Race
This is a very, very controversial subject, and in the context of this tradition, has two distinct aspects:
The first is the study of our evolution, which includes the fields of anthropology, genetics and any number of origin myths and teachings.
The second aspect is that of racism, that is the dominance of one race over another and the assumed superiority of various groups of people over another, based on any number of qualities, whether they be based on genetic or cultural factors.
While it is understood that both contexts may be mentioned, the primary focus is in examining our evolution, based on the first aspect, that is from the viewpoint of anthropology, genetics and any number of origin myths and teachings.
We will watch this discussion for racist comments and generalized hate language more closely than usual. We hope to have a lively and spirited exploration of who we are, how we got here and where we're going.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Capt. Anand Kumar on
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The western society in general, perhaps considers "Racial Prejudice" to be contained within the word "Race", and hence so much of opposition to it. HPB was hardly criticized by Indians for her use of the word "Race". Prehaps because India has a very long and deeply entrenhed tradition of caste (another subverted form of racial prejudice). This tradition is prevalent even now as is evident from the caste based reservations in jobs and this year for the first time, caste based census taking place for the population.
Bhagwan Das, in Pranava Vada, establishes "Shudra" to be the highest caste and the "Brahmins" to be the lowest. But have there been any takers for this? So, should HPB be held responsible for the ignorance or misplaced prejudices of others? Today, Samuel P Huntington's, "The Clash of Civilizations", is a must read for all those pursuing political science, where he proposes that Islamists and Christians are two different civilizations and will alwyas clash. How different it is from the "Aryan Supremacy" theory of Nazis at its root? But no one accuses this concept of political incorrectness.
Political correctness is status quoist and a stumbling block in bringing about social change. A teacher, a guide, a leader has to deliver truth as seen by him or her and that is what HPB did. One can disagree about those truths but she can scarcely be accused of propagating "Racial Prejudices" by use of the word "Race" in her writings. Those who did so, were perhaps motivated by their own inadequacies.
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What can one do to disregard political agenda of the few to make the word "Race" synonymous with "Racism". Let us take a look at what scientists are saying:
From http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v36/n11s/full/ng1435.html :
New genetic data has enabled scientists to re-examine the relationship between human genetic variation and 'race'. We review the results of genetic analyses that show that human genetic variation is geographically structured, in accord with historical patterns of gene flow and genetic drift. Analysis of many loci now yields reasonably accurate estimates of genetic similarity among individuals, rather than populations. Clustering of individuals is correlated with geographic origin or ancestry. These clusters are also correlated with some traditional concepts of race, but the correlations are imperfect because genetic variation tends to be distributed in a continuous, overlapping fashion among populations. Therefore, ancestry, or even race, may in some cases prove useful in the biomedical setting, but direct assessment of disease-related genetic variation will ultimately yield more accurate and beneficial information......
.....Few concepts have as tarnished and contentious a history as 'race'. Among both the scientific and lay communities, the notion that humans can be grouped into different races has been enshrined by some and dismissed by others. Even the definition of race varies considerably, depending on context and criteria. Nevertheless, race continues to be used in a variety of applications. Forensic databases in the US are typically organized according to traditional racial and ethnic categories (e.g., African-American, European-American, Hispanic). Investigators funded by the US National Institutes of Health are required to show that minority populations are adequately represented in biomedical studies. Responses to medical therapies, such as drugs, are often compared among populations that are divided according to traditional racial divisions. Among the general public, the validity of racial categories is often taken for granted.
Not surprisingly, biomedical scientists are divided in their opinions about race. Some characterize it as "biologically meaningless" or "not based on scientific evidence", whereas others advocate the use of race in making decisions about medical treatment or the design of research studies. Amid this controversy, modern human genetics has generated a staggering array of new data. For the first time, it is possible to study human genetic variation using not just a few dozen polymorphisms, but hundreds or even thousands. In addition to neutral polymorphisms that inform us about population history, increasing numbers of variants that contribute to disease are being discovered.Following from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(classification_of_humans) :
Race refers to classifications of humans into relatively large and distinct populations or groups often based on factors such as appearance based on heritable phenotypical characteristics or geographic ancestry, but also often influenced by and correlated with traits such as culture, ethnicity and socio-economic status. As a biological term, race denotes genetically divergent human populations that can be marked by common phenotypic traits. This sense of race is often used by forensic anthropologists when analyzing skeletal remains, in biomedical research, and in race-based medicine. The study of shared traits among peoples is also conducted along ethnic lines, involving the endogamic history of groups. In many societies racial groupings correspond closely with patterns of social stratification, and for social scientists studying social inequality, race understood as a set of ideologies and practices is in an important variable.[ Additionally, law enforcement utilizes race to create profiles of wanted suspects in an expeditious manner.
