reply to post by justsomeboreddude
I have to say I am deeply troubled by your interpretation of
Eugenics being anything resembling
benevolent in origin.
Eugenics is "the study of, or belief in, the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by such means as
discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging
reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics)."
As a social movement eugenics reached its height of popularity in the early decades of the 20th century. By the end of World War II eugenics had been
largely abandoned, though current trends in genetics have raised questions amongst critical academics concerning parallels between pre-war attitudes
about eugenics and current "utilitarian" and social darwinistic theories. At its pre-war zenith, the movement often pursued pseudoscientific notions
of racial supremacy and purity.
Have you actually read anything in the history books about the Eugenics programs of the Nazi's and the extermination of so many
"undesirables" by Adolf Hitler?
It had a very peculiar name, one that seems to ring a bell for people, louder than any other name throughout history.
Do you remember it?
Holocaust
Troubling is the thought that selective breeding, through scientific endeavors, in creating a "better human" would be talked about without
remembering history and the implications of what happens when you selectively breed humanity in order to sift through the genetic detritus to toss
aside anything "undesirable".
No matter what, Nazi Germany, as well as the search for "the perfect human" to me is something that gave me nightmares while reading the history
books about this megalomaniacal dictator, Hell-bent on wiping out an entire race of people that he saw as not fit to populate any area of the
planet.
While I understand that science itself is not evil, the usage of it in the past has been, and while there is a potential for benevolent usage of
something like this to stop cancer, stop certain selective DNA based issues, it is troubling that the negative aspect is almost forgotten and thrown
to the wayside anytime someone talks about this because as anyone who knows anything knows,
history repeats itself.
Have a look at the thread in my signature with "Eugenics" in the title and see what those people who proclaim themselves our "masters" have in
mind, utilizing your choice of threads here, Eugenics.
[edit on 21-5-2009 by SpartanKingLeonidas]