Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “Racism Is the Most Natural Thing in the World”

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May 12, 2009

Racism Is the Most Natural Thing in the World

Hatched by Dafydd

I don't mean that sarcastically at all: For most human beings, racism comes so naturally, they don't even know they're racists.

Of course, being "natural" is not a synonym for being good. It's "only natural" that a man will forcibly take any woman who arouses him. It's "only natural" that we steal whenever we're sure we won't get caught; these behaviors are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom... and thank God we do the unnatural thing in such cases!

Racism is simply tribalism, where the tribe is expanded to encompass everyone of the same color or gross physiognomy. Western civilization is powerfully anti-racist because it's anti-tribalist; it redefines the comfort-group to a set determined by culture, not by skin color or facial features. That is why Western Borg culture led the way towards the abolition of racial slavery -- and why many non-Western cultures, particularly in Moslemdom, still cannot understand what is wrong with that "peculiar institution."

(I use the term "Western Borg culture" because Western civilization is so powerful and attractive that it assimilates every culture it comes into contact with; resistance is futile.)

The song from South Pacific, "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught," has it exactly backwards: Racism is the default state; what must be carefully taught is individualism: Not the I-me-mine kind of narcissism found in infants and liberals, but the full-monty philosophy that other people are also individuals deserving of as much respect and liberty as we, unless by their own actions they forfeit that respect.

That philosophy is bizarre, unnatural, and incomprehensible to very young children and very primitive peoples. Fortunately, the economic version of individualism -- Capitalism -- is such a powerful wealth producer that (a) Western countries are rich enough to mandate liberty (subsistance societies haven't the luxury), and (b) the smell of money lures the primitive towards liberty, Capitalism, and individualism by another completely natural deadly sin: Envy.

Thus does God -- if He exists -- turn even human failings to His own purposes.

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, May 12, 2009, at the time of 1:59 PM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: Geoman

The default for humanity is tyranny. It has been for the dawn of time. From a biological perspective it makes perfect sense - if you are strong enough, make those weaker collect food for you. Your genes are much more likely to get passed along. 0.5 % of the entire population of the world is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. The Mongols were the Borg (Borg Horde?)before the rest of us.

Naturally the part you miss the the contribution of religion to this, especially Christianity.

The above hissed in response by: Geoman at May 13, 2009 4:35 PM