Race & Culture : We are Known by Our Differences

A recent " New York Times " editorial ," Debunking the Concept of ' Race ' ", was breathlessly joyous over a scientific project conducted at Pennsylvania State Univ. by Prof. Samuel Richards. The professor teaches a course in race and ethnic relations. Using a genetic screening technique, he revealed to most of the ninty participating students that they were a mixture of races. Only a tiny fraction were pure blooded. The goal of the test according to to the article is to make students less prejudiced and open to a deeper discussion of humanity. It is noteworthy that the goal of the scientific experiment was declared before the results were determined or tested by other scientists in a broader survey. But the fact remains we are known by our differences. People and cultures are different. The human species distributed themselves over the planet for hundreds of thousands of years. Depending on the land that they settled, an unique culture was developed. Even in those lands there existed sub-cultures and parochial groups that reflect the nuances of particular geographic areas.

Prof. Richards, " The New York Times ", ACLU, civil rights activists, politicians and other well-meaning or vindictive attempts to deny difference between races and cultures ends up provoking false ideas of what people are entitled.

In the final analysis, personal responsibility and personal talent and effort are the measure of success. Voting for equal results, affirmative action and other schemes for social and wealth redistribution are denials of the self-evident difference of all things.