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American Humanist Association Board Statement Withdrawing Honor from Richard Dawkins

Established in 1953, the Humanist of the Year Award is conferred annually by the American Humanist Association (AHA), recognizing the awardee as an exemplar of humanist values. Communication of scientific concepts to the public is an important aspect of advancing the cause of humanism. Richard Dawkins was honored in 1996 by the AHA as Humanist of the Year for his significant contributions in this area.

Regrettably, Richard Dawkins has over the past several years accumulated a history of making statements that use the guise of scientific discourse to demean marginalized groups, an approach antithetical to humanist values. His latest statement implies that the identities of transgender individuals are fraudulent, while also simultaneously attacking Black identity as one that can be assumed when convenient. His subsequent attempts at clarification are inadequate and convey neither sensitivity nor sincerity.

Consequently, the AHA Board has concluded that Richard Dawkins is no longer deserving of being honored by the AHA, and has voted to withdraw, effective immediately, the 1996 Humanist of the Year award.

4/19/21
https://americanhumanist.org/news/ameri ... d-dawkins/

"Withdrawing Honor" sounds much more serious than "Withdrawing Award." I don't know what to make of this without seeing Dawkins' "latest statement." He has been attacked as being anti-Islamic, but he and the other four horsemen denounce other religions with the same fervor.

I don't know what he said that wasn't true. He said we call a transgender female a female out of kindness. What's false about that? That is EXACTLY what we do. If I choose to not be kind about it, the situation would turn toxic pretty quickly. And there are a lot of people who do indeed choose not to be kind about it.

As for blacks, it has been a pretty convenient thing as of late--demanding justice for George Floyd and denouncing the racism of society and then turning around and yelling "Fucking chink!" and knocking an API woman down and kicking her while screaming at her to back to China. Yeah. I would say that black identity is pretty convenient under those circumstances.

In 2015, Rachel Dolezal, a white chapter president of NAACP, was vilified for identifying as Black. Some men choose to identify as women, and some women choose to identify as men. You will be vilified if you deny that they literally are what they identify as.

Discuss.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) April 10, 2021

That appears to be the tweet that did it. Gender dysphoria is a psychiatric condition where one's gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth. What other psychiatric conditions are denied by non-professionals? Do we agree with Rush Limbaugh that Tourette's Syndrome does not exist, it's a label that allows extraordinarily rude people to cuss out everyone for no reason? Is depression just a cover for laziness? "There's nothing wrong with you, fer gawdz sake just find the nearest bootstrap and start yanking!"

I don't know why he mentioned Rachel Dolezal. I recall only one or two people that have tried that sort of thing, so not significant.

“It was also not my intent to ally in any way with Republican bigots in US now exploiting this issue,” (Dawkins) said in response to criticism.

Perhaps this is another example of where an expert in one area (zoology, ethology, evolution = YES) is gradually asked for opinions in broader areas away from core competence and gets into trouble (psychiatry = NO). Dawkins obviously relishes a debate, so he may have just set this up as something, as he tweeted, to "Discuss."

I'm not seeing anything said by Dawkins as offensive or insensitive. AHA is going too far left as is the Democratic party, IMO. Things are getting out of control with this political correctness stuff.

There is an incredibly aggressive and intolerant ideology among the woke that vilifies any criticism of biological men who claim to be women in order to use women's public toilets and compete unfairly in women's sporting events. As a biologist, Dawkins seems to be falling foul of the identitist ideology that asserts biology can be completely ignored. This attack on his right to free speech is anti-humanist, showing how the totalitarians have taken over the humanist association.

Just a question from me. Is biological sex the same as gender?

Mr. Pessimistic wrote:Just a question from me. Is biological sex the same as gender?

I found this VERY clear from a credible source:

Sex and gender can be considered in biological and cultural ways. Biological sex refers to a person’s anatomy. Typically, a biological male has a penis and testes. A biological female has a vagina and ovaries.

Gender is rooted more in culture and environment. Most cultures have social customs and activities that are associated with males and females. For example, children may be given certain gender-specific toys to play with. In some cultures, this might mean toy cars and trucks for boys and dolls and dress-up clothes for girls. Likewise, the children might be raised to take on certain roles – or have certain expectations – as adults, based on their gender.

In general terms, the word transgender refers to people who identify differently from their biological sex. For example, a transgender person who is biologically female may feel that a male identity is a better fit and take the following steps:
• Use a male name instead of a female name.
• Use male pronouns instead of female pronouns.
• Dress as a man.
• Engage in activities that are typically associated with men in that culture.

A transsexual is a person who physically transitions from male to female or vice versa.

For more info:
https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/ ... ansgender/

LevV wrote:

Mr. Pessimistic wrote:Just a question from me. Is biological sex the same as gender?

I found this VERY clear from a credible source:

Sex and gender can be considered in biological and cultural ways. Biological sex refers to a person’s anatomy. Typically, a biological male has a penis and testes. A biological female has a vagina and ovaries.

Gender is rooted more in culture and environment. Most cultures have social customs and activities that are associated with males and females. For example, children may be given certain gender-specific toys to play with. In some cultures, this might mean toy cars and trucks for boys and dolls and dress-up clothes for girls. Likewise, the children might be raised to take on certain roles – or have certain expectations – as adults, based on their gender.

In general terms, the word transgender refers to people who identify differently from their biological sex. For example, a transgender person who is biologically female may feel that a male identity is a better fit and take the following steps:
• Use a male name instead of a female name.
• Use male pronouns instead of female pronouns.
• Dress as a man.
• Engage in activities that are typically associated with men in that culture.

A transsexual is a person who physically transitions from male to female or vice versa.

For more info:
https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/ ... ansgender/

Excellent reply. Waiting to hear others thoughts as well.

I am not upset with Dawkins, however I am not upset at the AHA either. Dawkins has a point, AHA has a future.

I agree that the far left (whoever the fuck that may be) is going a bit too far for my liking and the Uber PC shit is a ball and chain on future progress. It will still happen, but it's being hindered rather than helped with all the new outrages every day.

IMO, they are actually hurting progress that has been made. Opinions that go against what one believes must still be admitted to the convo, or its not a convo and you can find yourself guilty of the same ignorance you are fighting against.

We deserve to hear the other side. Yes deserve. How else can we fully understand our positions?

With that said, I am much more tolerant of the 'left' because the 'right' today consists of hideous and horrible people. People who use their religion, rather than live it. People who outright hate and do not accept anything other than what they want to be real. People who, as can be easily shown... So much so that I WILL NOT, were practicing cancel culture and a twisting of message for centuries to oppress people who they did not like or accept. Because basically, the right is out of their minds and they do not care.

The hysteria about bathrooms has been going on for years and I still cannot understand it. Why would anyone require this woman to use the men's bathroom?