Vito In brief, humans are great apes whose distinguishing...
· Comment — Archer T. Ships replied to John T. Kennedy's comment. · View on Facebook · Markdown source
Vito In brief, humans are great apes whose distinguishing characteristics are language ability, opposable thumbs, high intelligence, upright walking gait, and long post-birth neoteny. Scientists define species as the same when they can successfully interbreed with each other to produce fertile viable offspring. Blacks, whites, Hispanics, we can all successfully interbreed, so we're all members of the same species. And I've already explained why I want humans to have special privileges: it's what I, a human, would want for myself. I don't want to live in a world where I have to fear being rousted from my bed in the middle of the night, put on a rail car, and shipped to Liberia against my will. I don't want to be stripped of my freedom without committing a crime or a fair trial, based solely on my race, birthplace, or gender. If governments are allowed to create subcultures that treat some groups harshly (blacks, immigrants, Jews, etc) not only do they cause harm to those groups, that culture can easily spread to the entire government. Consider how laws that were passed to "fight terrorists" are now being used against everyone. Once established, authoritarian regimes are difficult to oust without a lot of suffering and bloodshed. Governments are dictated by culture as much as by law, and I only want to foster a culture that adheres to the law and treats all people with respect and fairness.