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I was invited by the Progressive Democrats of America(a group seeking to reform the Democratic party) to speak at the Emergency Rally to Stop Iraq Escalation. I spoke in front of about 60 people and TV news crews. (The shot above is me at the podium.) 
Here is what I said:

Hello everyone. Thank you for attending this Emergency Rally to Stop Iraq Escalation. I am honored to be able to share my views with you.
My name is Ty Reay and I am an ordained minister of Humanism. I believe the answer to our problems in Iraq isn't sending more troops in. I think the answer is in peaceful negotiations and allowing each group in Iraq the opportunity to air their views without the Media's editing. Peace is possible in Iraq and world wide for that matter,  if our Government chooses to lead the way through peaceful negotiations using Humanism as a medium.

The terroristic tactics now being used in Iraq, against our troops, are mostly being carried out by insurgents. Al Quada was not present in Iraq at the onset of this war. They were drawn there, by our presence, but are now mostly gone. The situation has change to a civil war between different groups of peoples in Iraq, with our troops stuck in the middle.
I believe dividing the country and giving each element thier own area to govern is one solution, along with bringing Humanistic concepts to all of the factions and encouraging peace through compromise and mutual respect. Humanism is not to be used as a replacement of a person's religion. It is a concept that I feel could be adapted to bring all peoples together in a common cause.
  I have also formed a Progressive Humanist group, on the internet, as a way to bring all races, religions, and political associations together. It is in no way insultive to anyone's current beliefs and is meant to give each religion and ethnic group, a place to compromise based on compassion and reason.
The only thing I have changed, in this type of humanism, is the original belief, in the Humanist Manifesto III, that Humanists must not believe in anything supernatural. I think every person, of every religion, should agree that we must respect other people's views concerning religion, ethnic values, and supernatural beliefs.We should encourage everyone to learn about earth sciences and the concepts of Humanism. If their views clash with currently held scientific beliefs, we should agree to allow each individual the right to choose what they think is the correct understanding of these beliefs and views. We can find a way to bring everyone together.
I do think we should encourage all peoples, of all religions, to learn about these earth sciences and then let them decide which supernatural beliefs will still hold true. Each person on this earth should be able to have thier own religion, beliefs, and should be allowed to draw their own conclusions.    
The life stance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience—encourages us to live life well and fully. It is important that we recognize that values and ideals, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance.
Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis.

Using this Humanistic view it is evident that the decision by our President to insert more troops is,  a big mistake. The People of the United States have shown their lack of support of this war by voting to change our Congress in the November election. Yet our President has ignored our views and plans to send in many more troops. Unfourtunately, because of our low number of total troops, we maybe very close to another draft.
A recent poll taken on Jan. 7th of this year, shows that only 7% of Americans back the President's decision to sent more troops to Iraq. Were does this leave the other 93% of us? I emplore each and every person to write their elected officals and ask them to oppose this decision to insert more troops into Iraq. It has been argued that the Iraqis are unable to come to a peace agreement on their own. If we are to help them become a nation of inter-peace we, as Americans, should be the ones to set the stage and lead the way by attempting to bring together all the peoples of Iraq. The only feasable way I can see to do this is through compassion, reason, and informed experience.

Humans are an integral part of nature. Our world was not put here to use as we see fit. It is a ecological time bomb and unfortunately, right now, Humans are the fuse. We should recognize nature as self-existing. We should push for alternative fuel sources, such as bio fuels, and wind and water generation and also the total demise of nuclear weapons.
Trillions are spent on war that could be used to feed poor people, educate the uneducated and to help us make our planet a better place to live.
 We should all long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence.
We should be concerned for the well being of all, and respect those of differing yet humane views. We need to try and bring humane values to those who have little or none. 
The global community doesn't view us as the just nation we claim to be. We have shot off thousands of tons of Denatured Uranium, using tank buster rounds, all over Iraq. Babies are born everyday with severe deformities caused by our use of a weapon deemed by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction. Our own men are starting to get sick also. Job one should be to clean up this mess and show the people of Iraq we are really there to help, not kill. Outlawing these weapons all together is also paramount.
I believe we should work to convince our government that our current actions are barbaric at best and to adapt a plan to use a humane compromise in bringing peace to, not only to Iraq, but all of the Middle East and the rest of the World. The first step is for Mr. Bush to stop futher deployment of troops.
The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone.
Democracy must be learned through compassion and proper education rather than forced through war.

I hope everyone will consider presenting these concepts to all our world leaders and adapting these compassionate rules for life everywhere. Only through compassion and reason can the leaders of this world finally work out their differences enough to have world peace. Bringing thousands of troops into an area that is already a killing ground is not the answer. Adapting a plan to truely help the people of Iraq find peace and health is the correct course of action.                                        
I have written a letter, available to everyone on the internet, to be sent to our world leaders. I hope everyone will read it and send a copy to our elected officials, religious leaders, and Mr. Bush.

