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From: berman@psuvax1.UUCP (Piotr Berman)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory,net.politics
Subject: Re: defining racism
Message-ID: <1953@psuvax1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Jan-86 01:08:24 EST
Article-I.D.: psuvax1.1953
Posted: Mon Jan  6 01:08:24 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 19:51:02 EST
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Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ.
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Xref: lsuc net.politics.theory:842 net.politics:2770

>   Racism is the theory or idea that there is a causal link
>   between inherited physical traits and certain traits of per-
>   sonality, intellect, or culture and, combined with it, the
>   notion that some races are inherently superior to others.

> Notably,
> however, the idea that certain groups of people are superior to
> others BECAUSE OF THEIR GENETIC MAKEUP does not appear to have been
> widespread.  Where it now exists, it is mostly an outgrowth of the
> rationalizations of slavery and colonial expansion in the vast
> territories dominated by European settlers.... Even the devastation
> brought about by the Arab slave trade in East Africa in the middle of
> the 19th century does not appear to have been rationalized on racial
> terms as European slavery was.... Despite narcissistic canons of
> physical beauty and highly ethnocentric judgments of other cultures,
> East Asian civilizations do not exhibit what might properly be called
> racism.... [Racism was virtually nonexistent in classical antiquity.]
> On balance, the evidence that the Indian caste system is racial in
> origin and that India is or was a racist society is unconvincing....
>
I disagree with the statements above.  Of course, the notion of a gene
originated in 19 century.  However, the idea that characteristics
of intelligence, character etc. are inherited was always there.
Nobility in particular used to regard itself as a better race.  The
"scientific rasism" originated from this belief: French aristocracy
was supposed to be of undiluted Goth/Alemane/Viking stock, while
all other groups were either of inferior races, or diluted.

Look to an average fairy-tale: a princess, even if abandoned and raised
by peasants will be beatifull and of sweet character.

India had a proverb "beware of a black bramin".  Dark skinned bramin
was supposed to be suspect.  I think that caste system was ultimately
rasists: if you had genes of a cobbler, you were supposed to be one.

Still, it is difficult to transfer racism as existing in USA to
different societies and cultures.

Piotr B.