IUBio

Re. brain sizes: Einstein's and women's

Bob LeChevalier lojbab at lojban.org
Thu Oct 10 23:33:20 EST 2002


JDay123 at BellSouth.com (Jd) wrote:
>>Now if you want us to believe that the difference between races is
>>supernatural in nature, then indeed science has nothing to say.  But
>>if there is a supposedly natural basis for race, then science should
>>be able to detect it.  But of course it cannot.
>
>I want you to believe that science is insufficient when it comes to
>addressing both race and religious issues compared to the way law
>can and does address those issues. 

Law can address any issue it chooses to address.  It isn't bound by
logic or reason.  (There remain persistent rumors that some legislator
tried to legislate that pi would be legally equal to 3.)

>>Science is irrelevant to religion.  Whether religion is an important
>>issue depends on your point of view.
>
>According to the law, religion is just as important as race.  The
>fact that either race or religion can be or are irrelevent to 
>science only shows the shortcomings of science.

Science is very good at what science does, and totally abysmal at what
it does not.

>According to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, being born in
>America entitles one to citizenship and to equal protection under
>the law.  That is were race, religion and or minority status comes
>into play in that all are entitled to the same protection under the
>law reguardless of the aforementioned.

But of course if no one paid attention to perceived race or religion,
the 14th amendment would simply reflect human behavior.
  
>>Science is quite relevant to race - it says that there are no races
>>other than the human race.  And race would not be an issue at all, if
>>racists like you did not make it an issue.  It certainly is not one of
>>the most important issues of today.
>
>Race is an issue because there are various races which at times,
>claim that they are being discriminated against because of their
>race.

Individuals complain (NOT races) about being discriminated against
because of their race.  And they are.  All we have to do is read the
nincompoop's posts and we know one person who discriminates.
  
>>That a law mentions "race" does not mean anything about how race is
>>determined.  And as I've said, in practice, race is generally based on
>>self-identification - you are whatever race you say you are.
>
>That the Supreme Court addresses race and religion similarily shows
>that folks look to law instead of science for answers to real life
>issues.

Folks look to law for resolution of legal issues?  Well, duh!

lojbab



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