Þriðjudaginn, þann 2 maí 2006 19:27 skrifaði Greg Wallace:
Well, though the genetic differences among races is minute, they are there, as you yourself say -- "The tiny handful...". But the difference is, indeed very minute (race is not a taxonomic category), and was caused by the physical environment where the homo sapiens with those characteristics originated. Skin color was an adaptation to differences in UV radiation at the different latitudes. Dark skin reflects UV more than light skin, so those peoples whose origins were in the tropical regions developed darker skin to cut back on the UV absorption of their skins. Conversely, those living in the lower and upper latitudes developed lighter skin to be able to absorb more UV. So, in essence, I agree with you that the differences among races are miniscule, but that to say that one who believes there is such a thing as race is racism is, I believe, going a bit too far.
If we go back to "biblical" times, and think of Gods "damnation" to the people of Babylon, where all the people stopped talking the same language and went Coo Coo, because they couldn't understand each other. Well, in reality, there is such a language base ... we in Europe can call it "Germanic". The Russians, I hear, want to tell the story of "Lech", "Val" and I forget who the third is ... but those of us who want to call ourselves scientific minded, are not bound to religious mind filtering. We call this "evolution", and where evolution steps in ... it's basically genes. The result is, and always will be ... we elvoved, and we evolved to a state, where it is not merely our different looks, our different height. The fact that some of us grow "end teeth" and some of us don't. The fact that some do get bald, others get a hairline around the top ... others have the hair thin up each end of the forehead. Nor the fact, that some of us often have big feet ... and that others don't have the actual correct ratio between legs and body (short legs, or long legs). Or the fact that we've grown different thought processes. Where some of us are basically democratic by birth, while others will never be no matter how much democratic schooling they go through. Of course, through thousands of years of mixing, we got mixed genes and evolution will always turn up a nasty surprise wherever we are, and whatever color of our skin... but if you think, that the difference in races is merely based on skin color, you are way out in la la land. We europeans may have the same skin color, but you and I are about as alike, as dogs and cats, and about as related. And as stated in a different letter, we have both the right of self determination, and the right to govern ourselves. Which means, that I don't have to tolerate being oppressed by you or your choice of government. Which basically gives me and those of equal mind, the right to differentiate ourselves and remove ourselves from a state of existance we consider hostile to our existance, and it also gives us the right to fight for our state of existence as a group. But it does not give you the right to oppress us, by forcing anyone to live under conditions they don't want to approve of. The right of self determination, is one of foundations of democracy.
Greg Wallace