Press Release
Brights Stand Up for Their Rights
For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088
(Washington, DC, September 29, 2003) The American Humanist Association proudly launches a new
initiative and website (www.BrightRights.org) to expand upon the success of
the newly coined term “bright.” Executive Director Tony Hileman said, “Now
that the bright identification has gained traction, it’s time we unite to
enhance the image of brights and ensure free exercise of bright rights.
“We first turn our attention to a long standing violation of bright rights
as seen in the Veteran's of Foreign Wars (VFW) theistic requirement for
membership. We are looking for U.S. military veterans to challenge the myth
that “there are no atheists in foxholes" and call on the VFW to drop its
required attestation that members believe in God.
“Of course, not all bright rights violations are long standing. Under the
Bush administration, our country has been infused with a government
sponsored religiosity that tramples bright rights. This is seen in
everything from the faith-based initiatives to the push for school vouchers.
Therefore this new AHA project seeks to counter this trend and bolster the
great American tradition of defending individual liberties against the
tyranny of the majority,” said Hileman.
Brights view the universe as natural and hold that the most reliable way to
understand it and humanity's place in it is through reason and observation.
Since, by definition, Humanists are brights, this initiative promotes the
AHA’s mission to raise the awareness and acceptance of Humanism--a
progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our
ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment
that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
The newly released website at www.BrightRights.org will promote and defend
Humanists and all other brights. With regular action items, access to
community forums, and listings of notable media coverage, this website is
designed to propel the term to wider usage. BrightRights.org will compliment
the founding site that explains the bright concept, as well as the many
bright blogs. It will be a focal point for a diverse bright community.
Hileman concluded, “We brights, who do not turn to religion as a basis for
meaning, have finally found a positive way to describe ourselves. No longer
must we be derided as godless, nonbelievers, or faithless. What’s more, with
AHA’s new BrightRights initiative, the prospect of challenging imposed
religiosity just got brighter.”
# # #
The American Humanist Association is the oldest
and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to
ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and
experience, which embraces all of humanity.
Press Room
|