To join or view our group, or to get a copy of this letter,  please take a copy of the link to our group. Everyone is encouraged to join and warmly welcome.  Please share this link with everyone you know, and ask them to send letters too!
Thank you for your time. Many blessings to all and most of all, Peace!
 

Our world is a beautiful place. Please do whatever you can to help protect her.  Peace,   Rev. Ty

Please help save the Arctic from big oil

Only Three Days Left to Save America’s Arctic Seas
The American Arctic is currently under assault by the Bush Administration and Big Oil’s insatiable appetite for oil. Home to half of the nation’s fisheries, endangered whales, polar bears, walrus and endangered seabirds, our Arctic seas are now being targeted for unprecedented oil drilling and exploration. The Bush Administration and companies such as Shell Oil are planning to open the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas to oil exploration and drilling in their shortsighted “drill everywhere” proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program for 2007- 2012.

Oil exploration, drilling and heavy transportation would disproportionately impact subsistence communities, irreparably devastate the world’s largest salmon run, destroy critical whale habitats, and perpetuate the stresses already created by global warming on the Arctic. Furthermore, oil companies have failed to demonstrate the ability to cleanup oil spills in the icy Arctic climate.

We only have three days left to stop this reckless development and protect the Arctic for future generations. But the Bush Administration doesn’t want to hear what you have to say about his plans for the American Arctic. Despite the magnitude of this decision, email comments are not being accepted! But we will not be silenced and neither should you!

Sign on to this letter and we will hand deliver it to the Mineral Management Services!
 
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/pacificenvironment/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5915

Also, it can't hurt to contact your Elected officals!
Senate and House e-mails: http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm

 Hello to all Members! Thanks for being here. Also Hello to all who are considering joining our group. Please accept our warm welcome.

 I have formed this group as a way to bring all races, religions, and political associations together. It is in no way insultive to anyone's current beliefs.
 I am going to call this the Humanist Manifesto IV. I hope no one finds this insulting or thinks I have over stepped my bounds. I am not trying to change anything other than the original belief, in the Humanist Manifesto III, that Humanists must not believe in anything supernatural. I think we should all agree that we must respect other people's views concerning religion, ethnic values, and supernatural beliefs. If these views clash with currently held scientific beliefs, we should agree to allow each individual the right to choose what they think is the correct understanding of these beliefs and views. We should encourage everyone to learn about earth sciences and the concepts of Humanism. 
 I believe it is paramount, to the success of spreading Progessive Humanism worldwide, that we allow each person their own views on these subjects. We further agree to try and spread Progressive Humanism to all the world's leaders, Political and Religious. We will strive to bring peace to the world and encourage all peoples, and their leaders, to adapt Progessive Humanism as a way of life, not a religion. All who embrace this brand of Progessive Humanism must agree to these terms.    
                                                 
Rev. of Progressive Humanism, Ty Reay

Dear________________________,

I support worldwide Progressive Humanism. Please support the Humanist Manifesto IV and religious and ethnic equality. Our differences should be worked out through reason and compassion. Please take a look at the Following document:

Humanist Manifesto IV
 *Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

The life stance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience—encourages us to live life well and fully. It evolved through the ages and continues to develop through the efforts of thoughtful people who recognize that values and ideals, however carefully wrought, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance.

This document is part of an ongoing effort to manifest in clear and positive terms the conceptual boundaries of Humanism, not what we must believe but a consensus of what we do believe. It is in this sense that we affirm the following:

Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies. We also recognize the value of new departures in thought, the positive sides of religions, the arts, and inner experience—each subject to analysis by critical intelligence.

Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing. We accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to be known.

Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.
 Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. We aim for our fullest possible development and animate our lives with a deep sense of purpose, finding wonder and awe in the joys and beauties of human existence, its challenges and tragedies, and even in the inevitability and finality of death. Humanists rely on the rich heritage of human culture and the life stance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty.

Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.

Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.

Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views. We work to uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties, worldwide, in an open, secular society and maintain it is a civic duty to participate in the democratic process and a planetary duty to protect nature’s integrity, diversity, and beauty in a secure, sustainable manner.

Thus engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision with the informed conviction that humanity has the ability to progress toward its highest ideals. The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone. *

We feel that religious and ethnic tolerance must be agreed upon by all. Keeping ones core religious and moral values is encouraged but certain outdated views must be altered to actually come to a compromise. This is the only feasible way to bring true, free democracy to the whole world. Earth sciences should be accepted in order to get every one on board to save our planet and ultimately, humanity. Democracy must be learned through compassion and proper education rather than forced through war.
Please consider extending this concept to other world leaders and adapting these compassionate rules for life to your current beliefs. Only through compassion and reason can the leaders of this world finally work out thier differences enough to have world peace.

Thank you for your consideration.  
Sincerely, __________________


 

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Humanism 

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