I havent watched this video yet, but I certainly agree with the point the title is making with the caveat that race is a very broad brush indeed (I am what is commonly called mixed race myself). Thinking in terms of genetic ancestry, ancestral population, or some similar term is probably more helpful. So while I cant endorse all or part of the content until viewing, I categorically stand by the statement I made in public, under my own name, five months ago in defence of Charles Murray ... as well as intellectual honesty, academic integrity, and free speech. nationalreview/article/348323/defense-jason-richwine#comment-901407193 Absolutely one of the best articles on intellectual honesty, academic freedom, and the bullying tribal groupthink taking over the tradition of free speech. Charles Murray is a great thinker and caring man who suffered a heavy price for pursuing his work openly and honestly. Jason Richwine has already paid a hefty price for his good scholarly work. In my own way, Ive paid a heavy price by sometimes self-suppressing due to the heavy climate of intimidation in this culture for saying provably true, but unpopular, things and the negative emotions that result, at least in part, from that suppression of expressing the truth about the world as one sees it — with the best of intentions. Im through with that. Society, with its bigotry and unreason, will probably deny me opportunities and it may well do much worse to me, but the truth is still the truth no matter how much I and anyone else wishes things to be otherwise. There are many things I would change about nature (illness, accidents, estrangement, suffering, and unwanted death come to mind), but nature did not consult my wishes during its formation, which long proceeded me. I love and have loved people of many different ancestral histories: Im of mixed ancestry myself with some being native to North America and more coming from Europe, which should not matter, but apparently race is super important to some people. The fact is nature is an engine for diversity, not for sameness. Evolution via natural selection simply had no mechanism for keeping all human groups identical in every respect, except cosmetic, while being separated for tens of thousands of years, interbreeding with different Homo sapiens subspecies (some of our ancestors interbred with neanderthalensis: others didnt; the Human Genome Project makes this clear), and being subjected to tremendously different natural environments ranging from the arctic to the tropics. With respect, nature simply doesnt work that way. It not only doesnt, **it cant**. The common opinion on this is not even possible, much less likely. Nothing — absolutely nothing about what Im saying — means we cant still communicate with, love, befriend, work alongside, and cheer for our fellow humans of both genders, any permutations thereof, all ages, and all places of ancestry. We do not have to throw out the truth in order to have love and shared brotherhood, sisterhood, or romantic partnerships, as well as business and social relationships of all kinds. We are still a closely related species, despite whatever differences we may, on average, have. Similarly, two siblings or friends or partners are different, but that doesnt preclude them from respect, connection, and honest communication. We should stop the bullying of people with the courage to say their opinion. This isnt tolerance and it isnt appreciating diversity. It most certainly is not intellectually honest.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 03:03:02 +0000
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