On 01-Oct-03 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> My understanding of the term 'political correctness' is that it is the
> complaint of those who encounter restrictions on their freedom to
> abuse and insult others. I don't therefore find it a very useful term
> for inclusion in the kind of debates we have in Radsdtats.
> How often do geographers have to debate with flat-earthers? I guess
> they's get pretty fed up if flat earth theories came up every couple
> of years or so and they found they had to take time out to debate
> them. Most of us, I expect, will feel the same about biological ideas
> of human 'races'. The only interesting things about the ideas of
> 'race' are the conditions in which they emerge, the ways in which they
> are used and the ends (or interests) that they serve. It is on these
> latter issues that we should concentrate our analytical skills.
> Robert Moore
I completely agree with the last two sentences: It was precisely with the
purpose of attempting to concentrate analytical skills on the conditions
of emergence, the ways in which it is used, and the ends (or interests)
which they serve, that I originally introduced into the discussion that
there is a definite biological concept of "race", which has reasonably
precise definitions, and a purpose and significance in biological
discourse.
With, I wish to emphasise, also the intent of distinguishing between
its legitimate use for such purposes and its abuse for "racist" purposes;
and also to oppose any apparent attempt to indoctrinate schoolchildren
that there is no such concept applicable to humans. What is needed is
to get people to understand such proper uses, and to _then_ demonstrate
that they do not support misuse with the intent of disparaging any race
on superficial grounds.
It is of course a legitimate sociological issue to examine how "race"
is abused, and I would be very happy for sociologists to do so, provided
it is done in a properly informed way and is not inspired by prejudices
that people who support a concept of "race" are racists in a pejorative
sense.
As to earlier sentences, likening such discussion to debating with
flat-earthers is, I am afraid, an insult. I feel very inclined to
interpret these sentences as an exhortation that we must not discuss
"race" at all, even if we do so from a scientific background which
involves a considerable statistical component. It looks like precisely
the sort of censorship which I criticised in my earlier mail, and as
such would be against the very spirit of this list -- I hope ...
Note to Moderator: I do not wish to get involved in controversy and
polemic over this issue, so I hope that we will not face yet another
call to close the topic. But I also hope that those who contribute
will try to be rational and liberal about it.
With best wishes to all,
Ted.
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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <[log in to unmask]>
Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 167 1972
Date: 01-Oct-03 Time: 12:37:55
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