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 Money is Not
a Dirty Word!
by Hugh Taft-Morales, BES Leader
In the December BESpeak I wrote of my deep gratitude to the flood of new volunteers stepping up at BES to staff our committees and support our community. This month I want to touch on another form of “stepping up†that we must do if we are to continue growing. Our newly formed pledge team and the Board are encouraging generous financial commitments on the part of all members. “Now is the time,†they are proclaiming, “to demonstrate your dedication to growing Ethical Culture in the Baltimore region!â€
This is not always easy to do. “After all,†some will say, “no one likes asking for money.†Fundraising can be challenging for many different reasons. Some people don’t like asking for money because they hate being turned down. Some think that it is an imposition to ask for money. While others simply feel that money is somehow “dirty†– something you deal with in life, but not something you talk about in public.
But, money is not a dirty word! I remember first thinking about that in the context of teaching bioethics and moral philosophy. For example, while studying bioethics at Georgetown University’s Kennedy School of Ethics we often analyzed debates about scarce resource allocation. Should we pour money into cancer research or infant inoculations? Should a hospital invest half a million dollars in one CT scanner or on providing prenatal healthcare for 5000 mothers each year? Sometimes people will get frustrated and say, “How can you measure the dollar value of a human life?â€
Of course juggling the practical and ideal, the financial and the ethical, is a challenge. But it is important to remember that values are often expressed by how one chooses to spend money. While not making a show of things, it is important to be candid and honest about how we allocate our financial resources. To put your head in the sand about this is irresponsible.
That is part of what I learned after I accepted the job of 2006 Pledge Chair at the Washington Ethical Society. While I resisted this position at first, I was asked to consider the following questions: “Do you believe the world needs Ethical Culture? Do you believe that the Ethical Society serves an important role in the lives of its members and the larger public? Will you give generously to support our community commitment to Ethical Culture?†My answer to all three questions was an emphatic, “Of course! Of course I will! This is what I believe in deep in my heart.â€
“Well, then,†I was asked, “why do you hesitate to offer others the same opportunity to contribute generously to something important the world desperately needs?â€
Why indeed? You see for years I considered fundraising a form of asking for favors. I used to approach potential funders timidly asking, “I hate to impose on you, but please, please, please, would you consider giving just a little something to this little project of ours?â€
In reality, however, Ethical Culture is not a pet project requiring the favors of a few friends. We come together to bring out the best in each other so we can support each other through life and help heal a broken world. This is a grand and noble project. Being a part of it has opened my life up in so many ways. In asking others to join me in this project I am not asking favors; I am offering the opportunity to be a part of something profoundly good!
Good things sometimes require money. So, isn’t it time we begin understanding that money is not a dirty word? You will be receiving more information about what is necessary to keep BES flourishing. If you believe in our mission, in our deeds, and in our community, this is your opportunity to express your values by supporting our shared work with a generous pledge.
Of course generosity is a relative thing. Some of us have at our disposal greater financial resources than others. The pledge team wants to encourage everyone to dig deep and be as generous as possible. But only you can judge what you can afford. Look at your practical needs and life situation. But also dream about what the Ethical Society means to you. Think carefully about how much you want to see humanist values promoted in our region and the world. This is our Ethical Society and it requires our generosity to flourish. And thank you for responding positively to the pledge team volunteers who hope you agree that “money is not a dirty word!â€
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 Humanism and the
Diplomacy of Ubuntu
by Emil Volcheck, BES President
Nelson Mandela passed away in December, leaving a legacy that will teach and inspire Humanists for generations. I did not realize just how much Mandela’s vision reflects Humanism and Ethical Culture values until I heard a talk this past October by Ebrahim Rasool, the Ambassador of South Africa to the United States. Rasool spoke about Mandela’s approach to resolving conflict and conducting diplomacy in a presentation to the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs titled “The Diplomacy of Ubuntu: Drawing on Nelson Mandela’s Lesson for Solving Global Conflict.†I’d like to share how these ideas inspire me and lead me to hope that U.S. national security strategy can draw on these ethical values.
The word Ubuntu translates literally as “human-ness†or humanity. It connotes a notion of collective relationship or community that some describe as “a person is a person through other people†or “I am because we are.†For Mandela, Ubuntu meant empathizing with other people and respecting their dignity. Mandela understood the fear that white South Africans had of majority rule in the early 1990s and responded with patience and generosity. Mandela sought to give President F.W. de Klerk concessions in the form of sunset clauses that phased in the transition over time. Mandela wanted de Klerk to have something he could take back to the apartheid government. Rasool summarized Mandela’s approach as “Victim, Strengthen Your Enemy!†Compassion is a core Humanist value, and Mandela chose compassion over seeking punishment. Working through relationships to bring out the best in others, including opponents, is at the heart of Ethical Culture. By giving the apartheid government something they needed, Nelson Mandela respected their dignity and tried to elicit their best.
