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<div><BR>First let me suggest a review of a book related to the issue of skin <BR>color:<BR>"Human Primates<BR><BR>The Third Chimpanzee, by Dr. Jared Diamond<BR>[Among the top 10 books I've ever read]</div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
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<div>This was a very good book. Highly recommended.</div>
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<div>Terry:<BR><BR>This is Dr. Diamond's attempt to explain to his two boys how humans and <BR>chimps can be so different when the DNA is not (98.4% identical). </div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>This number is still a subject of some debate.</div>
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<div>Terry:</div>
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<div>The second half of his book gets pretty technical and you'd have to really <BR>be curious to make it through -- but it is worth it. He hints that <BR>Mediterranean climate is why European-type primates have historically <BR>dominated so much of the globe, without being really any different that <BR>any of the other human primates. This important theme, which makes <BR>skin color look ridiculous as a way of judging another person, is <BR>explained in his Guns, Germs and Steel. </div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>I thought this part of the book was rather silly. One can just as easily make the argument for "sexual selection". There are no simple explanations. Cultural differences, geographic divisions, slavery, and even the decisions of individual leaders in battles led to the current mix. </div>
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<div>Terry:<BR> Some sociologists fear that global warming is one <BR>of the factors why immigration to European countries are on the rise. </div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>As fars as I know, Europe is facing a population decline because of lowered birth rates and is actively courting immigration to raise those numbers to keep their social welfare programs solvent.....</div>
<div><BR>Terry:</div>
<div>The changes in climate that cause drought cause the migration of <BR>primates from one place to another to look for food. In turn these <BR>events cause the domino effect leading to the present conflict/ wars <BR>between the affluent and less affluent nations.</div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>People war for a variety of reasons. This is only one of them.</div>
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<div>Terry:<BR>The mixture of race and skin color pales in comparison to a much larger <BR>conflict that can lead to the extinction of the human race. The <BR>probability of this happening is high and imho cryogenics is a belief <BR>akin to a religious belief if we cling to it as the only solution to <BR>the preservation of the human race.</div>
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<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>Not sure how you got here. And I don't think anyone clings to cryogenics as the only solution to human preservation. It's just the best option available at the moment to deal with those who are unfortunate enough to die before the other problems are solved.</div>
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<div><BR>Terry:<BR>Technologists who focus on creating the process of cryogenics may <BR>overlook what is needed right here and now. We explored the cosmos but <BR>we have'nt controlled the weather. We barely touch the tip of the ice <BR>berg so to speak when it comes to understanding the processes of nature <BR>such as:<BR><BR>1. Consciousness<BR>2. Mutating virus causing epidemics<BR>3. Emotional vs. Rational behavior<BR><BR></div>
<div>Kevin said:</div>
<div>Not sure what you mean. Some "technologists" focus on cryogenics. But most focus on other things. More money goes into the first two of your points than into cryogenics so I'm not quite sure what your concern is. As for number 3, I fail to see the point of study. What would it accomplish? Emotions aren't always irrational. Rationality is not always the answer. Without emotional behaviour the soldiers never would have won on Normandy beach. I wouldn't want a world without emotion. Of course if it were, I wouldn't be upset about it......</div>
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