DISCRIMINATION INTOLERABLE

Discrimination intolerable

An article written by David Crabtree:

The modern mind associates Truth with tyranny rather than freedom. Truth is, after all, very restrictive. If green is green, then green cannot be white or blue or red; it is green and only green. Truth eliminates a myriad of tempting options. Such a situation is deemed intolerable; so Truth is willed out of existence.

While discussing "national character" with a student one day, I argued that it is not inconceivable to me that in ethnic groups certain characteristics might come to predominate such that we come to associate those characteristics with that group. Furthermore, it is not inconceivable that some of those characteristics could be heritable. For example, we associate blue eyes and blond hair with Germanic peoples, dark skin and curly black hair with Negroid peoples, etc.

I continued my argument by saying that it seems quite plausible that the disproportionate number of blacks in professional basketball is due, in part, to anatomical advantages characteristic of blacks.

My interlocutor was appalled by what I was suggesting: "Don't you see what that thinking could lead to? Someone could argue that blacks have other genetically determined characteristics--like low intelligence. That could lead to systematic, institutionalised discrimination. . . . It can't be true!"

"I am not trying to justify discrimination," I responded. "How people would or should respond to such differences is a completely different matter. I am simply raising the possibility that ethnic groups may have genetic differences. If it is true, then it is true, and we must incorporate it into the way we see the world."

"It can't be true. It is too dangerous," were her final words.

I understand and sympathise with her concerns about how my line of reasoning could be used for evil purposes. But I have recounted this discussion for another reason. This student's response was refreshingly honest. She was rejecting my line of thinking not because she had evidence that I was wrong, but because she was unwilling to accept the implications.

The rejection of certain propositions because they contradict cherished beliefs is more common than we realise.

We underestimate the extent to which our desires influence what we accept to be true.

We conceive of ourselves as eminently rational; everything we hold to be true is considered the most reasonable position.

This is an illusion, however. In our saner moments we all realise that it takes little or no evidence to convince us of what we dearly want to be true, while no amount of evidence will convince us of what we can not accept. To pursue the truth sincerely takes a great deal of integrity and bravery. One must be committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.