Just Because You Have Brains Doesn’t Mean You’re Smart
Before you read any further, let me state unequivocally that I believe that all men are created equal. That’s what I was always taught and that’s what I believe. Maybe, that’s why I’m not a religious zealot or even what I would describe as an organized religion enthusiast - I don’t necessarily believe that organized religion and organized houses of worship teach these principles.
I just finished reading the news about the cancellation of Dr. James Watson’s appearance at the Science Museum in London. After thinking about these issues for awhile, they made me think.
Before I go any further, let me just inform you of who Dr. Watson is and what he accomplished during his career. Among other things, Dr. Watson is Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of America’s leading and most respected research institutions.
More importantly, Dr. Watson won a Nobel Prize for his work in unraveling the structure of DNA in the 1960’s
Now the bad part. Dr Watson’s scheduled sold-out speech at the Science Museum in London was cancelled. The cancellation was due to Dr. Watson’s comments in which Dr. Watson was reported to say the following:
“inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa … because all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”
Who was it that coined the phrase about Dr. Watson “Just Because You Have Brains Doesn’t Mean You’re Smart” when he said 10 years ago that a woman has a right to abort a fetus if it’s carrying a gay gene. Well that phrase wasn’t created 10 years ago, it was created just now by the author of this post. Sorry Dr. Watson, it just came so naturally. And Dr. Watson, this time you may have just Imused yourself so allow me to help out the black community right now for the soon to be scheduled march. Here is the address of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory:
One Bungtown Road
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
Dr. Watson’s comments are irresponsible and here’s why. We become an inherently dangerous society when trusted and respected scientists camouflage their own personal beliefs for scientific fact. Dr. Watson should know better than to state what a few employers actually believe.
As I write this post, it does make me think. What if one race was scientifically inferior to another in terms of learning ability? Let’s say, for example, what if the black race was scientifically inferior and if that could be proved through a trusted scientific trial? Would blacks throughout the world accept it or would it be labeled as a racist trial? Here is the more interesting question? What if the white race was inferior to the black race. Then, who would black america blame their woes on. Of course White America would say, we’re just dumb white folk. Food for thought.
What’s your opinion?
October 18th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Written by Michael Vass
With great sadness I have to say that ignorance pervades even at the top of the scientific community. There is no excuse for the words of Dr. James Watson. They are blatant, racist, and ill-informed at the least. But historically, this is an argument that has long persisted.
Perhaps all those that continue the line of ill-reasoning stated by Dr. Watson as
should look to a far better known and more quoted figure, William Shakespeare
Or better yet
I feel the Othello quote is best. Because I have to believe it is the jealousy and constant barrage of statements of superiority that lead to these kinds of statements. It helps those that feel inferior and hold a lack of self-esteem a means by which to leverage themselves up. To bad all fact and observation prove this to be incorrect.
Regardless of the degrees and desire for some to state otherwise, some of the greatest innovations and discoveries were not made by Caucasians of any region.
Mathematics, on which all technology and most sciences are dependant on, was the creation of Blacks, long before any organized cultures in Europe existed. In fact perhaps the earliest mathematics occurred in the Congo.
The earliest Greek mathematicians were not until roughly 600 BC.
But of the thousands of inventions and innovations of Black inventors, not to mention Asians, people like Dr. Watson wish to turn a blind eye. They hope to infuse personal commentary in place of science, history and fact to justify their ludicrous claims.
If there is any doubt, one need only search Google or Ask.com for the facts of who did what when. Dr. Watson and his ilk are refuted right there.
The part that truly worries me is that men of this type are the ones that led the cry for a master race. They ran experiments of the most inhumane nature, in the hopes of creating that race. And now there is Dr. Watson who is researching DNA, and god knows what his ultimate goal for this research may be. I can only hope there are several groups and individuals watching what he is up to.
As for your question:
I cannot imagine how that could be possible. As I have stated above, many of the discoveries in science occurred because of the minds of Blacks and Asians throughout history.
But if I follow that line of thought, the answer would be that regardless of what Blacks would think (or Asians for that matter) the media would disseminate and promote this story above all protests. There of course would be protests, and I have no doubt that the scientific finding would be analyzed by the best Black minds in the world.
As for
Actually there are 2 things you are incorrect about. The first is that African Americans do not “blame their woes” but rather highlight injustice and inequality in America that has been created and promoted through centuries of the existence of America.
