The issue at hand.

The Humanist is once again being recognized for its unique journalism. On July 23, 2003, notification was received from Project Censored that Michael Niman's article, "What Bush Didn't Want You to Know about Iraq," which appeared in our March/April 2003 issue, has been chosen as the number three story on Project Censored's list of "Top 25 Censored News Stories of 2002-03." This means the article will be reprinted in the Project Censored yearbook, which details news stories totally missed or inadequately covered by the mainstream media. Furthermore, Dr. Niman will be recognized at a special award ceremony to be held October 4 in California.

You may recall that his article told the story of how the Bush Administration removed over 8,000 pages from the 11,800 page report that Iraq had made in December 2002 detailing its weapons programs. The removed pages documented the role played by the U.S. government--as well as Britain, China, France, and Russia--in having armed Iraq in the first place. The Bush administration then claimed the report was incomplete. And indeed it was--not only because of the removed pages but because it failed to identify weapons the administration believed Iraq had but which, so far since the invasion of that country, don't appear to exist. The article is available online at www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/niman.pdf

Project Censored (www.projectcensored.org) of Sonoma State University in California has, since 1976, sought "to explore and publicize the extent of censorship" in the United States by identifying stories on significant issues about which the public should be, but isn't, aware. The goal of this is to "stimulate responsible journalists to provide more mass media coverage of those issues" as well as inspire the public to demand better media performance or, failing that, to turn to other sources.

Humanist authors have been honored by Project Censored before. Of particular note was Anton Foek, author of our January/February 1997 cover story, "Sweatshop Barbie: Exploitation of Third World Labor." In fact, the Humanist takes it as a regular part of its mission to offer an alternative or a supplement to the mainstream media. After all, the Humanist perspective on current events--not to mention the Humanist lifestance itself--remains a minority viewpoint in need of further expression.

We continue that tradition in this issue as Charlene Gomes supplements standard media coverage on the gay marriage question by making a clear case for the legalization of same-sex marriage. Humanists have long supported equal treatment of gays and this article applies that value to this leading controversy.

Meanwhile Gregory Sharer supplements the mainstream news on Iraq by providing a historical perspective comparing the Bush administration's current justifications for the war and occupation with those used by the United States early in the last century when invading and occupying the Philippines.

Another longstanding Humanist concern is human rights. That's the focus of this issue's cover story. Neve Gordon introduces us to the concept of how nations and corporations, when outsourcing certain types of work, often outsource violations of human rights as well.

As the Humanist continues to apply Humanism to today's issues, thereby supplementing and offering an alternative to typical mass media fare, its authors will continue to win recognition. But we must keep in mind that such recognition is more than a form of praise. It is at the same time a necessary rebuke of both the government and the corporate-controlled media for their failure to have done the job themselves.