race

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

At 01:43 PM 7/19/01 -0700, joanna wrote:
>I myself was educated before pomo, therefore I was taught that there were 
>three races: black, white, and asian. However, since then I have realized 
>that this concept is a product of the mind/culture rather than of biology. 
>Nevertheless, just because I don't believe in it, doesn't mean that other 
>people don't believe in it and I was particularly focusing on the zionist 
>concept of the "chosen people" ... the jewish race and all that it leads to.

This whole argument that race might not have biological foundations, but
people believe it does, therefore it is real, reminds me of an old asylum
joke:

A person was committed to a mental hospital because he believed he was a
mouse.  After a prolonged therapy, the shrinks managed to cure the guy and,
consequently, decided to release him.  On the day he was supposed to leave
the hospital, the doctor who treated him shows up to say goodbye and wish
him good luck.  As they talk in the hallway, a cat runs by.  The patient is
absolutely terrified.  "What's wrong?" asks the nonplussed doctor.  The
patient points at the cat.  "My friend" says the doctor "but you've been
through the therapy, and now you know you are not a mouse."  "That's true,
doc" replies the patient, "I know that I'm not a mouse.  But does the cat
know that too?"

wojtek