Comments on: Russia: Bloggers Discuss James Watson

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:55:59 +0000

“it makes me sad to know that this was a American who has to have knowledge of our past and how hard it was for African Americans to overcome those stereotypes..”

Yesterday’s victim is often tomorrow’s bully, who uses the past to stir up grievances. I’m a white American who believes in fair play and decency, but I am tired of whites routinely being treated with disrespect by American blacks. If blacks are so kind and considerate, why do they say “cracker”, and say sneering things about Asian Americans, all the time?

By: Civil-ized

Civil-ized — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:24:57 +0000

It seemed that his statements and subsequent apology were more geared to the idea that some cultures or people are inferior to others by their lack of rational thought, decision making, critical thinking, etc…

People do stupid things everywhere regardless of culture. Take his mis-statement for example…

The other posts about genetic diversity seem in line current academic thought and theories regarding genetics.

By: Elise

Elise — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:16:28 +0000

“all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours”
This quote is understandable since not all cultures are alike and therefore not all policies are applicable in all societies. However, there is a point that Watson failed miserably to make about Africa. Even it Africa’s intelligence level is not the same as our’s, it doesn’t mean the level is less than our’s, it is just different. Also, we can’t base intelligence/ability levels on race since race is not determined biologically, rather it is a socially-constructed concept that has been shaped throughout history. For example, regarding athletic ability, there have been multiple cultures which have held dominance in particular sports. In American basketball, first the Jewish were highlighted and then the African-Americans. Our genetics show that we actually share more genes with those outside our race than with those we identify are part of our race. In the film “Race: The Power of an Illusion”, a high school group performs mitochondria DNA experiments and find there is more genetic diversity within particular racial groups than between two separate races.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:52:36 +0000

I think it is insane to think that Watson could be remotely taken seriously. When I read this story I thought that I was reading a story from the 1800’s. Discrimination based on race is one of the worst things to happen to someone and I think it’s disgusting that a American Nobel Prize-winning geneticist would even challenge the notion that we are not all created equal. I’m personally insulted that Watson could make this comment about a whole nation of people he doesn’t know. Who are these “people” who have to deal with black employees? What does it say about our world when people can make these comments to the public and not have the evidence behind it, ready for the questions? Also it makes me sad to know that this was a American who has to have knowledge of our past and how hard it was for African Americans to overcome those stereotypes, just to spit in their ancestors faces, with this quote.

By: Global Voices Online » Russia: Bloggers On George W. Bush and "Russian DNA"

Global Voices Online » Russia: Bloggers On George W. Bush and "Russian DNA" — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:24:34 +0000

[...] Below are a few responses, translated from Russian. (A GV translation of the Russian-language comments on the James Watson controversy is here.) [...]

By: james dwyer

james dwyer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:30:41 +0000

Shame on Watson! He should know better! So-called “race” is simply a random assortment of very superficial genetic characteristics.
Read ‘Race: Man’s Most Dangerous Myth’ by Ashley Montague, which I read when I was sixteen, changing forever my own mental swamp of racist notions (a swamp which Mr. Watson occupies!).