BNP and Racism

[sobrique]

OK so the BNP/question time discussion has triggered a bit of debate today in the office.
The subject of discussion - everyone is deep down a 'racist' - we're deep down hardwired to reject the things that are different. Fight the people from other tribes, and purge the 'deviants'. That's what worked when we were cavemen, and it is what drives 'racism' and 'bullying of goths' and the like today.

That caveman instinct is one we have to overcome - the 'natural state' of humanity is to be prejudiced - be it racist, sexist, homophobic, ageist or just generally rejecting 'alternative' culture.

I'm not entirely sure what I think. I think I can see the logic - there is something to overcome, but with a little bit of thought we realise that sort of thing is a relic of the past - racism is as obselete as going and clubbing mammoths to death for food.

Comments

[draconas-rage.livejournal.com]

To play devils advocate: it is not just "our" caveman instinct - it is hardwired into the genes of every creature on the planet. Fight to prove the worth of your genetic material, the strong will breed, the weak will not. For weak read everything that is not you.

That drive has produced some of the greatest advances in human history: from gunpowder, the atomic bomb to the space program. I don't think it ever will be something we grow out of. We are preprogrammed to fight and to produce our best results when under threat.