FAIR News: The Way Forward
Newsletter
Dear friends of FAIR,
Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to travel and meet members of FAIR all over the country, including last week in Washington, D.C., and this week in Evanston, Illinois.
On Tuesday, at our Pro-Human Tour event in Evanston, one of the attendees described the tragic polarization that is afflicting his community. Neighbors, classmates, and friends have been pitted against each other based on skin color, or simply because they hold the “wrong” ideas. The sense of trust and social responsibility upon which all strong communities are built has been replaced by hostility and tribal grievances. In the face of this desecration, the attendee asked, what are ordinary people to do when they are being mistreated by other members of their community?
Although every community is unique, the general dynamic he described to me is taking place in one form or another across the country. It can be difficult to determine how best to respond when it feels like your community is being torn apart. This is why I believe FAIR’s pro-human mission is so important: because it gives us an effective way to respond to these anti-social forces that helps us to rebuild and strengthen our communities, rather than divide them further.
My answer to the question asked in Evanston focused on the importance of forgiveness, both for ourselves and our society, and of seeking to live and reflect the positive values that we hope to amplify within our communities and institutions. The answer to hate and division cannot be more hate and division. In the words of the trailblazing 20th century American civil rights activist Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray,
I intend to destroy segregation by positive and embracing methods. When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them. Where they speak out for the privileges of a puny group, I shall shout for the rights of all mankind.
We do not have to choose between standing up for what we know is right, and treating those with whom we disagree as our fellow Americans, deserving of respect and dignity. By emphasizing both the unique identity and shared humanity of every individual, we can effectively bring light and hope into our communities, and stand up to the intolerant and regressive ideologies that seek to divide us based on group identity.
I hope to meet more of you in the coming months. In November, we’re holding a series of events—in Los Angeles on November 10, San Francisco on November 12, and New York City on November 15—so that we can continue to move the pro-human movement forward through 2022 and beyond.
I am grateful for your commitment to upholding our shared values, and advancing the pro-human movement. If you can’t make these November events, rest assured that we’ll be in your neck of the woods very soon!
Yours,
Bion
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Bion Bartning
bion@fairforall.org
November FAIR Events: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and NYC
Join us in Los Angeles on November 10th, San Francisco on November 12th, and New York City on November 15th for three ticketed events featuring music, cocktails, and conversation with FAIR Advisors, Fellows, members, and others in your community.
Support the pro-human movement—donate, or purchase your tickets today!
Live Screenings of The Unredacted (Jihad Rehab)
Calling all FAIR friends in and around Glendale, California! You will now have the opportunity to view Meg Smaker’s film The Unredacted (formerly Jihad Rehab) at LAEMMLE in Glendale beginning Friday, October 28th!
To view screening times and purchase tickets, visit LAEMMLE’s website. To support Meg and find out when the film will be screened near you, be sure to visit jihadrehab.com, donate to Meg’s GoFundMe, and sign up for alerts.
FAIR is proud to support Meg Smaker, her beautiful and compassionate film, and free expression in the arts. To learn more, visit FAIRintheArts.org.
Want to help advance civil rights and liberties for all, and promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity? Sign up for a free subscription today!
How to Be FAIR Without Starting a Fight Virtual Training
Do you want to share the message of FAIR with others but feel intimidated it may start a fight?
There is a better way: Empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to have better conversations, share the message of FAIR, and not start a fight.
Register FREE for this live, virtual training. Our current available dates are October 25th and November 9th at 6:00 p.m. ET.
This training is interactive and invites your full participation. Come ready to engage with the facilitator and your fellow FAIR members.
FAIR Book Club: Ian Rowe’s Agency
FAIR’s Book Club meets monthly with a goal to read books that challenge and deepen our understanding of humanity and fairness, while enriching our sense of what it means to be pro-human.
The FAIR in Education Fellows invite you to our next book club meeting on October 26th. In October and November, we will be reading and discussing FAIR Advisor Ian Rowe’s new book, Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for All Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power.