Mandela refused to see the world in binary terms – he avoided making the distinction between “us†and “them.†This reflects the principle of Ubuntu, and it also reflects careful thinking. Rasool called on us to “embrace complexity†and reject the oversimplification of binary distinctions, which are the “beloved instruments of the dogmatic.†He added “if we live in a binary world, we will make fundamental errors.†Speaking of the United States, Rasool said “I would like to draw you back to your intellectualism.†The ambassador was calling on us to embrace the core Humanist value of Reason in U.S. foreign policy.
Ambassador Rasool expressed hope and confidence in the capacity of human beings to resolve even the most difficult conflicts. While some refer to the transition to majority rule in 1994 as the “South African Miracle,†Rasool suggested that this diminishes the achievement because, as he put it, “a miracle can only come from God.†Rasool affirmed that “what we did was humanly done.â€
Rasool sees the United States taking a more constructive role in resolving global conflicts. The decision not to punish Syria for the use of chemical weapons against their citizens was for Rasool, not a sign of weakness, but rather “a seminal moment†where the United States began a transition from a unilateral to a multilateral approach to global problem solving. He said “for the first time, the United States was thinking aloud.†That opened the door to a multilateral solution that has now led to Syria signing an international treaty against chemical weapons and dismantling their stockpile. He urged the United States to be magnanimous and to work for the betterment of the world. He called for U.S. support to achieve universal primary school education, which is not only the right thing to do, but it would benefit U.S. national security by stabilizing Africa politically.
Ambassador Rasool’s talk inspired me to hope that U.S. national security strategy and foreign policy can embrace Compassion and Reason, together with Mandela’s vision of Ubuntu. Rasool’s talk is posted on YouTube.
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Sunday Platform Programs
JANUARY 5
“Rebuilding Together’s Role in Preserving
Affordable Homeownership in Baltimoreâ€
Bonnie Bessor
Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Baltimore
Bonnie Bessor, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together, will speak about the organization’s role in preserving affordable homeownership in Baltimore. Rebuilding Together Baltimore is a safe and healthy housing organization with a strong volunteer engagement platform. Since 1990, Rebuilding Together Baltimore has organized the repair work for more than 1,200 homes and community spaces in more than 30 neighborhoods in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Rebuilding Together Baltimore works in partnership with volunteers and communities to make homes warmer, safer and drier for low-income homeowners who are seniors, people with disabilities or families with childrenng power of books.
Bonnie Bessor joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore as Executive Director in 2004. Immediately prior, she worked at Associated Catholic Charities as a development officer for homeless service programs in Baltimore. She has also worked in housing and poverty advocacy organizations as a legislative advocate, community organizer, AmeriCorps program director, and volunteer manager. She began her career by serving people with chronic mental illness. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland. She is also a graduate of the Weinberg Fellows Program, an intensive leadership training program for nonprofit executives. During her tenure at Rebuilding Together Baltimore, Bonnie has been instrumental in growing the staff, budget and services of the organization, tripling the budget and increasing the staff from one full-time person (herself) to a team of seven. In that time, the organization has also expanded to include a robust energy efficiency program as well as year-round services. Bonnie serves on the advisory board of Baltimore County Volunteers, the volunteer engagement program for Baltimore County, Maryland. In 2011, she was honored as one of Baltimore’s Top Neighborhood Moms and was also awarded Executive Director of the Year by her peers in the Rebuilding Together affiliate network. She is president of her community association and lives in Baltimore City with her husband Les and their rescued dog and cat “Iggy†and “Rosie.â€
JANUARY 12
“Transforming Jail: MLK in Birminghamâ€
Hugh Taft-Morales
Leader, Baltimore Ethical Society
Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed dozens of times for his efforts to defend the dignity of every human being. While imprisonment can break the spirit of many people, somehow it strengthened King’s resolve and enhanced his personal dignity. In 1963 it produced one of the most important civil rights documents in history: King’s letter from the Birmingham jail. Like many others thrown into jail for standing up for their values – Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Sanger, Gandhi, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela – King managed to overcome forces of oppression. What can we glean from the power of some to transcend jail and bring out the best? How can we apply these lessons to our own ethical action efforts, including reforming a prison system that destroys hopes and maximizes recidivism? Can we help society transform imprisonment?
