(April 28, 2015 at 1:32 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: Most of us KNOW the concept of race is largely a thing of superficial things like skin color. Even then, there IS an environmental issue where people with light skin would be much more susceptible to deadly conditions like melanoma in the tropic regions and people with dark skin would be at much greater risk for inadequate vitamin A absorption in polar latitudes. Ignoring that is ignoring science.
People should be aware that in the whole, there are very few genetic differences from any of us. Any intellectually tested differences between an Australian aborigine and an Eskimo are likely to be environmentally based. It would be a mistake to ignore that there ARE evolutionary differences. I don't think these differences are remotely applicable as indicators of who is more fit for employment or leadership, however. Those things must ALWAYS be based on individual merit.
We should not be afraid of the undeniable and mostly trivial differences between us. We are all people. There may be differences of average ability between those of us of different "races" but even then, one should always place foremost value on the capabilities of the INDIVIDUAL.
BINGO.....
I love our species empathetic side in our diversity, but I hate that part of our empathetic side that while well intended actually gives cover to the dark side of our evolution, our tribalism.
When humans talk of traditions and nationalism and ideology and religion and skin color, it is a failure to see DNA proves we are all related. Shakespeare said it and so did Sagan, all this is meaningless outside trying to extend the only home we have.
