Whatcom Freethinkers

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(Picture to the right, above: Our last Saturday meeting, Dec. 27th,
12 of the 13 attendees shown in Picture)
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Our 1st meeting for the New Year! And Boy what a Year it will be!
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WELCOME ALL WHATCOM, SKAGIT & SNOHOMISH COUNTY
FREETHINKING SKEPTICS & SECULAR HUMANISTS!
**VISIT OUR WEB SITE FOR OUR OTHER MEETINGS: SoundViews.Org
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Mid-term Elections, and . . . World Order RUPTURE! (not Rapture!)

Prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, aptly termed the new Era as RUPTURE, to our modern world order. Move aside Steven Pinker! Yes, deaths from all wars per capita has immensely declined from antiquity to today, until Trump's 1st term. From that point forward, deaths from all wars reversed course and has been at a steady climb back upward!
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Topic 1) Book: TYRANNY - Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

This book is short and relevant to face the current rapid fire of events, MAGA Rupture in world order and our militia aimed inward at "the Enemies within", ICE, National Guard & Marines in our Cities, along with Proud Boys and other private militia "stand back and stand by" waiting for the Trump's dog whistle. Click on links below for more book info:

https://timothysnyder.org/on-tyranny

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Twenty-Lessons-Twentieth-Century/dp/0804190119

LIST OF THE 20 LESSONS:

1) Do not obey in advance: Authoritarianism is often voluntarily fostered.
2) Defend institutions: Protect organizations like the press and courts.
3) Beware the one-party state: Parties that suppress rivals were not always omnipotent.
4) Take responsibility for the face of the world: Symbols today enable tomorrow’s reality.
5) Remember professional ethics: When leaders are unethical, professional norms matter.
6) Be wary of paramilitaries: Beware when men with guns start wearing uniforms.
7) Be reflective if you must be armed: If you carry a weapon, understand the risks.
8) Stand out: Someone must set an example.
9) Be kind to our language: Avoid repeating cliché phrases used for mass appeal.
10) Believe in truth: Disbelieve power, not facts.
11) Investigate: Research everything yourself.
12) Make eye contact and small talk: Maintain human contact.
13) Practice corporeal politics: Power wants your body to soften, get outside.
14) Establish a private life: Nasty rulers use personal info against you.
15) Contribute to good causes: Be active in organizations.
16) Learn from peers in other countries: Maintain international friendships.
17) Listen for dangerous words: Be wary of terms like "extremism" and "emergency".
18) Be calm when the unthinkable arrives: Do not fall for terror management.
19) Be a patriot: Set a good example for the future.
20) Be as courageous as you can: Act with courage.

The book argues that modern tyranny arises when people allow institutions to erode and when citizens fail to take individual responsibility.
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topic 2) GROUNDHOG'S DAY - Feb 2!
Above movie can be watched on Netflix until Jan. 31st!

One month later, we can contemplate our failed New Years resolutions, blame it on no free will, countering the belief that if we could reverse time and do it over we could do it differently. But how is that possible if none of the variables are changed?

1993 Movie Groundhogs Day comically shows how it IS possible to do otherwise! You're the only person who knows Feb. 2nd is playing over and over, and unlike everyone else, YOU REMEMBER, AND CAN DO OTHERWISE! But memory is a change in the replay of events, and not true free will.

Most of our days are so similar, it's like groundhogs day over and over, but because we remember, we ACTUALLY CAN DO OTHERWISE and break our cyclical of BAD HABITS! But is that really FREE WILL, or more like FREE WON'T?????
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Topic 3) For my son's Birthday, I went with his family to their church in Bellingham, Christ The King Church and took family out to good Sunday breakfast at IHOP afterwards.

The Facility is MASSIVE! Three gymnasium size front rooms, and Theater size sloped seating area, 26 rows with 52 seats each that can sit over 2,700 attendees! I survived, and was rewarded with a souvenir coffee mug in picture above. Can we build a Secular Community this big? Why not? I will share my experience with you all at our gathering!
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I've forgotten many suggested topics to cover for this gathering. If you remembered what they were, or have your own new topic to include, I can place them here and also add these suggestions to a future email reminder for this meeting. Please email me at: --------------- SecularWorld@aol.com
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And, as always, CURRENT EVENTS!

--Are we going to War with Venezuela? Will Greenland beat Canada as our 51st State? Has the Authoritarian Empires of Putin, Xi Jinping & Trump, while playing the board game of RISK, giving a nod to limiting their range of control to their "Sphere of Influence"?

While America turns its back on Europe, the 3 Bullies (Red China, Red old USSR, AND RED REPUBLICANS) get to pick on nearby smaller countries? Is it a coincidence that they are the largest holders of Nuclear Weapons on Earth? (the new Axis of Evil?) HELP!
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Car Pools Available. Contact me by text (360) 510-2501 or by email:
SecularWorld@aol.com - We meet at the North end of Bellingham Costco before 10:25 AM, Leave 10:25 sharp - We'll look for you if you text me at above number that you're coming!
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We can "change the topic" on the fly based on current attendee's suggested preference - Please feel free to suggest an alternate subject on our around the table introductions!

Also, updates, links to material to read or watch and PDF files to down load will be provided later this week to those I have email addresses for.

If you'd like to be included and haven't received email alerts from me, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT SecularWorld@aol.com TO STAY INFORMED AND RECEIVE LATEST UPDATES!
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We will start out by introducing ourselves, our personal passions and also share our choice on how to conduct our meeting (2 minutes or less per person).
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Freethought encourages creative solutions, but then this group uses reason, evidence and the scientific method as the only reliable means to prune down answers to our probing questions and common sense solutions to humanity's current problems.
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Normally we never follow through with pre-readings, videos or topics anyway and jump in to whatever subjects pop up during introduction circle. The flavor of conversation is quite varied and unique based on who shows and what those present bring to the table.

Feel free to bring a book or article and your take on the readings. Comments on ever changing current events easily fill our discussions!
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Free Coffee, cream and sweetener will be provided. Just bring yourself and share in great conversation, but if you'll be hungry, feel free to bring your own lunch to eat during our talk.
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Have a future idea or topic? Email me at secularworld@aol.com and share!
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Randy Drubek & Monty Vonn – Coordinators