of Social. We ARE social beings…our Family, our Friends, our co-workers, our community! And what about all the pluses? SOCIAL SECURITY! Yea! Also, hooray for Franklin D! Our human connectedness, and now, Social Media. We have new tools in our hands that now give us People Power! Are we all still on the same page? We’re agreeing Social is good! Capital is good! There you have it! Two important concepts! Two GOOD words! We’re in complete agreement at this point. OK? Now, add those three scary little letters, creating havoc: “ISM”. And, now what do we get? Omygod! No! Never! Not Socialism!!! Some Folks get the knee-jerk reaction: “No, not the Evil Empire!” And a tumult of Red Scare accusations, and a century of fear and propaganda against the ideals of Karl Marx comes pouring out! The hope of the Russians for Workers of the World to Unite, and to thereby benefit Human conditions, has been thwarted, and now we face even greater danger: a Mushroom-shaped Cloud. The same switcharooney occurs when you add those same three scary little letters “ISM” to the good word Capital, and now, how shocking, but inevitable, you get…

Moosical Holiday Greetings
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2018-12-21T00:39:51Z
subject: General
subject: video
description: Holiday greetings from Beth, who hopes for peace in the world in the New Year. Thought you might enjoy this short but cute holiday “moosical” animation video clip (running time: 2 minutes 17 seconds). May the coming New Year be happier! From Beth and the Webmaster. Download this video in MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/AAC-LC 244×248 format (right-click and […]
encoded: Holiday greetings from Beth, who hopes for peace in the world in the New Year. Thought you might enjoy this short but cute holiday “moosical” animation video clip (running time: 2 minutes 17 seconds). May the coming New Year be happier! From Beth and the Webmaster. Download this video in MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/AAC-LC 244×248 format (right-click and “Save As…” to download): moosical.mp4 (MPEG-4 AVC/AAC — 3,567,773 bytes)

DEMOCRACY! NOT HYPOCRISY!
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2018-11-06T04:26:45Z
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: politics
subject: socialism
description: DEMOCRACY! NOT HYPOCRISY! A screaming problem with our long-hoped-for Democracy is the unlimited Campaign contributions that gives us the “best democracy that money can buy!” This amounts to, instead, an hypocrisy, that needs to be amended! Just think of that! What we have is an hypocrisy! Not a democracy! And wealthy donors have more power […]
encoded: DEMOCRACY! NOT HYPOCRISY! A screaming problem with our long-hoped-for Democracy is the unlimited Campaign contributions that gives us the “best democracy that money can buy!” This amounts to, instead, an hypocrisy, that needs to be amended! Just think of that! What we have is an hypocrisy! Not a democracy! And wealthy donors have more power to do their bidding than the rest of us! Please create a Law that limits political spending, and especially verifiable “receiving” by candidates of any campaign money over a certain fixed, maximum amount. This is most important to a Democracy! Also, please seriously consider this suggested important change! There is a GIANT FLAW in the traditional 2-Party System that limits the participation of ALL people to bring their concerns to nation wide attention in the Congress. The 2-Party format is a rigged system! When, out of our values and our ethical concerns, we Vote for a 3rd party that better represents us, our Vote then detracts from a Major Party. In my case, and with many others, this means having to make a painful choice. It means I may NOT VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, because they don’t YET represent my Cause. I’m actually “wasting” my Vote, thereby, to SATISFY MY CONSCIENCE, still hoping to make a point. Or, instead, I can grit my teeth, and cast my vote for a candidate and party that doesn’t yet represent my CONCERN OR CAUSE. OI! What a choice! Parliamentary systems may have a better chance of representing this need for diversity, whereby the various parties will have the right to enter the ring and to duke-it-out, persuasively, hoping to make their point. Back to my problem…I wish to Vote for a Democratic Socialist like Bernie Sanders! In the 2016 election, he was respectful, and didn’t run on a 3rd party, because of this detrimental detraction factor. He saw that this was problem. He was ethical, but THEY didn’t support HIM! So, logically, by Voting my conscience for a 3rd Party, and thereby withholding my Vote fro…

Pete Seeger and The Smothers Brothers
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2018-03-08T16:37:02Z
subject: Politics
subject: video
description: Great article on The American Prospect about Pete Seeger and his controversial performance of Waist Deep in the Big Muddy on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television show some 50 years ago on February 25, 1968. Title: Recalling Pete Seeger’s Controversial Performance on the Smothers Brothers Show 50 Years Ago Author: Peter Dreier Date: February […]
encoded: Great article on The American Prospect about Pete Seeger and his controversial performance of Waist Deep in the Big Muddy on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television show some 50 years ago on February 25, 1968. Title: Recalling Pete Seeger’s Controversial Performance on the Smothers Brothers Show 50 Years Ago Author: Peter Dreier Date: February 28, 2018 Synopsis: Seeger had been blacklisted as a communist and this gutsy defiance of a corporate media giant marked his return to the mainstream cultural scene. Link: https://prospect.org/culture/recalling-pete-seeger-s-controversial-performance-smothers-brothers-show-50-years-ago/ Pete Seeger-Waist Deep In The Big Muddy & War Songs Medleys (1968) This article was re-published on Portside.

