The science of bigotry: how only dead white males did it all

The Australian ^ | February 04, 2004 | EMMA TOM

[RebelBanker]

Excellent post! I wish I could have responded to that drivel as calmly and devastatingly.

My immediate response was more like, "Bulls**t!"

[reelfoot]

Charles Murray BUMP.

[Southack]

Not that you could discern it from the above screed that pretends to masquerade as a news "column," but what Murray did in first the Bell Curve and later in Human Accomplishment was rather clever and decidedly scientific: he proved that factors in your environment affect your intellectual output.

For instance, a society that offers both free will and unoppressive political conditions to its citizens tends to invent more than do societies that are more rigidly controlled. Thus, one fully expects to see the U.S. invent more than North Korea.

But Murray's scientific approach flies in the face of todays politically correct "mutli-cultural" crowd, a crowd that pretends that every culture on this planet is just as advanced and "equal" as every other.

So these politically correct ideologues feel compelled to attack Murray, especially when he does touch on race and other hot-button PC issues. When Murray points out that as a race, Whites have more stupid people than any other, *that* point is overlooked. On the other hand, when Murray points out that as a race, that White people have had more recognized geniuses in the past than any other race, *that* claim gets trumpeted as if it had been said in a vacuum.

However, any non-ideologue who reads Murray's works with an open mind will recognize that Murray is simply stating that White people have a greater *variation* in IQ than any other race. They have more stupid people, yes, but also more geniuses.

And so long as Murray's *data* bears out that point, then what he is saying is far from racist: it's scientific.

That fact, of course, brings up the obvious deficiency in the above-mentioned article for this thread: the author attacks Murray personally, but doesn't refute *any* of Murray's extensive data.

And if Murray's *data* is correct, then his points are on firm intellectual ground.

[presidio9]

This is important:

I think you are disturbed. I have no interest in discussing theology with you. This means a lot to me, so I'd appreciate it if you could kepp that in mind in the future. Thanks.

[shrinkermd]

"This columnist lacks the intellectual background to critique Charles Murray's work in any valid way, so instead she caricatures it then demonizes the caricature. The result is an article that is about a subject of her own invention, rather than anything Murray said

Very true. His bookHuman Accomplishments is a factual, statistical study and not a racist polemic. The Bell Curve by Murray and Herrnstein was the "stealth book" of the 90's. This book reviewed the psychological literature of the last 100 years. Nothing in the book was at variance with the literature. Indeed, 300 prominent academic psychologists wrote a supportive opinion of this book in the WSJ after comments accusing Murray and Herrnstein of racism.

The whole problem with liberals is they want equality of outcome rather than just equality of opportunity. In order to continue their mistaken convictions they must deconstruct actual data with a host of ad hominem attacks. They are beneath intellectual contempt.

[Xenalyte]

Emma's mad because nobody ever discovered her clitoris.

I understand this guy knows where to look.

[NutCrackerBoy]

It doesn't matter how many people call him a racist, Nazi-esque brain-weigher. -Emma Tom

That's correct. Hurling insults will not stop those who seek truth. If Charles Murray is wrong, show why he is wrong thoughtfully.

Charles Murray does a lot right. He delves into what goes into success. Left-wing sociologists tend not to care about that.

[Xenalyte]

I think you are disturbed. I have no interest in discussing theology with you. This means a lot to me, so I'd appreciate it if you could kepp that in mind in the future. Thanks.

Can I still hassle you? Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? What about now? Does this bug you? What about this? Huh? Huh? Can I? Styrofoam peanuts!

[Cogadh na Sith]

Heck, I can find it blindfolded.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yes.


QED

[cyborg]

A reasoned refutation by Stephen Jay Gould.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393314251/103-6225341-3519825?v=glance

Just being smarter than libs is good enough for me.

[newgeezer]

For some reason, I get the impression writer Emma isn't one to sit silently with her head covered in church.

[biblewonk]

What?

[presidio9]

Depends on what you are willing to do with those peanuts.


Biblewonk is certifiable. I have no patience for him.

[dwd1]

Nice stuff. The only problem with this is that one could have to conclude a few things.... If all the good things are done by white men, then they are all responsible for the bad things too.

Hard to take the good with the bad....

The article is worthy of Aryan Nation Proponents

I wonder how the Chinese will feel about not getting credit for gunpowder, silk, and paper...

I wonder how Egyptians will feel about not getting credit for their contributions to Mathematics and Physics...

Of course, I could see where a misunderstanding about Egyptians could take place... Don't think I have ever seen anyone the likes of Halle Berry portray Cleopatra....

This world we live in is a amalgamation of many people from all parts of the world...

I am sure that Matthew Henson, Charles Drew, and many others may be a little displeased that their contributions are considered insignificant...

I am also sure that the survival and agricultural techniques of the Indians came in handy to the pilgrims...

Bill Pickett would also feel bad as he probably doesn't get mentioned at the rodeos very much....

Day of the rope stuff...

[tiamat]

Xenalyte wrote:

Can I still hassle you? Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? What about now? Does this bug you? What about this? Huh? Huh? Can I? Styrofoam peanuts!

LOL! You sound like my kid!

[tbird5]

I have both books and they're great. Now my daughter is reading The Bell Curve.

[altura]

But what about Michael Jackson?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Thank you for that thoughtful synopsis.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

HA-HA!