July 29, 2013

Human/Chimpanzee Comparisons?

I'll overlook what some may consider to be an offensive reference here, don't think it was intentional. "Chimpanzee Tribes", really?

Racism Genetically Inherited? Don't think so, unless you consider the "Fight or Flight" response hard-wired into mammals to be a "Genetic" trait.

Setting aside the comparative "Chimpanzee" reference you've used, As Humans our Limbic systems are geared toward Fear/Aggression, so "Outsiders" (those not within our social circles) can be threatening to those of us so inclined, triggering a possible Fight/Flight response under the right conditions. But (again) that's mammalian, not Genetically predisposed.

That's nothing to with Race, of course. The same kind of "Threat" would be posed by a broad range of conditions that threaten ALL OF US including Fires, Earthquakes, bad weather, or perhaps loss of personal security. We're all "Tense" and "Threatened" by conditions that interfere with our "Comfort", Race being no part of it.

You may also want to review the "Origins of Species", our so-called "Racial" differences aren't significant, supposing that I accept the premise that we humans belong to separate "Races", that is, which I don't Especially given that we're all descendants of those elder Humans emerging "Out of Africa"

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/k.html

But contrary to what you've posted, there may even have been some "Cross-Genetic" (Inter-Species) DNA mixing going on. Hasn't yet been proven (or disproved).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/n.html


Current Social Conditions

I can find several obvious exceptions to the circumstances you've described, but foremost it's easily countered with the understanding that we're all (humans) descended from a lineage originating from the plains of Africa, as proven by fossil/paleontology evidence (supported by DNA research, see above).

Supposing that we ignore current Genetic evidence AGAINST your claim, let's take a moment to observe current Society, let's look for a few simple behaviors we're all familiar with that are entirely CONTRARY to what you've proposed.

Learned Behaviors and Humans

If the condition you've described were provably the case, that we're all inclined to "Aggression" against each other based on distinctions as minor as color, why do you suppose humans would so readily have offspring (Children, of Course) with persons they're "racially" different from? Do you suppose that ALL current humans aren't ALREADY actually a broad mix of the DNA prevalent across this planet?

From Africa to Asia, to South/North America, we're all today an amalgam of what you're calling "Races" distributed across this planet, and there's no such thing as "True Genetic Lineage" unless you consider possible Neanderthal/Human interbreeding to have been "True Lineage" at the time of occurrence

Suppose one of my parents were white, the other black. Think "Genetics" would run contrary to that, cause literal REJECTION of either of my parents because of the Genetic Predisposition you've described? Doesn't seem to be a "Survival Trait", now does it?

Given that we as Humans are 99.9% plus identical on the DNA scale, REGARDLESS of "race" or ethnicity, you're promoting a pretty narrow view of human behavior, supposing that we "REJECT each other based on RACE", due to Genetic Traits.

Prevailing evidence certainly doesn't support that, thankfully

July 7, 2013

Further Comments on Conservative Bigotry

Ongoing Discriminatory Practices by the Right Wing

This problem is systemic, it's not going away any time soon since the Conservative segment of our society broadly approves of Bigotry, they don't even seem concerned about covering it up any more.

Just a question of which specific "Targets" of opportunity they're going after at this particular time. As mentioned in the original comment, those targets change as necessary to meet their Political/Economic goals.

Racial Discrimination remains their default "Bigotry" of choice, unfortunately, and has been for as long as the USA has existed.

Don't suppose I have to remind anyone on this website or "User Group" of that, I'm sure we're all more than familiar with that putrid piece of "Information".

By my experience, that's especially true in the southern states, seems that "Chronic" racists can't help themselves. Based on their behavior I'm guessing that they actually support (Cherish!) the centuries old "Legacy" memory of Slavery, because of THAT, several Governors in that region have been known to "Joke" about the need for secession, very funny, right?

As most of us know, they're still proudly flying the Confederate flag "Regionally" in support of their Southern Ancestry. They raise the "Stars and Bars" flag in protest (apparently), as tho Lincoln and the entire Northern US were actually Oppressors of those poor plantation owners, became that by declaring war against the entire concept of slavery.

