  Meeting
Report
September 5, 2003
Mynga Futrell and Paul Geisert
Are We Brights?
Paul and Mynga gave a well-rehearsed talk using
PowerPoint™ graphics and with each giving short alternating statements.
They had participated in the “Godless March” in
Washington, DC last year, but had misgivings about the use of the
terminology provided by our philosophical opponents. Partly because of
this, we have not been successful in galvanizing those who think like us.
There is no civic identity for freethinkers. The other side controls the
language. Homosexuals had a similar experience, but partially overcame
their problems by gaining public acceptance of the term “gay.” Paul quoted
Dawkins’ definition of a meme, “a self-replicating element of culture
passed on by imitation.” He then came up with the suggestion that we rise
above the words that divide us and call ourselves “brights!”—a new meme,
if we can get it accepted. A “bright” is anyone whose worldview is totally
naturalistic and chooses to consider him- or herself one. The brights are
an international constituency of individuals (not a membership
organization). One signs up by going to the web site at
http://the-brights.net.
The idea is to educate society towards the full public participation of
those with a naturalistic worldview and the ending of the demonization to
which we are subjected.
Paul invented the term, Mynga helped define the concept,
and they presented the idea to a freethought convention in Florida. The
idea exploded worldwide when Richard Dawkins prematurely published an
article about Brights in the Guardian (a leading British newspaper) last
June. Daniel C. Dennett followed with an article in the New York Times. Paul
and Mynga have since been kept quite busy giving public lectures about
Brights. Our own Kevin Schultz also has the major responsibility of
serving as the webmaster for the Brights.
Report
prepared by Wayne Luney, HAGSA Recorder
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