The Humanist March/April 2000 Volume 60, Number 2

Cover Story:

Humanity's Juncture: Abandoning the Road of War for the Road to Peace

by Douglas Mattern

Although many bright predictions have been offered for humanity's future in this new millennium, none will come to pass if we don't take action now to solve the problems that remain the twentieth century's legacy. Nearly 6,000 nuclear weapons around the world stand on "alert" status, over twenty-five armed conflicts rage across the globe, and nearly a third of our natural world has been destroyed since 1970. To succeed at change, we need to take advantage of the millennial mood while that window of opportunity remains open.

Abandon the Rod and Save the Child

by Nadine Block

Unlike much of Europe, the United States continues to allow adults to beat children in the name of discipline. But corporal punishment opponents are finally making progress toward abolishing this tradition-bound practice.

NATO's "Humanitarian" War: Notes on the Aftermath

by Michael Parenti

To the U.S. mainstream media, when a foreign war ends so does the news coverage. But for those who must resume their lives in the defeated nation, the tragedy has only begun—as becomes clear from a firsthand look at life in Yugoslavia.

Resistance is Not Futile

by Barbara Dority

A winter of discontent in Seattle, Washington, has sparked a growing international backlash against the World Trade Organization—demonstrating not only the harmful consequences of WTO policies, but the power of ordinary people.

Media Myths and World Trade

by John Buell

The corporately controlled mainstream media continues to present a one-sided portrait of World Trade Organization policies, despite the tens of thousands of people who protested against them in November 1999 in Seattle. Here we sort out the fact from the fiction.

Reflections on Jasper: Resisting History

by Ashraf H. A. Rushdy

Do we need hate crimes legislation in the United States? Opponents say "no" and give various reasons—all of which can be answered. But the passage of the Hate Crimes Act alone won't be enough. The root causes of these crimes still must be addressed.

Where Have All the Abnormal People Gone?

by F. Allan Hanson

What does it mean to be abnormal in society? Although this designation may be less common today for people belonging to previously stigmatized groups, new attitudes regarding who gets labeled and why indicate an ominous trend.

Copyright © 2002, the American Humanist Association