While scientists use the concept of race to make practical distinctions among fuzzy sets of traits, the scientific community feels that the idea of race is often used by the general public in a naive or simplistic way, erroneously designating wholly discrete types of individuals. Among humans, race has no cladistic significance—all people belong to the same hominid subspecies, H*** sapiens sapiens. Regardless of the extent to which race exists, the word "race" is problematic and may carry negative connotations. Social conceptions and groupings of races vary over time, involving folk taxonomies that define essential types of individuals based on perceived sets of traits. Scientists consider biological essentialism obsolete, and generally discourage racial explanations for collective differentiation in both physical and behavioral traits.
As people define and put about different conceptions of race, they actively create contrasting social realities through which racial categorization is achieved in varied ways, In this sense, races are said to be social constructs. These constructs can develop within various legal, economic, and sociopolitical contexts, and at times may be the effect, rather than the cause, of major social situations. Socioeconomic factors, in combination with early but enduring views of race, have led to considerable suffering amongst the disadvantaged racial groups. Scholars continue to debate the degrees to which racial categories are biologically warranted and socially constructed, as well as the extent to which the realities of race must be acknowledged in order for society to comprehend and address racism adequately.
Within this forum, is it possible to use this word in the context of Theosophical teachings without its negative connotations?
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Permalink Reply by Pushpa Divecha on
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The roots of racism can be traced to the very oldest myths of every culture; the periodic genetic mixing of those from outer space with earthlings. In the field of anthropology and neurobiology, this may explain the 'missing link', and rapid evolution of the human brain thereafter. Moving on:
The written/decipherable history of middle-eastern, far eastern, and Indian civilizations, during the last three millenniums, express the sociological manifestation of the caste and class system. In the Indian sub-continent Manu codified Vedic myths to substantiate the innate superiority of the invading Aryans over the native Dravidians. The epic Ramayana elaborates this. Fair Sun (Surya) worshipers being superior to the dark-skinned 'Asuryas'. How the two races, fair-skinned Aryans and dark-skinned natives eventually amalgamated their principal deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is 'The real wonder of India'. In this massive cauldron of race and culture, 'non-Semitic' philosophies grew magnificently. Need one elaborate?
Hinduism as a 'religion', is a relatively modern construct of Vedic and indigenous tribal customs and beliefs. The Vedantic philosophy is accaimed as most profound. And yet, Hindu India manifests itself most adversely with casteism! I feel this is a natural corollary to Manu's caste system which eugenically placed groups into productive activities. Although the utility of this myth was not misplaced for its economic advantages, it was racist, and continues to be so.
In the post-Vedic period, the caste system eventually evolved to being 'Varna'/complexion-based. Beginning with the Aryans, all our colonisers happened to be fair-skinned. This hang-up is so deeply ingrained, that being fair is associated with being handsomer, even superior. Indians are the most colour conscious of so-called civilisations. This prejudice cannot be purely racial. In India, with cross-breeding of dark and fair Caucasians (from the south and north) we are all predominantly brown - some lighter some darker! There are fair skinned south Indians who are preferred by north Indians to the darker-skinned amongst themselves! Even dark-skinned Indians consider the darker-skinned Africans as not being as beautiful as themselves! It would be revealing how many of a 'billion plus' Indians have married dark-skinned Africans or black Americans?
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My earlier post focused on the 'Varna/complexion' based ethnic prejudices peculiar to India.
I have found more comprehensive studies of racism in some articles by Ina Belderis.
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/science/sc-ibel.htm
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Pushpa, as you may know, the Aryan invasion theory has been much questioned in recent years. Erica earlier (http://www.theosophy.net/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3...) called our attention to a website that features the research papers of Dr. Nicholas Kazanas (http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/en/indology_en.asp). Many of his writings argue against the Aryan invasion theory, directly addressing some of the leading Western scholars who have always accepted it. As far as I know, it was Indian scholars who first questioned the Aryan invasion theory, some decades ago. But they were mostly ignored by Western scholars. Now we have at least one Western academic scholar strongly advocating this position, and providing research in support of it.
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Permalink Reply by Christian von Lahr on
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Just on the surface, Joe, I should think your second aspect [racism] is one that is going to draw seeminly irreconcilable controversy. I was wondering ... if in our minds we travel ahead 10,000 years and stop and take a birdseye view of the peoples of this world, what will be the distinctions of "Race?" I am surmising most who undertake this exercise would conclude people(s) will have far more similarities than differences in the distant future. If that result were accepted, therefore a presumd [fact], then the controversy might simply be seen as a futile, excusable, ultimately inconsequential [phase] we must pass through, BUT to a commonly perceptible end. If we [know] the undisputable end, then perhaps we won't require so much emotion in the process to getting there.
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"Any hierarchical society requires a broad impoverished base on which to subsist on."
Peter, what you surmise is central to the discussion of class/caste and its perpetuation. The privileges that accrue to being socially approved as superior, are further accentuated by property rights to descendants. It would require a greater genius than a Marx or a Mahatma Gandhi to change the system. There is a kind of Darwinian justification to those who have made it to the top of the pile! As for the perpetuation of the class/caste system which manifests itself even in international diplomacy, notice how cleverly and desperately the powerful assert their right to dominate. At the more local level, ruling classes typically indulge in the 'need and greed' syndrome to keep control of the impoverished base.
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