| UnseenWorld |
07-20-2002 09:14 AM |
"Race" is one of those terms that seems almost incapable of definition. At least, we can't seem to agree on what it is. There are a wide variety of skin tones among native Africans. In India, people who are clearly of a totally different ethnic heritage can be quite dark skinned. Ditto for Pacific Islands and the natives of Australia. So, race isn't based on skin color.
"Anti-semitism" is used to refer to those who hate Jews, but it isn't a very accurate term, since both Jews and Arabs are "semites" (descendants of Shem, the eldest son of Noah). Right now, the most active anti-Jews, the Palestinian arabs, are semites themselves!
Geneticists will tell you that there is no "race gene" and that race is a social concept, not a genetic one. Overall, there are greater differences between individuals in any supposed race than there are between the average member of any two races.
"Race" is a concept that has to be believed in on the basis of faith.
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