On Racism

ON RACISM The other day I saw two male lizards on the wall, chase another male lizard. The two lizards chasing had bright and brilliant colors, whilst the one pursued Had very pale colors. The spot of the chase was on the wall, just before my Favorite relaxation spot. I continued to observe the lizards daily, and found out that the above mentioned Event, was incidental and one of territorial protection, whereby (most probably) The other two lizards had simultaneously sighted the encroaching lizard, and Together gave chase. In humans however, the intelligence to identify an establish significant divisions In man, by human categorization, through the observations of differences in skin -color, culture, gender, nationality, religion etc. is the basis for our ethnographic And other bio-sociological classifications, and our racist tendencies, prejudices, And biases as well. Today the issue of race is of a wide context, which involves psychological, socioLogical aspects of analysis, and contextual elements as well. The element of the Moral is also very much involved as well, as the ethical side of racial labeling Is perhaps the most important aspect of the general context of racism. The world is gradually evolving into a cosmopolitan circle, and that circle is Taking on a basically western hue (as the west leads in civilization-al advanceMents e.g. in technology), but that is not bringing the world into a positive social Synthesis yet, as the various parts of the world selects what is necessary, like Technology, international cooperation and finance, and modernizes old Cleavages and other basis for inter-group tensions – like international econMic competition, the nuclear arms race, xenophobia, and counter-group biases And prejudices. Or else why Darfur (in Sudan), and the numerous violent interEthnic conflicts across Africa (like in the recent past, in Rwanda, Congo and the Ivory Coast), and racial-minority bias in Europe, Bolivia, and Pakistan. As I had earlier said the ethical aspect of racism is perhaps its most important Aspect, for ‘bad belief and hate’ without logical validity and justification accounts For racist prejudices and feelings. As Bertrand Russell (the English philosopher) Wrote * ‘…we have not at present any good ground to for wishing to encourage One race at the expense of another…’ I also doubt if at any other time there shall Be any grounds to enthrone certain races over others, in very fundamental terms, Like in absolute and exclusive intellectual, or biological superiority. Great innovations and actions, as well as great foibles and quirks, have come From all quarters of the globe; for Africa’s Mobutu and Asia’s Suharto, there Europe’s Stalin – all dictators, for Europe’s Yeats, Anatole France, Kipling and Shaw, there is Africa’s Soyinka – all Noble laureates in literature, just as for India’s

Gandhi, there was the American Martin Luther King JNR. And all in general/related Contrasts and juxtapositions of lifestyle, not un-human (or extra human if you Prefer) The onus for eradicating racism falls upon the human race itself, for it has to see And go beyond its differences, to reach out to a greater humanity. A humanity that Does not uphold certain nations or races over others, or one bio-sociological (Human) unit over others – subjectively and crassly. For even if there are weakNesses and deficiencies in fundamental terms, in any race, it would be the duty Of a charitable world to erase those deficiencies and weaknesses by brotherliness And sisterliness as well.