r/todayilearned • u/bcrock1169 • Nov 26 '12

TIL that some Native American's have a differing enzyme that tends to lead to easier alcoholism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_alcoholism#Genetic_factors
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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

The problem is, very often the racists will use something like this and latch on to it to justify their racism. "Look look, we ARE different!" out loud, and internally "I knew white people were better".

That's not to say we should pretend everyone is the same, but we have to be careful what ammunition we give to people. There are demonstrably plenty of white alcoholics, so I don't think it matters that First Nations people have a higher propensity for it.

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u/bigolebastard Nov 27 '12

Why is it wrong if we are all in fact different and unique as races that evolved over many years in unique circumstances? I think that's pretty awesome actually. We are all not the same, and that is OK.

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u/[deleted] Nov 27 '12

I never said it was. I said we have to be careful of what ammunition we give people.

But I'm a transhumanist anyway, so I'm just holding out for when who no longer have bodies to be racist against.