Bernie is Coming to New York
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2017-08-11T02:54:48Z
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: politics
subject: socialism
description: Beth Recommends This… Harper’s Magazine Presents: An Evening with Senator Bernie Sanders Monday, August 28, 2017 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT – Doors open at 6:00 PM The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027 (212) 870-6700 Tickets are available at Eventbrite and are $25 for General Admission and $20 for Students. […]
encoded: Beth Recommends This… Harper’s Magazine Presents: An Evening with Senator Bernie Sanders Monday, August 28, 2017 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT – Doors open at 6:00 PM The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027 (212) 870-6700 Tickets are available at Eventbrite and are $25 for General Admission and $20 for Students. Ticket includes admission, a copy of Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution, and a one-year subscription to Harper’s Magazine (current subscribers will receive a one-year extension). I encourage everyone in the New York City area to attend this event!

Resistance Manual
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2017-01-27T08:06:26Z
subject: Politics
subject: government
subject: resistance
description: Beth Recommends This… Resistance Manual Tuesday, January 17, 2017: Today, we launch the Resistance Manual — an open-source platform to collect information/resources to resist Trump’s agenda and to continue making progress towards equity and justice in America. [Link is to an archived copy of the webpage as it existed on June 8, 2019.] Explore the […]
encoded: Beth Recommends This… Resistance Manual Tuesday, January 17, 2017: Today, we launch the Resistance Manual — an open-source platform to collect information/resources to resist Trump’s agenda and to continue making progress towards equity and justice in America. [Link is to an archived copy of the webpage as it existed on June 8, 2019.] Explore the manual to learn about the policies the incoming administration plans to pursue, how they’ll impact our communities, and what you can do to stop them through federal, state, and local advocacy. The manual will grow over time as more and more people contribute updates, facts and resources to it. As such, we encourage you to contribute important information for others to read. Get educated. Get organized. Take Action.

Why I am NOT an ATHEIST
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2017-01-16T20:03:07Z
subject: Religion
subject: atheism
subject: humanism
description: Why I am NOT an ATHEIST by Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Celebrant I respect Atheists for their good intentions in attempting to free Folks from their superstitions and in helping to create laws that prevent religious domination from continuing to erode our Civil Liberties and our Right to Free Thought and the right of children […]
encoded: Why I am NOT an ATHEIST by Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Celebrant I respect Atheists for their good intentions in attempting to free Folks from their superstitions and in helping to create laws that prevent religious domination from continuing to erode our Civil Liberties and our Right to Free Thought and the right of children to not suffer the indignities of coercion, fear and illogic. I respect the adherents of religion who engage in GOOD WORKS for Humans, Here and Now, doing their best to improve Earthly conditions that are contrary to their own best beliefs in loving, compassionate, forgiving behavior. I do not begrudge them their “interior motives” of a heavenly reward. “Theism” is not the big problem. Resultant power, hypocrisy and greed are the REAL problems. Because I am naturally optimistically inclined, and my life’s experiences have taught me that “change-for-the-better” can actually be achieved, my cup stays “half full” rather than half empty, and emphasizing the positive is my style. Therefore, I do not PRESENT myself with a name announcing what I DO NOT BELIEVE! Why should I assume a title describing what I’m AGAINST? This is nonsense! To my way of thinking, it’s a negative and counter-productive stance. To use the ancient term “A” meaning “absence of” to describe what I do NOT believe, or anything about me, is not helpful. Here’s how I see it! For instance, I believe with all my life experiences and the wisdom that I have amassed in all of these years, that the Capitalist Economic System, under which we suffer, does more harm to more people in this world, presently, than does any theistic belief. Even more, it exacerbates religious divides and causes more blaming. Shall I then bill myself as an Acapitalist? This is nuts! Why should I focus who I AM, on what I DO NOT believe? My efforts are devoted to doing all I can, same as Atheists are, working toward changing things in the best interest of Humans. I claim allegiance to the positive belief that guides m…

