--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "david_russell_watson" <liberty@>
> wrote:
> >
> > --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@> wrote:
> > >
> > > So because of his sang impur he had opinions a real Frenchman
> > > (a non-miscegenated one) wouldn't have?
> >
> > A stupid notion, isn't that? Though reading it I get a
> > feeling of déjà vu. Now where might I have come across
> > such a suggestion before?
> >
> > Oh yes, I remember now. It was at
> >
> > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/9203 .
>
> Out of curiosity: Your boyfriend's black, right?
>
> That remark I made because I found it amusing that the god Thor, the
> legend of whom I wondered might be based on a person who actually
> existed, might have had ancestors from Africa. And I do think
> temperament is partially genetic. But I think there is difference
> between implying people might be hot-headed because of race and
> disqualifying their opinions because of race. I would personally not
> be offended by the former, but I would be by the latter.
>
> By maybe we should ask Andrew if he feels offended by any of the two
> episodes, and if by both which one he feels is most offensive, if he
> wants to, that is?
>
>
> Torsten
>
Well, I'm a little afraid to answer this question because I'm sure I
don't speak for all people of African ancestry, but personally I
usually apply terms such as "hot-headed" to individuals rather than
races. Nevertheless I have noticed that many males of African
ancestry have a tendency towards aggressive or pugnacious behaviour,
perhaps in a proportion greater than that of males of European
ancestry (and I think similar tendencies, to a lesser degree, among
females of African ancestry -- but by no means universal or a general
racial characteristic, there are many gentle people of African
ancestry!) Whether I'm offended? Well, I hope no other people of
African ancestry are reading this because what I am about to say is
potentially very offensive to them: I completely understand why many
people of European ancestry characterize people of African ancestry
with negative qualities and often generalize, because I too notice
that these qualities seem more frequent among people of African
ancestry, and I sometimes feel ashamed of the behaviour or
rationalities of many of "us" (I put "us" in quotes because in my
lifetime I have never really felt like that is my fundamental
identity; I have always felt Canadian or human basically). But I
think it's unfair to _automatically_ exclude a person's opinions
because of race; everyone is entitled to an opinion because no one
knows all the absolute truths of the universe -- and I
believe,hopefully, that everyone (including those of African descent)
can be open to debate and can respect others' opinions. But it is
true that the vast majority of history, science, literature,
philosophy, technology, and other intellectual disciplines on this
planet, are extremely overwhelmingly dominated by the accomplishment
of non-African races, and I believe especially by Europeans, so I
think it is natural for these races to have a "reflex" to discount
the opinions of those of African origin. So I may be a little
offended (but not really significantly) by the generalizations you
speak of (and yes more so by the "hot-headed" generalization), but at
the same time I completely understand them (and feel they may be
justified to some degree). I may sound racist, especially to others
of African ancestry, but I think it's just the facts of life.
Actually, what offends me more is when people see me and
automatically assume e.g. that Denzel Washington is my favourite
actor or that Stevie Wonder is my favourite musician -- not
necessarily so! My tastes and opinions are in general similar to the
majority European-descended North Americans, so I generally most
admire or appreciate artists, intellectuals, music, literature, etc.
of the majority European-origin demographic, and find their history
the most interesting. This is probably simply from living in a
continent dominated by those of European ancestry, but could also
relate to my own partial European ancestry (as elaborated recently in
several of my postings). And hey, it could well be that I have some
Viking ancestry in me, however slight, from those Vikings that
settled in Ireland and Scotland (cf. my mother's partial golden
straight hair and fair skin)! So the idea that a black (or at least
a partial black) might have Viking background maybe is not all that
outlandish! PS I am happy that you appreciate me enough to consider
me on this matter -- if I'm of little value as a (very) amateur Indo-
Europeanist, there's some comfort in having my opinion appreciated on
one topic!
AJ