When bloggers write about the Jena 6 for months, it’s not a woe but an injustice they are writing about. When I write about Ms. Megan Williams, it is not blame or woe, but a recognition that the major news media has failed in their job. It is to ensure that there will be equality under the law. It is to ensure that such acts will not be done again.
When there were riots in America after the Rodney King trial found the police officers innocent of all charges that was not a woe. When media ignored the death of Sean Bell, or breezed past the racial slurs of Michael Richards, or ignored the fact that murderer Jonathan Riches was finally brought to justice, all of this is not woes.
Some may blame White American society on many of the ills that prevail in the African American community today. In part they are correct. In part it is also the fault of the Black community. But these are not cries of misfortune that are baseless.
The second point is that if such empirical fact could be found, White Americans would not hesitate to denounce, discredit, and ignore the findings. The media would not carry the story, except for a few that might phrase it as a bit of silly, misguided, fluff. Bloggers speaking about it would be decried as militant and reverse racist.
Given a bit of time, and the eventual circulation of the story, multiple lawsuits would appear asking for White Americans to receive preferential designation in various programs, like college entrance exams, job placement and so on.
Several of the suits would appear to repeal/end any and all laws or organizations that exist to benefit African Americans and minority groups. The reasoning would be that since White Americans are inferior they need greater protection under the law and that any actions for non-Whites give them greater power and thus is unfair and lop-sided justice.
While this may sound laughable, I would bet that there would be enough concern and fear generated by this fact of inferiority that many of these lawsuits would win. As any honest White American will admit, they generally fear African Americans. That is without reason or causation; imagine when that general fear is given fuel with fact.
And here is another thought to ponder. Why would the thought of ANY group or race being inherently inferior to another come to your mind from the words of Dr. Watson? This is not an accusation just a question.
When I read his comments I was insulted and knew he was wrong. At no point did I think one race is better than another. What caused you to speculate otherwise?
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:58 am
Mike:
To your question at the end of your comment:
What caused me to speculate otherwise?
The answer is what if that was the case and how would the world react to a legitimate scientific discovery that was deemed to be legitimate science.
In terms of your statement that says the following:
Mathematics, on which all technology and most sciences are dependant on, was the creation of Blacks, long before any organized cultures in Europe existed. In fact perhaps the earliest mathematics occurred in the Congo.
You should look at your block quote that contains the word interpretation
Definition:
Opinion regarding a set of facts. A degree of subjectivity is involved on the part of the individual, based on his or her experience, personality, and biases.
Good try!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:19 am
When ones goes through all the negative reactions directed to Dr. Watson’s comments on blacks, one thing becomes clear and that is, human mentality does not easily accommodate views which contradict what one’s believes or what one would want to hear.For one thing, those who are attacking the scientist seem to loose the starting point of Dr. Watson’s curiosity as to why blacks appear different when it comes to challenging their environment for their survival.It is not the issue of comparing races which should be commanding this debate but the question why Africa as the race should achieve little but record so many failures in almost all aspects of life. For us Africans living in this continent, our concern is what is wrong with Africa. If I were a genetic scientist I could have seriously taken some of our fellow Africans to the lab to see if their behavior are biologically determined. The first to go could have been some leaders who have squandered African resources leaving the continent poor though it is rich in gold,diamond, tanzanite, copper,Forrest products, tourism, good climate for agriculture, fertile and enough land, lakes rivers and beutiful landscape.The second group could have been those who do not trust their fellow Africans when it comes to giving them responsibilities. If the westerner and the African are both after a post and have the same qualifications an African employer in the continent would prefer the westerner. So why should Africans turn wild to Watson who question our intellectual power while we also doubt each us on the same line?. I call upon my fellow Africans that let us not be sentimental since there is something wrong with Africa.History have it that all continents which were under colonialism, Africa included, colonialism suffered underdevelopment. However, of all the continents once under colonialism , it is Africa which is still behind so many decades after independence. Economic approaches through grants,IMF,World Bank and the donor community have tried to do away with poverty in vain. Political approach of democracy and multipaltism has not helped African leadership to forge ahead towards development. if Africa has failed to be cured by political and economic plans though which other continents have successfully passed, then it the time to try science at least to know why is Africa behaving so different if the assumption is that intellectual ability is the universal human trait.Please address this question rather than attacking Dr. Watson.