Race

[Thorne]

It's about the terms we use and the ideology behind them and the clearer vision we could have if we stopped misnaming things and saw them more clearly.

And yet you would have us ignore basic, fundamental biological differences between humans just so we can have this "clearer vision"? That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater, isn't it?

Shall we also stop using the terms male and female, just because some people associate females with lower intelligence or lesser abilities or some other derogatory features? Shall we burn all the copies of "Huckleberry Finn" just because Twain uses the term "nigger" in the book?

The negative associations that people have are not caused by the words they are using, but by their own ignorance. Better to educate them in the true meanings of words and the scientific truths of the equality of the human races.

[Pearlgem]

And yet you would have us ignore basic, fundamental biological differences between humans just so we can have this "clearer vision"? That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater, isn't it?

Shall we also stop using the terms male and female, just because some people associate females with lower intelligence or lesser abilities or some other derogatory features? Shall we burn all the copies of "Huckleberry Finn" just because Twain uses the term "nigger" in the book?

The negative associations that people have are not caused by the words they are using, but by their own ignorance. Better to educate them in the true meanings of words and the scientific truths of the equality of the human races.

Do you really think that the ridiculous things you propose equate in any way with my pointing out that there is in fact only one human race?

[Thorne]

Do you really think that the ridiculous things you propose equate in any way with my pointing out that there is in fact only one human race?

Do you really think that the ridiculous things you propose equate in any way with my pointing out that there is in fact only one human race?

Do you really think that denying that the human race is composed of biologically diverse and identifiable sub-groups will solve racism? You can call them whatever you like: races, ethnic groups, sub groups, whatever. Hell, call them banana daqueries if you like. It doesn't change the fact that, for example, any competent medical student can differentiate between Mongoloid, Negroid or Caucasians, just by examining the skulls!

True, there are many, many blends of these 'races', and the blending is growing more and more common as the years progress, and that's a good thing, both socially and genetically. But at this point in time there are still many differences, physically and genetically, between the groups.

And none of it has anything to do with racism! Racism is a strictly social and emotional issue, not a genetic one. It's an issue we must fight every day, and keep on fighting to eradicate it. But let's not try to hide the truth in politically correct statements which sound good but have no real meat to them. Are there differences between us? Absolutely, and that's a good thing. Do these differences make someone else better or worse than me? Absolutely NOT!

[Pearlgem]

Do you really think that denying that the human race is composed of biologically diverse and identifiable sub-groups will solve racism?

Wish I could claim that I thought the problem of 'racism' could be solved just by thinking about our use of a word.

You can call them whatever you like: races, ethnic groups, sub groups, whatever. Hell, call them banana daqueries if you like. It doesn't change the fact that, for example, any competent medical student can differentiate between Mongoloid, Negroid or Caucasians, just by examining the skulls!

Is there variety among humans? Of course, I would hardly deny this. I'm just claiming that this variety isn't racial variety. We ascribe too much difference and otherness and perhaps superiority through the unexamined use of this word. Many do this on the most spurious and superficial of physical or cultural evidence, not even post mortem examination!

True, there are many, many blends of these 'races', and the blending is growing more and more common as the years progress, and that's a good thing, both socially and genetically. But at this point in time there are still many differences, physically and genetically, between the groups.

And none of it has anything to do with racism! Racism is a strictly social and emotional issue, not a genetic one. It's an issue we must fight every day, and keep on fighting to eradicate it. But let's not try to hide the truth in politically correct statements which sound good but have no real meat to them. Are there differences between us? Absolutely, and that's a good thing. Do these differences make someone else better or worse than me? Absolutely NOT!

You argue unnecessarily for how could I, or anyone reasonable, disagree that xenophobia is a bad thing? I'm not for discrimination just because I draw attention to the use of a word, so do you think you could take that as read and focus more on the use of language which is the reason I started this thread?

You can turn this into a thread on political correctness if you like, but labeling something you disagree with as PC does not make it so, and tends to stymie the actual argument.

[Ragoczy]

Do you really think that the ridiculous things you propose equate in any way with my pointing out that there is in fact only one human race?

But that's simply not factual. Humanity is a species (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human): Homo Sapiens (Sapiens).