FAIR News: "Anti-race(ism)" that actually works
Newsletter
Dear friends of FAIR,
This past weekend I flew to Lexington, Massachusetts to attend a day-long conference called Resolving the Race(ism) Dilemma, which FAIR was proud to sponsor alongside organizations such as Free Black Thought, An Omni-American Future, and others.
The event was organized and led by FAIR Advisors Greg Thomas and Dr. Sheena Mason, along with Dr. Carlos Hoyt, and focused on what Dr. Mason would call “anti-race(ism).” This is the belief, which I wholeheartedly share, that in order to truly overcome racism in our society we must first and foremost accept the fact that we are all part of one human race, and stop seeing ourselves as interchangeable members of distinct “race groups.”
This is the foundation of FAIR’s pro-human message and approach: Every person is a unique individual with value, and we are united by our shared humanity. And this is why the currently fashionable and misguided attempts to oppose racism by encouraging “race consciousness” and “racial affinity” are doomed to fail. We simply cannot hope to end racism while simultaneously making the flattening, dehumanizing, and limiting concept of “race” more salient, more consequential, and more fundamental to our thinking, our behavior, and our identity.
I left the conference inspired, and it reminded me just how important it is for all of us to help grow and sustain this incredible network of people committed to FAIR’s mission of advancing individual civil rights and liberties, and promoting a common culture based on fairness, understanding and humanity.
Dr. Hoyt mentioned at one point that he once felt totally alone, and that it heartened him to have colleagues like Dr. Mason and Greg Thomas join him in this pursuit. I couldn’t agree more. I feel equally heartened by each and every one of you. However discouraged you may feel at times by the current cultural trends, have faith that there are more people on the side of fairness, understanding, and humanity than not.
Yours,
Bion
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Bion Bartning
bion@fairforall.org
Pro-Human Tour Stop: Washington, D.C.
Join us on Monday, October 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET for a chance to join the pro-human movement in person and engage in an evening of discussion about applying FAIR’s principles to a polarized world.
You’ll also have an opportunity to enjoy the musical talent of the legendary musician and FAIR Advisor Daryl Davis, along with FAIR’s founder and President Bion Bartning, FAIR’s Director of Messaging & Editorial Angel Eduardo, Constitutional law expert Johnny Davis, members of the FAIR D.C. and Virginia chapters, and FAIR-minded people from the D.C. metro area.
Registration is free and open to all!
FREE Webinar: Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Its Impact on Clinical Care
Join FAIR in Medicine on Thursday, October 18th at 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET for our FREE webinar, Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Its Impact on Clinical Care, hosted by FAIR Advisor and Senior Fellow Zander Keig.
The featured panelists are Dr. Lisa Littman, a physician-scientist researching gender dysphoria and detransition; Teva Johnstone, psychotherapist and children's mental health consultant; and Stella O'Malley, psychotherapist and executive director of Genspect, an advocacy group which provides resources and education on the best practices for gender dysphoria.
Tickets are free and registration is now open!
Pro-Human Tour Stop: Twin Cities
Please join FAIR’s Twin Cities chapter on Saturday, October 15th at 9:00 a.m. CT for the next stop on the Pro-Human Tour, featuring author, educator, and FAIR Advisor Wilfred Reilly, and FAIR in Medicine Director Dr. Carrie Mendoza.
Professor Reilly will discuss his book, Taboo: The 10 Facts You Can’t Talk About, and Dr. Mendoza will share her views on current trends in medicine, including the recent heightened focus on race and gender in healthcare.
This event will also be an opportunity to connect with the FAIR Twin Cities chapter for the latest updates and information, and how you can join the pro-human movement!
Registration is free and open to all!
Pro-Human Tour Stop: Evanston, Illinois
Join FAIR’s Founder and President Bion Bartning along with FAIR Advisors Daryl Davis, Monica Harris, and Jason Hill for an evening of music and conversation about FAIR’s pro-human approach to addressing social issues and uniting our communities.
The event will also feature music by Daryl Davis, FAIR in Medicine Fellow Robert Graboyes, and Nashville musician and Chicago native Madeline Kelsen.
This event will take place on October 18th from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CT. Registration is now open.
Please email us at gavin.coon@fairforall.org if you have any questions.
Zoom Conversation with FAIR Legal
Want to know more about FAIR's legal advocacy work and speak directly with the lawyers who are making it happen?
Join us at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 20th for a lively, interactive conversation with FAIR Advisor Samantha Harris and her law partner Michael Allen of Allen Harris Law, as well as FAIR legal network attorney Dan Cragg from Eckland & Blando in Minneapolis, and Letitia Kim, Leigh Ann O'Neill, and Reid Newton from FAIR's in-house legal team.
Registration is FREE and open to all.
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.
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 Perspectives Podcast
This week on Fair Perspectives, we speak with Nick Gillespie. Nick is an editor at large at Reason, the libertarian magazine of "free minds and free markets," and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie. He serves on the board for Ideas Beyond Borders, and is the co-author, with Matt Welch, of The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America.
We discuss what libertarianism is and is not, its relationship to anarchism, the role of the state in an ideal society, the lack of a unifying social or political narrative, libertarianism's successes in the West, the rise of China as a world power, social media and the tensions between libertarian views on private companies versus free expression, Francis Fukuyama and our crisis of identity, and more.
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.
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 Chapter Events
Chapter Events
September 29th:
FAIR Mississippi Chapter Launch
7:00 p.m. CT
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 Thursday evening—beginning tonight, September 29th—at 8:00 p.m. ET, and 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 is holding its next meeting TONIGHT, Thursday September 29th at 1:00 p.m. ET!
All teachers and administrators are welcome!
For more information, contact educators@fairforall.org.
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.
This is the way. Thank you.
Anti racists rely heavily on stereotyping as did real racists in the past. Bion and others will hopefully be successful in bringing scorn to those who choose to stereotype for they use this tactic to keep this country divided