From the Brights Net

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMERICA?
For any who look on in amazement at the
outcome of the American election, we
pass along some impressions and
insights. They include post-election
comments from various Americans giving
perspectives on how it is the
American people would vote as they did. We
include some of our own
perspective, including the concept of Brights'
actions in the REALITY ABOUT
MORALITY Arena. To read these remarks, go
to:
http://www.the-brights.net/post_election.htm

An article in today's New York Times referred to the election by the
title,
THE DAY THE ENLIGHTENMENT WENT OUT. The article, by Garry Wills,
captures
much of what has put so many American Brights into deep despair.
We
recommend the article to all
Brights:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/opinion/04wills.html?ex=1100592981&ei=1&en
=806f25bb8addc950
In
the 18th century Enlightenment, science and reason seemed to hold the
keys to
the future. These days, for many Americans, "faith" holds sway, even
above
fact. A post-election report has noted that voters who selected
President
Bush were motivated to do so "by moral values as much as anything
else." This
change is taking place in a nation founded on the principles of
the
Enlightenment.
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ENLIGHTENMENT EMBERS GLOW
From
our own perspective here at the Brights' Internet
hub
(http://www.the-brights.net), the Enlightenment stands as the
world's
greatest venture from faith toward rational thinking. It is evident,
though,
that Enlightenment values suffered a mighty defeat in the USA on
November 2.
Many who would refashion the United States as "a Christian
nation" have
consolidated power.
The nation's Enlightenment heritage is in
peril. The indicators have been
lingering beneath the surface; now they come
to the fore in broad daylight
and full force. Separation of religion and
government, science, and
democracy--all are threatened.
We can unite as
peers to fan the flame. We can take steps individually (by
writing letters,
speaking out to media, bringing others to this cause).
Americans Brights can
step forward to seek public office. By whatever means,
we must come forward
with "oxygen" to strengthen rationalism, give impetus
toward learning (fact
over faith) and revive the skeptical spirit in social
thought. These are at
the heart of secular civic values, and they are
obviously shriveling in the
populace.
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