And in that same southern territory you've got outright IDIOTS like Rand Paul saying that Civil Rights legislation serves NO PURPOSE, with his father (Ron Paul) loosely tied to White Supremacist websites and political donations from them.

His excuse? No one was "Monitoring" those donations, and no one "Monitored" the racist propaganda posted on his website either.

But that's apparently Just Business as Usual for the Libertarian Leadership, both of these A$$wipes have been elected even with widespread national publicity about these "Regressive" Jim Crow ambitions of theirs and (related?) White Supremacist affiliations.

RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY:

Religious Hate Speech has lately become a favorite of the Right Wing since it can be tied to ambitions of WAR, that Intolerance has been REALLY popular among the Conservatives for at least the last decade, as I'm sure you're aware per the "This Crap will Never Die" comment you shared.

What's REALLY behind these Conservative policies of Warmongering? They're protecting their own financial interests, of course, and Right Wing Political/Religious punditry LOUDLY supports those interests by calling for Military Actions while hiding behind the pretense of "Justified" Religious Intolerance.

GOP legislators NEVER pass up an opportunity, they're EAGER to commit our troops to any possible conflict in the Middle East. John McCain and the GOP Senate Leadership haven't failed to comment about Syria or Iran at every National Defense (Senate Armed Services) meeting, and we all know how well our current Economy can handle THAT, right?

No problem for those well paid Senate Leaders. And they're not in any danger of going overseas to fight a "War on Terrorism", neither are their family members, our National Military members will continue to serve that particular purpose.

But those same Senate Leaders will certainly (Eagerly!) volunteer someone else's children to fight in the Middle East, as has already been clearly demonstrated across the last decade. While that same "Leadership" continues to conduct GOP sanctioned (Media Released) press conferences and interviews calling for further Middle East "Intervention", proposing military actions in Iraq and elsewhere designed to ignite further conflict in that region.

Listened to Pat Robertson lately? Openly supports Middle East conflict, ANY conflict, since he's waiting for the Rapture, you know? His personal ambitions would be fulfilled by dragging the rest of us into another war, supposing he had that kind of following/influence.

Ongoing Lucrative National Defense Contracts continue to reflect Conservative financial interests, but War Industry Profits are running down with us pulling out of Iraq/Afghanistan. So the combined Legislative/National Defense Contractors (Senate Leaders & Lobbyists) are pushing for war harder than ever, supporters of Pat Robertson's cause no doubt.

Manipulative GOP Policies in support of War:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11781005

Failure to take responsibility for their Conservative Policies:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022728309

SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATIVE GOALS

And it's getting worse, if we're SERIOUSLY going to affect change it's become necessary at the SCOTUS level, can't believe the recent decisions.

What exactly is it that some of these members (Scalia, in particular) understand to be the function of that court? They're not being the "Final Judiciary" opinion, as would be historically their position in our government, instead they're actually Striking Down Laws in the face of public outrage.

From picking the POTUS (George W.) to removing prevention of "Voter Intimidation" tactics, they're by appearance deep into Big Corporate Money pockets, apparently the "Majority of Five" Conservatives could care less about broad public approval. And voter "Suppression" tactics disproportionately affect Minority members as most of us are aware, the Court is simply clearing the way for that by it's recent removal of the "Voter Rights" act.

Court members were NEVER "Objective" either, contrary to some public opinion, that court was making Partisan decisions even before George W. appointed his current "Favorite" members to that court, what else would explain the "Florida State Bush VS Gore" decision?

An election handed over to the Republican Party, and Conservatives certainly weren't complaining about "Judicial Activism" then, were they?

RECENT ELECTION DECISIONS

With the SCOTUS having long since decided that "Corporate Personhood" is legitimate, they're currently linking that decision to election funding under Citizens United.

For those unaware of it, the Court has now imposed upon our Government and We the Public the broad National policy that Money Equates to Speech for those contrived "Corporate Persons", nice strategy, right?

From this point on we'll have to worry about results of those decisions undermining our Political Process, amounting to outright (SCOTUS Sanctified!) purchase of elections without Accountability, since we voters aren't entitled to know where Campaign Funding originates under this new "Environment".