We hope you will join us as we dig into the sage wisdom and advice offered in this phenomenal book.
Eugenics: The Curse That Keeps on Cursing Webinar with FAIR in Medicine
Join FAIR in Medicine on October 27th at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET for our webinar, Eugenics: The Curse That Keeps on Cursing, to hear how the timeless desire to “improve” the human race is still with us. The often-sordid history of eugenics in the United States was explored in the 2016 PBS documentary The Eugenics Crusade: What’s Wrong with Perfect?
After registering for the webinar, you will receive a link to access this documentary. You can find this link in your ticket confirmation email. We encourage attendees to watch it in anticipation of the webinar.
FAIR in Medicine Fellow Mark Buchanan, MD will moderate the webinar. Panelists include William B. Hurlbut, MD, Adjunct Professor and Senior Research Scholar in Neurobiology at the Stanford Medical School, who writes and consults widely on bioethics; Robert Graboyes, PhD FAIR in Medicine Fellow, health economist, prolific journalist, and musician, a veteran of the faculties of several universities and of the Federal Reserve Bank.
November FAIR Parent Education Series Workshops
Please join FAIR in Education on November 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd for a four-part workshop where we will share an overview of the current K-12 educational landscape, summarize key issues interfering with students’ civil rights, and train parents and guardians in effective, pro-human advocacy—including supporting children and teens in developing healthy attitudes around race and identity.
The workshop will take place from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET on each Tuesday evening. Registration is capped at 30 participants, so sign up now to secure your spot!
If you are interested but unable to attend these dates, we will be offering additional FAIR Parent Education Series in the future, so stay tuned!
Unchallengeable Orthodoxy in the Arts Panel Discussion at ASU School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
On Wednesday, November 9th at 5 p.m. MT, join FAIR Founder and President Bion Bartning and FAIR in the Arts Fellows Clifton Duncan, Lincoln Jones, and Winston Marshall along with filmmaker Meg Smaker for a panel discussion titled Unchallengeable Orthodoxy in the Arts.
Hear from artists who found the courage to speak up in the face of overwhelming social pressure, were targeted for doing so, and weathered the storm. Learn how to navigate these new challenges and why it is important to support excellence and creative freedom in the arts.
This event will be live and in-person at the Arizona State University campus, and will also be recorded and posted on the SCETL YouTube channel after the event date and time.
FAIR in Medicine Open House with Bob Ostertag
Join FAIR in Medicine on Thursday, November 10th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an open house featuring author and musician Bob Ostertag. We will discuss Bob’s 2016 book, Sex, Science, and Self: A Social History of Estrogen, Testosterone, and Identity which discusses the complicated relationship between medical innovations, psychology, the sexual revolution, gay rights advocacy, and modern man’s search for an authentic self that suffers less.
Registration is free and open to all!
FAIR Fundraiser: Los Angeles
Join us on Thursday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Berkshire House in Los Angeles, California for a special evening of music, conversation, and celebration!
Featuring FAIR in the Arts Fellows Winston Marshall, Lincoln Jones, and Michelle Pollino, this event is an opportunity to meet FAIR members, Advisors, and volunteers, and directly support FAIR’s pro-human approach to cultural issues.
FAIR Fundraiser: San Francisco
Join us on Saturday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. PT at Villa Taverna in San Francisco, California for a special evening of music, conversation, and celebration.
Featuring FAIR in the Arts Fellows Winston Marshall and FAIR Advisor Michael Shellenberger, this event includes an option for a VIP pre-event cocktail hour.
FAIR Fundraiser: New York City
Join us on Saturday, November 15th at 6:00 p.m. PT at Butterfly in New York City for a special evening of music, conversation, and celebration, featuring FAIR in the Arts Fellows Winston Marshall and Daryl Davis, along with Kevin Ray and Sahar Tartak.
