DNA discoverer a bigot?
Oct. 19th, 2007 01:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sorrowmonkeyhttp://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/19/uk.race/
Apparently, Nobel-winning biologist James Watson has said some things that got people worked up. Some of them look pretty damning, but others look a little less like morality questions than actual scientific questions.
Clearly, making disparaging comments about black employees is over the line. Endorsing abortions based on the sexual orientation of the fetus? That's going to spark anger and debate, at least.
However, some of the other statements (all paraphrased by the reporter):
Apparently, Nobel-winning biologist James Watson has said some things that got people worked up. Some of them look pretty damning, but others look a little less like morality questions than actual scientific questions.
Clearly, making disparaging comments about black employees is over the line. Endorsing abortions based on the sexual orientation of the fetus? That's going to spark anger and debate, at least.
However, some of the other statements (all paraphrased by the reporter):
- Stupidity is a genetic disease that should be treated.
- There might be links between skin color and sexual prowess and between a person's weight and their level of ambition.
- There was no reason to believe different races separated by geography should have evolved identically.
Are these really that controversial?
