We gathered at Sheila's on Sunday afternoon to discuss The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit. It's a memoir about a family of Egyptian Jews who were forced out of Cairo in the early sixties, emigrated to Paris and then to America. The central character is the father, Leon, who is the "man in the white sharkskin suit." Lucette, his younger daughter and the author, had a close and loving relationship with him but she is forthright about his faults and foibles as well as his virtues.
We spoke about the immigrant experience and whether our parents or grandparents were happy or sad to have come to America. I realized that I never knew the exact reason my grandparents came here. In my paternal grandparents' case I assumed there was some persecution, but my maternal grandfather was wealthy in Greece and was raised like an aristocrat. I was not sure what motivated him to come to America.
Sheila always leads a fascinating discussion fueled by her insightful questions. Kudos to her! Our next book will be Born on a Blue Day.
Monday, July 20, 2009
June 11th Party
Once again, the Brooklyn Humanist Community had a great summer party. We missed the Fourth this year but celebrated in between July 4th and Bastille Day on July 14th.
Coincidentally, Jean brought a copy of the words to the tune that became "The Star Spangled Banner." It was a very old drinking song, with mythological allusions. I found it pretty much incomprehensible but it must have amused 18th century gentlemen as they imbibed. Speaking of songs, Sheila wants the BHC to have its own theme song. If we can decide on an appropriate prize, we may turn this into a contest.
The food was delicious: hot dogs, barbecued drumsticks, two kinds of potato salad, a lovely garden salad and much more. Bonnie brought us raspberries, cherries and grapes, and Julie celebrated her birthday by bringing a delicious carrot cake.
Many thanks to Michael and Antoinette for their hosting. A good time was had by all!
Coincidentally, Jean brought a copy of the words to the tune that became "The Star Spangled Banner." It was a very old drinking song, with mythological allusions. I found it pretty much incomprehensible but it must have amused 18th century gentlemen as they imbibed. Speaking of songs, Sheila wants the BHC to have its own theme song. If we can decide on an appropriate prize, we may turn this into a contest.
The food was delicious: hot dogs, barbecued drumsticks, two kinds of potato salad, a lovely garden salad and much more. Bonnie brought us raspberries, cherries and grapes, and Julie celebrated her birthday by bringing a delicious carrot cake.
Many thanks to Michael and Antoinette for their hosting. A good time was had by all!
Friday, July 10, 2009
July Calendar
Here's our July Calendar, so far:
Saturday, July 11th: Belated July 4th Barbecue, at Michael and Antoinette's. We'll celebrate a holiday of our own making, "Humanist Day," and enjoy potluck dishes and delicious charred meats off the grill. 3 to 7 PM*
Tuesday, July 14th, 7:30 PM: BHC Board Meeting, at Michael and Antoinette's. All BHC members are welcome but you must RSVP. Again, the main focus will be the budget.
Sunday, July 19th, 1:30 PM: The BHC Book Discussion Club will discuss The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit. RSVP to Sheila if you wish to attend.
Tuesday, July 21st, 7 PM: Program Committee meeting at the home of Bruce, Celeste & Jason. All members interested in planning and producing monthly programs are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Celeste.
Saturday, July 25th, 6 PM: BHC Monthly Reflection, preceded by a potluck meal, at Antoinette and Michael's. This month our Reflection will be offered by Lois Kellerman, an Ethical Culture Leader, and will take place by Skype as Lois is in California. This is our first foray into a digital event. RSVP to Antoinette to attend.
Major thanks to Antoinette and Michael for hosting three of our events this month!
* World Humanist Day actually falls on June 21st.
Saturday, July 11th: Belated July 4th Barbecue, at Michael and Antoinette's. We'll celebrate a holiday of our own making, "Humanist Day," and enjoy potluck dishes and delicious charred meats off the grill. 3 to 7 PM*
Tuesday, July 14th, 7:30 PM: BHC Board Meeting, at Michael and Antoinette's. All BHC members are welcome but you must RSVP. Again, the main focus will be the budget.
