Difference between revisions of "Race"

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m (Reverted edits by Research psychologist (Talk) to last version by Nx)
(I knew it! I suspected that this article is one of the main irrational 'trojan horse' articles on this wiki, just like the Eugenics article, and Tmtoulouse's top associate (Human) confirmed it.)
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In more modern thinking, the term ''ethnicity'' or ''ethnic group'' is used as opposed to the concept of race. Despite what some will claim, this isn't just the same thing disguised with mere [[political correctness]]. Ethnicity takes into account cultural identification, language, and religious beliefs — you can, in principle, belong to multiple ethnic groups — rather than just "ooh look mommy, a painted man". It's still as arbitrary and useless as a system of classification but used in context it doesn't really pretend ''not'' to be.
 
In more modern thinking, the term ''ethnicity'' or ''ethnic group'' is used as opposed to the concept of race. Despite what some will claim, this isn't just the same thing disguised with mere [[political correctness]]. Ethnicity takes into account cultural identification, language, and religious beliefs — you can, in principle, belong to multiple ethnic groups — rather than just "ooh look mommy, a painted man". It's still as arbitrary and useless as a system of classification but used in context it doesn't really pretend ''not'' to be.
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==Race vs species==
 
==Race vs species==

Revision as of 03:24, 5 June 2010

The term race refers to the debatable belief that it is possible to divide people into clear, well-defined groups based on a haphazard variety of characteristics. The most usual way is to arbitrarily ascribe "race" based on skin color; although others attempt to to define it based on hypothesized common ancestry, language and self-identification. The only difference skin color makes is whether or not you will burn quickly when left out in the sun.

In more modern thinking, the term ethnicity or ethnic group is used as opposed to the concept of race. Despite what some will claim, this isn't just the same thing disguised with mere political correctness. Ethnicity takes into account cultural identification, language, and religious beliefs — you can, in principle, belong to multiple ethnic groups — rather than just "ooh look mommy, a painted man". It's still as arbitrary and useless as a system of classification but used in context it doesn't really pretend not to be.


Race vs species

As there is only one human species, each human is genetically and physically capable of breeding with a fellow human (of opposite sex, obviously). Even after the 10,000 years that they were otherwise isolated from other groups, aboriginal Australians still have no trouble making babies with other groups. Therefore it is difficult to see, from a scientific taxonomical view, how humanity can be conclusively and objectively sub-divided into "races" based on the varying definitions that different societies have applied over time. Essentially the term "race" is no more than social invention, one which changes depending on the society and over time. Most people in the west will recognise "Chinese" as a race, but in China you will find Hui, Han, Miao, Zhuang, and almost countless other "races" which are — to the Chinese — just as distinguishable as black and white is in America and Europe.

Typically race is only used by more powerful groups in an attempt to provide some legitimacy for denigrating, controlling or exploiting others. It would be more difficult to start an effective slave trade, for example, if there wasn't a way of distinguishing people (however arbitrarily) in a way to legitimise it.

Racists

It is also interesting to note that most racists insist that they are members of the "white" race. In reality the only "white" humans are albinos — so racists should really revel in being "pink" and not "white".[1]

Another interesting thing about white racists is that they often call themselves "Aryan" - why they should label themselves this when the Aryans are of Middle-Eastern descent is unclear.

Not surprisingly, the racists at Metapedia have different ideas.

Racist works

Apart from the various screeds such as Mein Kampf and the The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, there have been several scientific attempts to link race and IQ (even though both are imprecise measures, little used in their fields). The Bell Curve, a book by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, is a recent attempt at this flawed concept.

See also

Footnotes

  1. Some people take this a little too far, however