vtmarik wrote:I love how we refer to other phenotypes in the same species as a different race.
We're all homo sapiens sapiens, there is no other race on this planet. Sure, we may have different skin color, but that's where the differences end.
What's next, all people with red hair become another race? What about
those with blue eyes? Or maybe people who are taller than the national average?
Of course you are correct Vt. but sometimes an issue needs to be identified or disproved before it can be aided or discarded. What are the causes of African Poverty, Famine and Debt? No one seems to be able to give even close to a useful answer.
Putting to one side the clumsy and mostly irrelevant point made by the scientist, the fact that African Nations are less succesful/cohesive than many parts of the world is sadly unavoidable.
This is due to many factors: Imperialism/ Colonialism, the type of land, Climate.. etc etc.
However, many Nations have similar historical quandaries.
The unsolvable corruption in African Governments appears almost endemic. Their universal fragmentation (there's a paradox) into vying groups is a never-ending cycle of war and retaliation.
Yes this is true of all areas but not usually to the point of self-destruction.. Somewhere, sometime, eventually peace and partnership between government and people is brokered.
I think in a misguided manner the Scientist made his comments in order to help the seemingly unsolvable troubles of much of the African continent.
Could it be that the type of World assistance is indeed counter-productive?
Is Africa just too close to Europe for it to pull itself out of a cycle of exploitation?
Do we offer assistance or back-door economic slavery?
Is there Genetic or cultural difference enough for us to entirely lack understanding of how to help?
Are the peoples of Africa Genetically or culturally different enough from each other, so as to not be able to bond together in the same socially cohesive manner accepted in '1st World ' societies?
Does Africa want our patronising help or would the people of Africa rather get on in their own way?
I have no answers but surely no possibility should be unexplored... because knowing all the other socio-economic hindrances to African development is not helping at the moment.
Back to genetics and racial propensities to intelligence; this is a complete red herring and counter production. It is unprovable and hands itself to supremacist dogma.
It clouds the issue to such a degree that the Scientist in question must now regret his words. He must have been studying the Genome for so long that he has been desensitised to all but raw intellectual pursuit.
bloody-hell. some friends they are...