Sunday, July 19th, 1:30 PM: The BHC Book Discussion Club will discuss The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit. RSVP to Sheila if you wish to attend.
Tuesday, July 21st, 7 PM: Program Committee meeting at the home of Bruce, Celeste & Jason. All members interested in planning and producing monthly programs are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Celeste.
Saturday, July 25th, 6 PM: BHC Monthly Reflection, preceded by a potluck meal, at Antoinette and Michael's. This month our Reflection will be offered by Lois Kellerman, an Ethical Culture Leader, and will take place by Skype as Lois is in California. This is our first foray into a digital event. RSVP to Antoinette to attend.
Major thanks to Antoinette and Michael for hosting three of our events this month!
* World Humanist Day actually falls on June 21st.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Reflection on Spirituality of Atheism
Last Saturday night the Brooklyn Humanist Community assembled for a Reflection led by our President, Tony, on the topic, "The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality." This was a lively discussion that lasted for over 2.5 hours. Tony brought in several pages of quotes from the book, and we read a section at a time and then stopped to discuss it. We talked about atheism, agnosticism, deism and theism, belief or disbelief in a power greater than ourselves, and whether or not there is an afterlife. It was a great Reflection and we were able to share differing views without anyone feeling threatened. That is the beauty of a humanist organization!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Flag Day Program with Curtis Gans
Twenty-six people attended our Flag Day program with Curtis Gans, on "American Democracy: Problems Beneath the Surface." Mr. Gans is the recognized expert and go-to person for information on voter participation and election issues in the U.S. He's been quoted in countless magazines and newspapers, he's frequently interviewed on radio and TV, he's spoken on over 200 college campuses and has testified before Congress on a variety of voting issues.
Mr. Gans gave us an unsettling picture of voting participation in the United States. It's far below that of many other countries. Despite higher voter participation in the past two Presidential elections, voters did not bother to vote in many of the other races in 2004 and 2008, primaries held separately from the presidential primaries.
Studies in past decades showed a correlation between increased voting and higher levels of education, earnings, etc. But even though there are more college educated people today than in the 1960's, voter participation is down. In fact, it is down despite improvements in all the factors mentioned in the study, with the exception of marriage. Married people tend to vote, but, as Mr. Gans joked, that's not a primary reason to encourage people to marry!
Mr. Gans painted a disturbing picture. Young people tend not to vote: it's mainly older people who vote. So, we're heading into a generation that is voluntarily disenfranchised. We don't vote because we don't trust politicians: Gans reeled off a string of politicians' most memorable lies.
Not voting, moreover, does not indicate contentment with the status quo. Studies show that the outcomes of elections might have been different if all the nonvoters had participated. (I'm kind of happy that they didn't elect Ross Perot, but still...). It's the undereducated, poorer segments of the population whose voices go unheard.
After speaking for nearly an hour, Mr. Gans fielded questions from the audience for another half hour. We're very grateful that he was willing to come to NYC and offer us the benefit of his insight into the voting habits of Americans and the electoral process.
This was our first time renting the UU church in Brooklyn Heights. It's a beautiful venue and it felt wonderful to be in that setting. Yes, an organ lesson upstairs sent some churchy music down to us, but fortunately we did have a microphone, so Mr. Gans' talk was audible over the organ.
It was also great to see some new faces. One couple was visiting Brooklyn from Arkansas and gave us some fascinating information about the humanist movement there. We hope to see the local folks again at our future meetings.
Mr. Gans gave us an unsettling picture of voting participation in the United States. It's far below that of many other countries. Despite higher voter participation in the past two Presidential elections, voters did not bother to vote in many of the other races in 2004 and 2008, primaries held separately from the presidential primaries.
Studies in past decades showed a correlation between increased voting and higher levels of education, earnings, etc. But even though there are more college educated people today than in the 1960's, voter participation is down. In fact, it is down despite improvements in all the factors mentioned in the study, with the exception of marriage. Married people tend to vote, but, as Mr. Gans joked, that's not a primary reason to encourage people to marry!
