The second of this two-part platform address will encourage us to take more personal responsibility for our choices and our lives and not to see ourselves as victims, but it will also explore how “responsibility” can become a code-word for blaming actual victims and avoiding assigning true responsibility.

This month’s theme is about responsibility, a crucial aspect of ethics. This two-part platform address will encourage us to take more personal responsibility for our choices and our lives and not to see ourselves as victims, but it will also explore how “responsibility” can become a code-word for blaming actual victims and avoiding assigning true responsibility.

Ten years ago there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no Snapchat, no livestreamers. The Huffington Post had just been born and smartphones were on the horizon. The revolutionary impact of these new media played out before our eyes in Ferguson. Most news broke on Twitter and most rumors did as well. Social media contributed to the creation of Hands Up Don’t Shoot – a powerful myth that, while false, has led to important changes in policing and our attitudes toward race.

William H. Freivogel worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 34 years - as assistant Washington Bureau Chief and deputy editorial editor. Later, he was director of the SIUC School of Journalism and a founder of the St. Louis Beacon. He covered the U.S. Supreme Court while in Washington. A series of editorials in 2001 about U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft’s civil liberties abuses was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He has won national awards for stories on the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, President Reagan’s attempt to kill the Legal Services Corp., and dioxin contamination. Mr. Freivogel is a contributor to St. Louis Public Radio, where his wife, Margaret Wolf Freivogel, is editor. He also is publisher of the Gateway Journalism Review.

America was founded in protest: a ragtag band of law-breaking protesters gathered their courage and told a king he was wrong. From the start, protest – a form of political questioning – has been integral to the ideal of America. Today, though, we’re often encouraged to believe that protest is subversive and protesters are "other people" – "we" are discouraged from joining “them.” This week at the Ethical Society, as we celebrate the freedom to question our society, James Croft argues that we should all be protesters.

... That is the question! Questioning is a crucial freedom and an important source of information and wisdom. But can questioning be taken too far? And what does the Ethical Society slogan "Deed before creed" really mean?

As St. Louis’ only historically black university, Harris-Stowe aims to be recognized as one of the premier universities in the region - preparing a generation of diverse leaders for a global society. In these challenging times, Harris-Stowe builds upon its 158-year legacy of responding to historical and defining moments for the nation. Harris-Stowe serves as the leading intellectual think-tank for social justice, equality, and educational equity. The university is committed to maintaining strong partnerships, essential to the region’s economic growth and development. Dr. Warmack will discuss the viability of Harris-Stowe and its role in the region.

Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack serves as president of Harris-Stowe State University and is one of the youngest serving presidents of a four-year institution in the nation. Warmack brings more than 16 years of progressive administrative experience in higher education at five distinct higher education institutions to the position. A visionary with a unique understanding and appreciation for today’s millennial students, he is committed to academic integration and the holistic development of students. Warmack is committed to developing programs that promote diversity, pluralism, and cultural competency. Throughout his career he has championed inclusion, academic excellence, and the retention of underrepresented students.

"Every person is important and unique" is the foundational value of Ethical Human-ism because of our choice to affirm the universal worth of all people. How does our belief in treating people as ends in themselves, rather than as means to achieve our own ends, affect our ethical decision making, and how can we live out such an idea in our everyday lives?

“Every person is important and unique.” So says the very first of the core values of our Sunday Ethical Education for Kids Program. It’s pretty clear why we should treat every person as important, but why does being unique matter? What is so special about our uniqueness? Outreach Director James Croft will explore the many forms of human uniqueness, showing why it matters and how we can recognize the uniqueness of others in our lives.

It's time for the end-of-summer "compare and contrast" platform address! Come learn more about Ethical Humanism and the Ethical Society by exploring some of the philosophies of ancient Greece that challenged traditional theories of reality and sought naturalistic answers to questions of how to live a meaningful and good life.

NOTE: This is a special recording. The origional recording had technical problems and could not be used.

Leader Kate Lovelady continues her talk from her talk from October 5. This two-part talk will explore the now perhaps old-fashioned notion of duty in ethical living, and how we balance our individual needs with the needs of others. We will look at questions such as: How do we determine the difference between what is right and what is allowed? When and how should one make individual sacrifices for another person or group? What do we owe to other generations? Is the current focus on happiness the best way to live--Is it even making us happy?

NOTE: This is a special recording. The origional recording had technical problems and could not be used.