Race and Conservatism

New English Review ^ | September 2006 | John Derbyshire

[GSlob]

Speaking of "a main common culture", what you are talking about is the sociology - more precisely, the sociological/civilizational unity, and you are correct.

[LWalk18]

Whether it was because they had to (and I don't believe that was the way people saw it then), or not, the fact remains there was a common culture.

Maybe there was, or maybe it was an illusion, but either way it is gone for good- media and technological advances assure that it isn't coming back. How a nation can survive with such long term divisions regarding race, culture, and politics is the major question of our time. If there was real threat (i.e. nuclear disaster or another massive attack), would be unite or fall apart as a nation? Would we defend those of a different race or political philosophy?

[goldstategop]

Exactly. But stating those differences exist is fatal to one's career, even if no racism is involved. Just think Jimmy the Greek. He meant to observe what every one knows about black athletes being good at what they do but his error was to state the existence of a valid group (not at all objectionable from a factual point of view) difference. For the record, I've never understood the controversy over black athletes' powress. Its a fact no one denies so why can't it be put on the record?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[EDINVA]

The writer speaks of different ways in which individuals and groups differ. Statistically, blacks don't do as well on IQ tests as non-blacks ALTHOUGH some 6 million blacks perform better on IQ tests than the average white. IQ tests generally reflect how well a student will perform academically.

Even though Shelby Steele is smarter than I would ever hope to be, as a white of average intelligence, I am, statistically, still going to perform better than most blacks. And most Asians will perform better than I. It's not a question of "lack of intelligence," but rather a statistical comparison of intelligence among groups that cannot be assigned to cultural differences alone.

[TAdams8591]

But the differences in intellectual ability are NOT significant enough. In fact, the racial differences in IQ tests directly correspond to the differences each group places on the importance of eduation. And btw, though IQ tastes are meant soley to measure innate ability, people with a higher level of education score higher on the tests. Even my own IQ test scores went up as I got older and became better educated. The same was true for my friends and classmates.

[goldstategop]

Agreed. But your argument makes blacks look worse off even if everything you say is true so it goes unvoiced in polite company. We're not prepared as a society to admit that some groups perform better than others since the group below them don't fare as well. That's where group differences become a political potato too hot to handle.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[goldstategop]

Which is why the Left attacked The Bell Curve when it came out for it was explosive stuff that ate away at the foundations of group equality.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[TAdams8591]

I agree the technological advances helped to foster the divisions, and will maintain them.

" If there was real threat (i.e. nuclear disaster or another massive attack), would be unite or fall apart as a nation? Would we defend those of a different race or political philosophy?"

I wonder about the answer to those questions all the time. Nobody knows. Will we unite and fight our common enemies, or will be conquered by them and dragged back to the dark ages, our free technological society existing no longer?

[LWalk18]

For the record, I've never understood the controversy over black athletes' powress. Its a fact no one denies so why can't it be put on the record?

Which would you rather be thought of as- reasonably smart or reasonably athletic? A reasonably but not super smart person can become a billionaire, while a reasonably but super athletic person can flip burgers. Even super athletic person who blows out his knee end up work at McDonalds. One trait is far beter to have than the other, not to mention far more likely to actually be present in an individual to the extent that it can improve their lives. Only a few hundred people at a time can become successful from being a great athlete.

[netvictory]

GOPWING.US PING - I bet you can not just click one!

[goldstategop]

That's true. But super atheletes are multi-millionaires.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[TAdams8591]

The Bell Curve, is a standard for individuals not groups, isn't it? I don't recall them attacking the bell curve, not that I doubt what you say, I just personally don't remember it, but I do recall their upsetment with the findings regarding IQ.

[LWalk18]

That's true. But super atheletes are multi-millionaires.

Good for maybe 500 black people at a time, absolutely worthless for the other 39,000,000 blacks in this country.

[TAdams8591]

Thanks for 'splainin' it. I well understand it, studied it and discussed it in class ad nauseum.

People do take it to mean blacks lack innate intelligence or have inferior intelligence. I think a better explanation of the differences is the one I proposed in reply #45.

And another reason people should not be so offended by Jensen's findings is addressed in the comments in your post. That is precisely the way it works.

[EDINVA]

The full name of the famous Murray book is "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in America." It caused considerable consternation among the left and minority rights people when it was published. Not too sure about that upsetment thingy.

[TAdams8591]

Do you have a degree in Sociology?

[TAdams8591]

I well recall the uproar when Jensen revealed the findings in his study of IQ and race, which was discussed time and again in a number of my classes from Freshman year until graduation.

[EDINVA]

I'm not too sure about increased IQ scores with education, other than to maximize one's potential. Years ago our family participated in a program thru Johns Hopkins about intelligence in children. One question my husband and I never agreed on was the ability to 'increase' one's intelligence as measured by IQ.

Our eventual 'compromise" position was that a person's IQ could go up with education, but within a range only. I.e., a person whose IQ at age 12 is 100 could score as high as 115 after college, but won't ever have 150. I think we're all born within a certain range and are not ever going to educate ourselves beyond our range. (in the same way an average athlete will improve with practice, summer camps, etc., but won't make it to the pro's)

[EDINVA]

What was your major that you ended up with so many classes that covered this topic?

[Riverman94610]

The problem with VDare and groups of their ilk is that they always print the negative incidents about blacks.No balance whatsoever.That lack of balance indicats to me that they have other axes to grind rather than merely to bring a new perspective to the liberal media take on race.