[Pharmboy]

The Harvard biologist Richard Lewontin mentioned in the article is a flaming Marxist and was the academic partner of Stephen Jay Gould in trying to stifle any dialogue at Harvard when people disagreed with their views.

Nice to see the Times trying to undo the pseudo-science about race that they have been promulgating for so many years. This will bring a firestorm of letters.

[Pharmboy]

*Ping* for something new from the Times...

[muir_redwoods]

Since the point they make repeatedly is that we are all an amalgam of many peoples many time over, even the negritos they mention, I fail to see how this is a statement that races exist. It is abundantly clear to any reasonable observer that there may have once been races of humans but now there is only one, the human race.

[maestro]

The Harvard biologist Richard Lewontin mentioned in the article is a flaming Marxist and was the academic partner of Stephen Jay Gould in trying to stifle any dialogue at Harvard when people disagreed with their views.

Exactly,.....where are those Three (3) Mystery Ships of SH and all the 'dead' micro-biologists...??

/Marxism

[dog breath]

This is a philosophy and social issue as much as a scientific issue. It is the sad misuse of the concept of race that has created the problem. In a country that once had a system of slavery and discrimination based on skin color this is a hot button issue. The Romans used to talk about race as a bloodline or lineage which is closer to the truth. As we have become more sophisticated in our knowledge of genetics it is possible to trace descent in populations for thousands of years. I think a return to the concept of race as a family line is a valid concept. While we are as humans often of mixed origins, often there is preponderance of common bloodlines in particular areas of the world. I think that given time and less immigration there will emerge a new race in any given area. The people most suited to their environment will thrive and those less suited will not. You can see this in any rural area, there are often huge numbers of people descended from a few hardy souls. Any farmer can tell you that particular varieties of animals and plants do better in different areas. Certainly a person's genetics influence who they are as a person, even down to character. I am happy to see important issues being discussed, even when they are sensitive issues./p>

[Elsie]

interesting stuff

[GovernmentShrinker]

Shocking, just shocking! Next thing you know, the NYTimes will be providing space for people to claim that the differences between male and female people aren't just social constructs!

[GovernmentShrinker]

The idea that human races are only social constructs has been the consensus for at least 30 years.

But paradoxically, the idea that even the slightest detectable variation within any other species constitutes a distinct "subspecies", in need of separate protection under endangered species laws, has also been the "consensus" (in certain circles) for about the same period of time.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The concept of "race," whatever the science behind it, is a useful one from an informational standpoint. When a victim describes her rapist, for example, she is likely to say he was Black, or White, or perhaps Hispanic. Whether or not these are truly races in an anthropological sense is not very important in this instance. The liberals would prefer to have the police put out an All Points Bulletin for a male who has 62 parts melanin per milligram of exposed skin, or some such gibberish.

I recall watching a boxing match in the 1960's that Howard Cosell was announcing to the television audience. Both of the fighters were wearing the same color trunks. Cosell, in an effort to identify who was who, initially tried to say that "so-and-so" was the fighter on the left. Of course, with the boxers dancing and moving, this became counter-productive. Finally, Howard said (rather defiantly) that "so-and-so" is the Black fighter and "such-and-such" is the White fighter. Useful information was thereby rendered, and no great broadcasting crime was committed.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Pharmboy.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[cyborg]

The identification of racial origins is not a search for purity.

*** Oh really? Since when! LOL

[aculeus]

I strongly recommend ...

1. Armand Marie Leroi's own book.

2. His comments on (ahem) a certain non-scientist's views as covered in this article

http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/articleprint.php?num=16

A PDF of his paper "Cancer Selection" is found here:

http://armandleroi.com/images/pdf2.gif

[mewzilla]

Last I knew, the genetic variation between members of the same race was greater than between members of different races. If that's indeed the case, so much for the concept of race.

[Old Professer]

There is a final reason race matters. It gives us reason - if there were not reason enough already - to value and protect some of the world's most obscure and marginalized people.

What a reductionist, condescending phrase this is upon repeated reading.

[blam]

Bump for later comment.

[Thorin]

>>>>>>Nice to see the Times trying to undo the pseudo-science about race that they have been promulgating for so many years.

Agreed!