It is one thing for an ignorant, bigoted loudmouth to spread sentiments about other groups (either a nationality from the Caucasian group, African Americans from the Negroid group or generic Asians).  You can discount what this person says because you know he is ignorant, bigoted and shouts nonsense.  But, what are you going to do with “scientists” who “sandbag” SCIENCE by showing ignorance, bigotry and nonsense and then have to backtrack and get into more trouble by finding their excuses or explanations only lead more deeply into squabbles about whose “science” is more scientific.

The most recent brouhaha was when a respected scientist named Watson said he had evidence that there were significant differences in the testing of Whites, Blacks and Asians.  His conclusion was that the Whites were more intelligent than Blacks and that Asians led the pack – according to “tests”.  And, there is the rub.  Those tests have been shown time and again to contain the prejudices of the testers rather than racially neutral questions that will test intelligence.  I was quite happy when I learned through hearing a chance remark that my I.Q. was 142.  I knew before my teens that I was quite bright and this confirmed it for the TESTS showed it. Actually, I am quite illiterate in mathematics and most sciences but have a big mouth which I use to show my ignorance on a great many subjects – especially those where I read the headlines and not the content which had the most information I claimed to know something about.

Scientists are afflicted in the same way.  They are prone to be judgmental and partisan for pet ideas.  Most of the shouting back and forth on this subject has to do with “nature” or “nurture”.  Claims for innate intellectual superiority because of a “white” skin have long been believed – of course, by Whites.  Its converse is that “black” skins condemn their owners to become the gatherers of wood and bringers of water to their betters.  This is as old as the Old Testament that document, despite accepting slavery as a natural state of mankind, made provisions for the humane treatment of women, slaves and foreigners (except when battling them and destroying their cultures).

The he said, and he said argument has gone on for ages.  I happen to believe that culture and education account for most differences and why some peoples have “advanced” while others have remained mired in ignorance and poverty.

Scientists are like other people.  I wish they wouldn’t use thuggish practices against others who have different evidence to show we are all more or less the same.