Hugh Taft-Morales joined the Baltimore Ethical Society as its professional leader in 2010, the same year he was certified by the American Ethical Union as an Ethical Culture Leader. He also serves as Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia. His presence in Ethical Culture has been termed “invigorating.†Taft-Morales lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife Maureen, a Latin American Analyst with the Congressional Research Service, with whom he has three beloved children, Sean, Maya, and Justin.
JANUARY 19
“FreeState Legal: Advocating for Maryland’s
Low-income LGBT Residentsâ€
Aaron Merki, Esq.
Executive Director, FreeState Legal Project
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBTâ€) community has unique legal needs. Low-income LGBT individuals, particularly LGBT youth, people of color and immigrants, are harmed by systematic inequality arising from prejudice and discrimination. Prior to FreeState Legal Project’s founding, there were no organizations in Maryland dedicated to providing free or reduced-cost legal services to meet the legal needs of this population. Mr. Merki will explain FreeState’s work, give a sense of Maryland’s low-income LGBT population, and discuss the issues and work still remaining after marriage equality.
Aaron Merki has been the Executive Director of Free-State Legal Project since 2012. Prior to assuming that role, Aaron was a corporate litigator at Venable LLP. There, he represented Fortune 500 companies, in addition to smaller companies and individuals. Aaron’s involvement with Free-State Legal Project can be traced to FreeState’s inception. In 2007, Aaron helped found FreeState with a small group of law students and legal practitioners. He went on to build FreeState’s Board of Directors, assist with its incorporation, oversee the first needs assessment of Baltimore’s low- income LGBT community, and lead FreeState as President of the Board of Directors as FreeState opened its doors to the community. In 2008–2009, Aaron clerked for the Honorable Judge Susan K. Gauvey of the United States District Court for Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was the Paul Beckman Leadership Scholar. He served as the Articles Editor of the Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class, and as President of the LGBT Law Student Alliance. He earned his Bachelors in Political Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Phi Beta Kappa, where he was a Walter Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar. In 2011, Aaron was named one of Baltimore’s “20 in their 20’s†and in 2010, Aaron was named UMBC’s Rising Star Alumnus of the Year.
JANUARY 26
“What You Can Do Today to
Take Action on Climate Changeâ€
Meagan Braganca
Climate Leader
The presentation will open with some brief slides on the statistics of our changing climate. I will then discuss the “Carbon Budget†proposed by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC proposes limiting cumulative emissions to one trillion tons of carbon dioxide. I will discuss where we are with our budget, and how much we theoretically have left. This section will explain where we are with the crisis, and how much time we have to take action to reverse it. Then I will discuss action items participants can take immediately such as switching to renewable energy (and how to do it) and promoting green energy initiatives. Next item: the Carbon Tax – which countries have them and why the United States still does not. I will also briefly discuss how certain areas/countries have begun to reduce their levels of carbon dioxide. I will then go through Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and what people across the state can do to make it a success. In closing, I will touch on some great initiatives going on around the country & around the world – but the reality that a carbon free society remains a far-off goal.
Meagan Braganca graduated with a B.S. from Vanderbilt University, and has held several positions using her Human & Organizational Development degree. She became actively involved with environmental issues in 2004, and is passionate about protecting and preserving natural ecosystems and waterways. She is the Sierra Club Howard County Political Chair and an Executive Committee member. She was trained by former Vice President Al Gore on how to educate the public about climate change at the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training last July. Her goal as a Climate Leader is to promote clean energy, sustainable living and bring an end to fossil fuel consumption
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 Tea and Philosophy!
A book discussion
of William James’
A Pluralistic Universe
Sunday, January 12, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Join Hugh Taft-Morales for tea, snacks, and philosophical discussion. There is enough food for philosophic thought in William James’ A Pluralistic Universe to feed an intellectual army. In many ways, from his critique of all-unifying Hegelian absolutism to his analysis of consciousness, this work represents the birth of twentieth century pragmatic thought. We will explore not only the complex metaphysical and epistemological points James raises, but the social and political implications of his approach for today. How do we best create an America where respect for diversity balances our need for continuity and unity?
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The Emancipation Proclamation at the Lewis Museum!
Sunday, January 19, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Lewis Museum of African-American History, 830 E. Pratt Street
Join us for an excursion after platform to the Lewis Museum to see the Kinsey Collection, a special traveling exhibit that chronicles over 400 years of African American history and culture from the 1600s to the present. Highlights include an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, a signed copy of Brown vs. Board of Education and rare works from early 19th century artists. Read more about the special exhibit. We will organize carpools from BES. Optional lunch in the museum cafeteria. Join the Meetup.
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