Think that's called a "Rigged Game", or maybe "Gaming the System" applies, since Wall Street Influence will certainly be involved.

How reassuring. But you probably didn't want a rant about "Judicial Activism", right?

Note:

If you've not seen it, my first post regarding this topic can be found at this link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11873372

About that post, above "Thread" (Rant?) was meant to be my response to a reply given on the African American group (Thanks Number 23!).

Thanks for the supportive comments on these threads, appreciate the feedback.

July 2, 2013

Religious Intolerance and Racism, Birds of a Feather

As Viewed from the White National Perspective

Ever wondered why the Intolerance so easily observed today has always existed, why it's completely acceptable to so many among us, considered to be simply the "Social Norm"? Even among we "Non-Participants", right?

Targets of this aggression change across the decades, of course, but doesn't it seem peculiar that all of us DON'T understand that bigotry, racism, presumed white privilege of today, they're all interconnected?

And that those "Accepted Behaviors" are actually descended from a literal "lineage" of ambitious, repressive policies that brought about and perpetuated Slavery early in our national history, why haven't ALL OF US considered that?

Truth be told, effects of Centuries Old Colonialism are still being "Echoed" in the damaged results of our current society.

Is Religious Bigotry Different?

As mentioned above, damaging effects of Colonialism are still being "Echoed" in our current society.

Effects of what may be our CURRENT National Colonialist behavior (Middle East Empire Building) will likely prevail for centuries to follow. Certain elements of our society (IE Political Opportunists) rationalize those Economic Goals, support and encourage "Licensed Bigotry" as a Useful Tool in pursuit of them.

Take the "Fear Agenda" we've all become familiar with since 9-11, for instance. Essentially serving the purpose of another "Useful Tool" for Political Opportunists.

Blending right wing Politics and Religious Bigotry to suit their needs, to cover for policies that the public would never have otherwise allowed.

Preemptive Wars (Bush Doctrine), Invasion and seeming endless Occupation of Iraq, and absurd Prisoner Rendition tactics being obvious examples of Previously Unacceptable Standards under US Policy.

Right Wing leadership understands that those emotions (Fear, Aggression) can be twisted into Political Capital, insecurities of today's "White America" can be played upon for GOP profit. It's an old and proven method, a "Call to Arms" providing cover for other concealed Economic and Political goals.

AS POSTED PREVIOUSLY:

Even today increasing bigotry remains an "Abstraction", far removed from our daily lives. Right, Non-Minority?

Essentially, many of we unresponsive "Non-minorities" enable intolerant behavior by inaction, by failing to correct that abhorrent behavior, by neglecting to discourage Bigotry however blatant it's lately become.

That's what preceding generations have done, truth be told, engaged in collective disregard for the welfare of repressed, generationally impoverished minorities.

Non-participants are COMPLICIT by failure to take significant action AGAINST such aggression in support of long held privilege based on race.

And this particular form of Generational Ignorance continues, encouraged (nurtured) by those who profit from that Accepted Oppression.

Our "Willful Ignorance" has provided COVER for the actions of aggressive Conservative Aristocracy, whether the majority of us participated or not.

Even today increasing bigotry remains an "Abstraction", far removed from our daily lives. Right White America?

Self-Defeating "Willful Ignorance" isn't nearly as far removed from our current Dysfunctional Society as most of us would like to believe. History SHOULD provide needed context.

_______________________________________________
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Niem%C3%B6ller
-----------------------------------------

END

In Support of Those Who Speak Out

http://open.salon.com/blog/chauncey_devega/2012/03/19/trayvon_martin_and_life_lessons_for_young_black_boys#comment_2868050

Let's recognize those who call attention to "Intolerance", we need to thank them for their courage.

Many avoid THAT, won't confront reality at whatever cost to society, certainly won't say out loud what we all on some deeper level recognize to be forthright TRUTH, that even today Bigotry is thriving, the product of Intolerance nurtured by those who intend to profit from it.

As many of us have observed, that intentionally encouraged (Incited/Provoked) Intolerance can be quite useful as a Political tool.

Like "Shrub" George W. did when he pushed our troops into Iraq for his Imperial Petroleum ambitions.