EthicalStL.org

Since the 2010 Supreme Court decision "Citizens United," there has been an explosion of political donations from legally unknown sources, and a rise in special nonprofit groups that don't have to report their donors or make public their political spending. That has made it much harder for the press to do its job, particularly during a time of financial stress that has prompted many news outlets to reduce their reporting staffs. Jo Mannies is an award-winning journalist who has been covering Missouri politics and government for more than four decades, much of that time as a reporter and columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In 2009, she joined online news outlet the St. Louis Beacon, which in late 2013 merged with St. Louis Public Radio.

Life can be tough, or even just routine – it’s easy to slip into mindless repetition of our daily tasks. What if, instead, we viewed our life as a work of art, constantly challenging ourselves to make our lives beautiful, engaging, and exciting? How would our lives look then?

"Political correctness" is a hot-button issue. Some people see it simply as trying to speak to and about others in a respectful manner. Others see it as a stifling of free and open expression. The election of President Trump was in part a result of anger and frustration with a certain interpretation of political correctness. As Ethical Humanists who seek to affirm the worth of every individual, and who also value free speech and open discussion, how can we identify, practice, and encourage ethical communication?

Dennis Roach has been a member of the Ethical Society for over 27 years. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees, chair of several committees, 10-year advisor to the youth group, and is currently on the Membership Team and End Racism Team and chairs the Diversity and Inclusiveness Task Force.

Throughout history, queerness — membership in a sexual or gender minority group — has been denigrated and demeaned. Queer people have been and continue to be subjected to social stigma and legal discrimination all around the world. Today in America, queer people increasingly enjoy legal equality and increased safety, but rarely are we celebrated for the positive contributions we have brought society. In this Platform, James Croft (who is gay himself) will explore some of the positive contributions LGBTQIA+ people have made to society and explain why he is proud to be queer.

Conscientious objectors are defined by the US Selective Service System as those who are “opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles,” and Ethical Humanists played a part in securing the rights of COs for non-theistic people. What are some of the motivations of COs? And what broader lessons can we learn from their principles and experiences?

Often we are afraid to speak out when we see something we believe is wrong. Perhaps we fear that we will lose friends or opportunities if we say what we believe, or perhaps we fear reprisal from those we criticize: either way, we can be discouraged from saying “This is wrong!” Yet movements to end injustice require people with precisely this sort of courage. So how do we find the courage to speak out when it is difficult?

One of the most important ways we grow is through the help of others. Teaching, parenting, and mentoring are all ways we can help other people develop through life. But what are the most effective ways to do this? How, precisely, do we elicit the best in others?

What’s with the decluttering craze? It’s a very popular topic these days—we seem to spend half our time amassing stuff and the other half trying to organize and get rid of it. Some see the decluttering obsession as the ultimate “first world problem,” but in our cheap, mass-produced world, people of every economic situation can find themselves drowning in stuff.

Our relationship with our possessions brings up many powerful and often conflicting emotions and connects to both our environmental values and our personal histories. Decluttering principles can also be applied to more than material things. How can being more mindful of our space and our stuff help us lead happier and more ethical lives?

A major part of growth is growing up. All of us have to manage the transition from childhood to adulthood: at some point we have to start “adulting.” But what does it mean to be an adult? Is it good or bad? In a culture obsessed with youth and childhood, would it be better to stay forever young, or is adulthood desirable?