Mr. Gans painted a disturbing picture. Young people tend not to vote: it's mainly older people who vote. So, we're heading into a generation that is voluntarily disenfranchised. We don't vote because we don't trust politicians: Gans reeled off a string of politicians' most memorable lies.
Not voting, moreover, does not indicate contentment with the status quo. Studies show that the outcomes of elections might have been different if all the nonvoters had participated. (I'm kind of happy that they didn't elect Ross Perot, but still...). It's the undereducated, poorer segments of the population whose voices go unheard.
After speaking for nearly an hour, Mr. Gans fielded questions from the audience for another half hour. We're very grateful that he was willing to come to NYC and offer us the benefit of his insight into the voting habits of Americans and the electoral process.
This was our first time renting the UU church in Brooklyn Heights. It's a beautiful venue and it felt wonderful to be in that setting. Yes, an organ lesson upstairs sent some churchy music down to us, but fortunately we did have a microphone, so Mr. Gans' talk was audible over the organ.
It was also great to see some new faces. One couple was visiting Brooklyn from Arkansas and gave us some fascinating information about the humanist movement there. We hope to see the local folks again at our future meetings.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
June 2009 Schedule
Here's the BHC June Schedule, thus far:
Sunday, June 14th, 2:30 PM: Come hear America's leading expert on voter participation and elections speak on, "American Democracy: Problems Beneath the Surface." Curtis Gans will speak to the BHC and friends at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Brooklyn, 50 Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. Please invite your friends!
June Reflection: Date and Place TBA
Tuesday, June 16th, 7:30 PM: BHC Board Meeting, at Tony & Melanie's. All are welcome. Our main working topic will be the budget.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 7 PM: BHC Program Committee meeting, at Tony & Melanie's. Please RSVP. We'll be making summer and fall plans.
Sunday, June 28th: BHC Book Club will take a field trip to see, "My Sister's Keeper," a new film based on Jodi Picoult's book by the same name. The Book Club discussed this book some months ago. Time and movie theater TBA.
Looking Ahead: July 4th Potluck BBQ: Time and Place TBA
Sunday, June 14th, 2:30 PM: Come hear America's leading expert on voter participation and elections speak on, "American Democracy: Problems Beneath the Surface." Curtis Gans will speak to the BHC and friends at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Brooklyn, 50 Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. Please invite your friends!
June Reflection: Date and Place TBA
Tuesday, June 16th, 7:30 PM: BHC Board Meeting, at Tony & Melanie's. All are welcome. Our main working topic will be the budget.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 7 PM: BHC Program Committee meeting, at Tony & Melanie's. Please RSVP. We'll be making summer and fall plans.
Sunday, June 28th: BHC Book Club will take a field trip to see, "My Sister's Keeper," a new film based on Jodi Picoult's book by the same name. The Book Club discussed this book some months ago. Time and movie theater TBA.
Looking Ahead: July 4th Potluck BBQ: Time and Place TBA
Nature and Spring Babies
On Saturday, May 30th, the Brooklyn Humanist Community held an afternoon Colloquy on Nature followed by a party for our Spring Babies.
The Nature discussion took place outside, and we basked in the warm breezes as we spoke about nature, humanity's role in it, and nature's good and bad side. Thanks to Constance for organizing this.
The party was fun and there was plenty to eat: turkey burgers, hot dogs, baby back ribs, chicken, pasta, deviled eggs, potato salad, curried cauliflower, and a shrimp cocktail. We had apple pie and pound cake for dessert.
The grab bag meant gifts for everybody. That's how we celebrate: everyone gets a small gift.
On to our next event!
The Nature discussion took place outside, and we basked in the warm breezes as we spoke about nature, humanity's role in it, and nature's good and bad side. Thanks to Constance for organizing this.
The party was fun and there was plenty to eat: turkey burgers, hot dogs, baby back ribs, chicken, pasta, deviled eggs, potato salad, curried cauliflower, and a shrimp cocktail. We had apple pie and pound cake for dessert.
The grab bag meant gifts for everybody. That's how we celebrate: everyone gets a small gift.
On to our next event!
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