Rights and Responsibilities: A Symposium for School Board Members
The importance of school boards has come to the forefront in recent years. Join us at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells from the evening of Thursday, December 15th to Saturday, December 17th to learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a board member, and how to approach your local community leadership position using FAIR’s principles of fairness, understanding, and humanity.
Presenters include FAIR Advisors Robert Pondiscio, Adam Seagrave, and Zander Keig, along with Cory Brewer, Jennifer Meinhardt, and FAIR Action Fellow Tanya Simons.
Registration is FREE and open to all!
FAIR Perspectives Podcast
This week on Fair Perspectives, we speak with Meg Smaker. Meg is an award-winning American filmmaker and director of Boxeadora, which received critical acclaim as “one of the best boxing films of all time” by Paste Magazine, and most recently The Unredacted, formerly titled Jihad Rehab—her début feature length documentary, which premiered at this year’s Sundance to rave reviews before becoming the subject of a cancelation campaign from a small group of activists.
We discuss her background as a firefighter, how the 9/11 attacks caused her to move to Yemen, learn Arabic, and study Islam, her documentary film and the various criticisms levied against it, the importance of compassion in art and in life, and how you can support Meg and her mission of making the film available so you can make up your own mind.
FAIR News Podcast
For audio versions of our FAIR News and FAIR Weekly Roundup newsletters, subscribe and listen to FAIR News Weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or via RSS feed.
Join the Pro-Human Movement with FAIR Merch!
Sarah Haider: Freedom of Religion Means Respecting the Right to Be Without It
For FAIR’s YouTube channel, Co-Founder of Ex-Muslims of North America Sarah Haider describes the difficulties and intolerance she and many others have faced for leaving and criticizing their religion—from being called a “hate monger” to an “Uncle Tom” to a “house Arab.” Sarah emphasizes that the pro-human values of tolerance, fairness, understanding, and humanity should be extended to all, regardless of their beliefs (or lack thereof).
I don’t think anyone, even those who hate my apostasy, should be silenced. What I ask for is that we stand up for the right to speak for everyone, including both those that stand with us and even those who call for the death of disbelievers. This is what ex-believers like myself from all religions ask for: the freedom to be ourselves. Please stand with us.
FAIR Educators Alliance & Administrators Alliance Happy Hours
Teachers often feel isolated and alone in their schools, but FAIR is here for you! The FAIR Educators Alliance brings together educators from all levels to share experiences and concerns and work on developing resources that can support teachers, community members, and FAIR chapters.
FAIR’s Educator’s Alliance is hosting an informal happy hour every other Thursday evening, alternating between beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, and will hold more formal monthly meetings that will address issues based on your interests and needs.
If you’re a K-12 school administrator, we’re here to support you too! You’re invited to join the FAIR Administrators Alliance, which holds meetings the last Thursday of every month at 1:00 p.m. ET!
All teachers and administrators are welcome! For more information and to subscribe to the calendar, reach out to educators@fairforall.org.
Calling all FAIR Member Librarians and Library Staff! FAIR has established a network for members to connect and discuss key issues affecting their profession, advance pro-human principles, and preserve academic freedoms in library systems. The group meets biweekly.
Please contact tanya.simons@fairforall.org if you are interested in joining!
Join the FAIR Community
Become a FAIR volunteer or join a FAIR chapter:
Join a Welcome to FAIR Zoom information session to learn more about our mission, or watch a previously recorded session in the Members section of www.fairforall.org.
Take the Pro-Human Pledge and help promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.
Join the FAIR community to connect and share information with other members.
Share your reviews and incident reports on our FAIR Transparency website.
It is wonderful watching the number of events increasing. And at a fairly rapid pace. I'm hopeful there will be more events featuring Winston Marshall and Daryl Davis. That would be such an incredible evening, but NY is too far for me to travel.
Double check the date and day for the NYC fundraiser. November 15 is not a Saturday.