Defending socialism

The Center for Inquiry, among whom are secular humanists in Tampa, invited Brian Moore, who ran for president of the United States for the Socialist Party, to address their group of brilliant, diverse men and women whose tenants for inquiry center around science, research and free thinking, their literature says.

Because my own interests span enormous chasms, I joined Brian. The leap of faith to accept church-oriented phenomenon and miracles requires some pause for reflection and skepticism for this organization. This group of professors, physicists, attorneys, teachers and retired folks still in an inquisitive and learning curve, urge diversity of views and urged Brian to address them based on their having had a libertarian the previous month at the group's regular meetings.

Their organization is registered as a 501-C and is a movement across the country with a chapter in Tampa. Books line their shelves for sale that deal with the environment, philosophy, revolutions and secular movements meant to change social norms. Most are liberals and some belong to Democrat executive committees, more to the left than not. A few could accept a role as socialist democrats, so strong is their conviction that corporate control of our economy and politics is a major flaw in our democracy and the cause of the recent debacle that nearly collapsed our financial structures in America and throughout the global economic societies dependent on our amazing economic potential.

Brian had to defend the principles espoused in his pure ideology of socialism and, as usual, was so assertive that the purity of these principles was preserved in the origins of socialism's most successful period in the 1920s here and throughout Europe.

Wavering toward socialist democratic principles would have equivocated his energetic, dynamic surge to convert as many to the principles of socialism as he can persuade.

Naturally, the Center for Inquiry could sponsor a chapter in the Hernando County communities of Spring Hill or Brooksville. If interested, contact Rick O'Kiefe, Center for Inquiry, 5201 Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 124, Tampa, Fla., 33609 or wwcfiflorida.org.

Deron Mikal

Brooksville