The Long, Slow Death of Religion
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2017-01-16T09:05:15Z
subject: Religion
subject: religion
description: The Long, Slow Death of Religion Guest Post by James A. Haught By now, it’s clear that religion is fading in America, as it has done in most advanced Western democracies. Dozens of surveys find identical evidence: Fewer American adults, especially those under 30, attend church — or even belong to a church. They tell […]
encoded: The Long, Slow Death of Religion Guest Post by James A. Haught By now, it’s clear that religion is fading in America, as it has done in most advanced Western democracies. Dozens of surveys find identical evidence: Fewer American adults, especially those under 30, attend church — or even belong to a church. They tell interviewers their religion is “none.” They ignore faith. Since 1990, the “nones” have exploded rapidly as a sociological phenomenon — from 10 percent of U.S. adults, to 15 percent, to 20 percent. Now they’ve climbed to 25 percent, according to a 2016 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. That makes them the nation’s largest faith category, outstripping Catholics (21 percent) and white evangelicals (16 percent). They seem on a trajectory to become an outright majority. America is following the secular path of Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and other modern places. The Secular Age is snowballing. Various explanations for the social transformation are postulated: That the Internet exposes young people to a wide array of ideas and practices that undercut old-time beliefs. That family breakdown severs traditional participation in congregations. That the young have grown cynical about authority of all types. That fundamentalist hostility to gays and abortion has soured tolerant-minded Americans. That clergy child-molesting scandals have scuttled church claims to moral superiority. That faith-based suicide bombings and other religious murders horrify normal folks. All those factors undoubtedly play a role. But I want to offer a simpler explanation: In the scientific 21st century, it’s less plausible to believe in invisible gods, devils, heavens, hells, angels, demons — plus virgin births, resurrections, miracles, messiahs, prophecies, faith-healings, visions, incarnations, divine visitations and other supernatural claims. Magical thinking is suspect, ludicrous. It’s not for intelligent, educated people. Significantly, the PRRI study …

Code of Ethics for a Corporation
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2016-10-30T02:25:29Z
subject: General
subject: ethics
description: Code of Ethics for a Corporation by Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Celebrant and Advocate We, the undersigned individuals, and as Members of the below designated Corporation, do ascribe to the following considerations in the daily practice of our Business: We agree with, and strive to uphold, the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, […]
encoded: Code of Ethics for a Corporation by Beth K. Lamont, Humanist Celebrant and Advocate We, the undersigned individuals, and as Members of the below designated Corporation, do ascribe to the following considerations in the daily practice of our Business: We agree with, and strive to uphold, the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as described by the United Nations. Respect and Ethical treatment for All of Humankind on Planet Earth is of greatest importance in our business practices. Respect and protection for our precious gift, Planet Earth, as our one and only Human Habitat, and the home to be inhabited by our own Grand Children and our own offspring for centuries to come, is vitally important! We must be cognizant of the relationship between the activities of our Corporate work and its effect upon the atmosphere and other conditions that had, before industrialization, remained fairly stable and hospitable to life on Earth for many centuries. Climate change must be acknowledged! Scarcity of clean water will be a threat to our lives, and the rising of the Oceans, an immediate concern. Wherever we do business, in whatever country or community, we promise to respect and uphold all local law. When we have entered into a contract to do business, and those with whom we have made such arrangement find fault or disagreement with the way we are proceeding, their complaints must be considered, and perhaps some compromise or agreement must be found. Local concerns and governments must never be found, by the World Trade Court, of being in “violation of profit making.” We honor local concerns! We will pay proper local or national taxes in each country where we do business, and never claim that our headquarters is located in a place where no taxes are required. We will honor local labor needs and prevailing wages in every country where we do business. If we do business in the USA, for instance, we will always hire locally available workers rather than “outsourci…

Flowerchild
type: item
creator: Beth
date: 2016-10-12T01:19:02Z
subject: General
subject: video
description: Flowerchild Because I’m a wilted Flowerchild from Haight-Ashbury, I advocate making love, not war! Are we making any progress? “Open Mic Gypsy” Beth Lamont for Rimes of The Ancient Mariner September 28, 2016 @ Three of Cups Lounge. Published on YouTube on October 9, 2016 under a Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) by Phillip […]
encoded: Flowerchild Because I’m a wilted Flowerchild from Haight-Ashbury, I advocate making love, not war! Are we making any progress? “Open Mic Gypsy” Beth Lamont for Rimes of The Ancient Mariner September 28, 2016 @ Three of Cups Lounge. Published on YouTube on October 9, 2016 under a Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) by Phillip Giambri aka “The Ancient Mariner” who is a writer, storyteller, poet, and spoken word performer. Running time: 2 minutes 8 seconds Download this video in MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC/AAC-LC 640×360 format (right-click and “Save As…” to download): Beth_Lamont_for_Rimes_of_The_Ancient_Mariner_at_Three_of_Cups_Lounge_2016-09-28.mp4 (MPEG-4 AVC/AAC — 7,515,757 bytes)