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Serious question for Linear or Linda...

.. if at all possible, imagine yourself as a black teenager in a science class in high school, today, learning Darwin's theory of evolution. To complicate that, imagine being a science major in college and studying Darwin's theory of evolution and hearing your college professor laud Darwin's genius and go through the motions of making his writings appear as valid science, making it appear that the scientific community as a whole also validates that science.

Then imagine going home with the Darwin's Descent of Man tucked neatly under your arm, settling down at your desk and reading about the intellectual inferiority of blacks, their savage behavior and infantile demeanors and less than doglike capacity to solve problems.

Do you think it would be very uplifting and inspiring? Or would you rather feel more like burning down the schoolhouse and hurting some white people?
I would be disappointed in Darwin's racism but if I were a scientist I would have to believe that Darwin could be wrong about some things and still right about others. If I lived in a society that extolled the equality of all races, I could more easily discount any racist ideas expressed by Darwin as anachronistic to this day and age. Besides, I would rather know the truth about Darwin even if it is uncomfortable.

I confess that I am unfamiliar with "Descent of Man". Could you point me to the sections of the book that make those statements of blacks' inferiority? I would like to know the bad parts of Darwin's character as well as the good.

A faith that connot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets. -- Arthur C. Clarke