In the era of Obama’s presidency, the race issue became the focal point of his agenda, despite the fact he was elected by the majority of white Americans for two terms. Mr. Obama, instead of bringing the country together to heal the nation, he fanned the flames of racial division and revived that notion. This claim resulted in an intensification of more hatred and bigotry within the United States and directly pitted Americans against one another. This event now has become so problematic nationwide.
In general, racism is part of human nature. Almost everyone to some extent feels his culture, his country and his faith is superior to others.
Thanks to scientific discovery, the genetics behind racism, reveals that human beings of all races have the same genetic makeup. Humanity has suffered for far too long, albeit, in vain. What troubles me is the fact that our society is not headed in the right direction. Many Americans have become overly cautious during conversations and discussions that often are misinterpreted as racist.
Here’s the million-dollar question: Do we need some major readjustment in our thought processes? Right at the start, it is important to realize that both terms "race" and "racism" are social designations with no actual basis in fact.
Genetically, humanity is from one common gene pool. Science has established that genetic variations within even the most distinctly homogenous isolated "race" is greater than that found across different races. Hence, we must instill this fact into our brains, that there is only one race:
The human race.
Once this fact becomes part of our thinking process, the entire direction of humanity will change forever. Then we go to the next step, our physical features. Once we establish we all are from the same gene pool, the remaining obstacles are easily solved, irrespective of differences in certain physical characteristics that may dominate in some populations and are minimally present or absent in others.
Physical features associated with different “people,” such as skin color, the ratio of trunk to extremities, type of hair, and the shape of the nose are results of climatic adaptations.
Looking objectively at racism, involves attribution of some negative qualities to a population of humans and is solely based on a selective physical feature, such as skin color, and is simply another form of categorizing; albeit, a repugnant one.
Psychologically, the practice of grouping people and ascribing its members with certain attributes is a form of generalization or stereotyping. Generalization, however, may have its flaws but it is also of great utilitarian value in numerous instances. By applying generalization, the person avoids the tedious and practically impossible task of treating each person individually.
Without the tool of generalization, humanity would be languishing in its pre-Stone-Age state of development. It is the faculty of generalization, also present in other species, that obviates the need for identifying everything on a case-by-case basis. Hence, dogs are just dogs. Despite their incredible variety of size and form, they are all grouped as dogs. One can approach them and tickle them behind the ears.
No need to re-discover this information with every dog. Wolves are wolves. They are not dogs, although they may look like some dogs. One does well to avoid them and not attempt to tickle them behind the ears.
Racism is the misuse of generalization that some human groups employ to their advantage, even with the full knowledge of its unjust and evil nature.
Bi-directional racism is common among black and white people. Black and white people in the United States may feel antipathy toward one another but may tend to express it in different ways.
This skin color based antipathy is seen among people who are greatly homogenous and vary only slightly in their skin color. Egyptians who have somewhat lighter skin colors, for instance, treat people of darker skin colors, although both are members of the same faith, with cruel discrimination. Respect for the inherent dignity and well-being of each member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, human justice and peace in the world. This important principle is enshrined in the United Nations Charter (1945), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
What makes people different is not their biology, but the software that directs their behavior. There is ample proof to support the above assertion. A case in point is the present menace posed by the people whose life is programmed by the software of hate that is anathema to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The results are self-evident. Hate, superstition, violence, and a raft of other inhumane beliefs drive these people.
We need to realize that we humans can reflect on the past, learn from it and even predict the future, a gift other species do not have. We are minimally programmed by nature to behave rigidly as prescribed by our genetic endowments. We, humans, enjoy a tremendous degree of freedom of choice.
Misapplying our choices, both individually and collectively, put us in great peril. Humanity’s good achievements and progress are the results of making sensible choices as well as abandoning our maladaptive modes of thinking and practices.
Racism remains an intractable vestige of old humanity that inflicts great harm on all within the ever-shrinking global village that brings all its inhabitants into close daily contact. Actively fighting the pre-potent disposition of racism is among the ongoing and unfinished business of mankind.
Trusting in each other, believing that we all were created equally is a step in the right direction. Accepting that America is both religiously and ethnically diverse and respecting each and every one us is an equal shareholder of this great land we call America and finally presents both unity and diversity.
