July 2, 2003
Club debates ethical issues
Ethics Club meets weekly at Traverse City Senior Center
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Is assisted suicide murder or death with dignity? When someone unintentionally causes harm what is an ethical response?
These are just a few of the issues that members of the Ethics Club discuss weekly at the Traverse City Senior Center. Approaching their first year anniversary later this month, the group formed to provide a forum for civil discussion on challenging topics. As 22 people delved into a discussion of assisted suicide Thursday morning, passionate ideas and thoughts were shared and discussed but conversation always remained cordial.
For founder Joyce Braeuninger of Peninsula Township, agreeing to disagree about subjects is necessary to a robust ethics discussion. She keeps civility in the forefront when facilitating the weekly discussions, creating an ongoing example of ethics in action.
"I wanted to have a chance to discuss issues of everyday living," said Braeuninger, who is a member of the American Ethical Union. "Our goal is to practice what we preach, which is to respect and enjoy each other. Those are the two words I keep in my mind every week."
The majority of the attendees are senior citizens, who enjoy the intellectual challenge and social opportunity of the weekly meetings. They can participate in the discussion or just listen, either way they can learn something about themselves and others in the group.
"I just love to listen to everybody's opinions," said Loretta Ritchie of Traverse City. "Everyone can seem to discuss everything and not bristle, maybe because we've lived so long. It is a fun and enjoyable time."
Not everyone fits the bill of wisdom acquired through the passage of years, however.
Steve King is 38 and has been a regular attendee for the past year. He learned of the group through a kind act of one of the members. King was wrestling with his boat at Hull Park one windy day last summer, struggling to keep it under control. A member of the Ethics Club noticed King's efforts from a window in the Traverse Area District Library. This member saw an opportunity to practice living ethics and walked over to help King - a complete stranger at the time - regain control of his boat.
King was so impressed by this man's commitment to ethical behavior that he began regularly attending meetings of the Ethics Club. His flexible work schedule as an accountant allows him to carve out an hour during a busy weekday morning.
"Ethics and morality have always interested me because it is a bedrock of how we behave," said King, who hopes to teach a business ethics class in the future. "This is an open forum where judgments are not made and people are open to have their own opinions."
"It is a great group and a way to keep on top of what's going on in the world," he noted.
Group members suggest topics for future discussion and Braeuninger always has some ideas in reserve in case discussion peters out. She also invites attendees to suggest topics the day of the meeting if some current event caught their attention and merits discussion.
Discussion topics over the past year have included reproductive responsibility, surrogate motherhood, affirmative action, the war in Iraq, capital punishment of minors and the morality of helping. Other more philosophical discussions have ranged from truthfulness, trust and the law to non-violence, peace and even a definition of ethics.
"I do love hearing people's experiences because they have a wealth of knowledge and the people always share their personal experiences," Braeuninger said. "There are endless topics and it kind of progresses as it goes."
The Ethics Club meets every Thursday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Traverse City Senior Center, 801 E. Front St. For more information on the club, call the Traverse City Senior Center at 922-4911.