This weekend's National Post has a letter where a Pastor claims "Racism was introduced by Darwin and evolution...".
It's hard to overlook such comments, esepcially when made by a community leader.
It is true that Darwin's name has been taken by racists who argue, say, Europeans are superior to Africans because they are "more evolved". The trouble, of course, is that evolution does not lead to "better" but merely "better adapted". Moreover, seeing as Africans and Europeans exist in large numbers across the world it is not obvious either group is "better adapted" than the other.
Regardless, Darwin's ideas (which go well beyond mere theory) hardly started racism. Glance at early debates on slavery -- the sugar boycott for example -- and the language of race is immediately obvious.
Racism is likely as old as humanity (which doesn make it right) and blaming Darwin, beyond being factually wrong, trivializes the issue. To be colour blind is hard -- but it can be done -- as King, and later Wallace, said the mountain is in sight.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
2 comments:
Can't blame Darwin. Racism existed in some of the earliest societies with recorded history, such as Ancient Egypt and Greece.
I disagree with the quote, though, I don't think it's hard to be colour blind at all.
Speaking of Darwin, the ROM has an exhibit on his work at the moment, see http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibitions/special/darwin.php
for more information.
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