Why aren't we allowed to procreate with family members. I know, I know, that's gross, it's disgusting, shunned; but why? Well why would we condone behavior that creates devolved offspring?
Everyone alive today has FoxP2 - it is a genetic mutation that makes humans smart and, well human. Pidedality is one trait that is a product of our larger brains and increased intelligence. I recently watched a film on KQED called "Family that Walks on All Fours" that raises an intense scientific issue.
The episode is enlightening - the Turkish family is difficult to watch, they are like animals, they walk on all fours and stare into the camera like zombies - actually it kind of freaked me out!
The family, however, sparked an interesting question that is more of moral and societal question than a scientific one. Let me set up the issue this way. We don't breed with our family members because of the risk that society has deemed unacceptable. Same family breeding allows negative genetic mutations to become dominant, often resulting in retardation. The good of society, is a good enough reason not to allow this behavior. So then, what are the limits to acceptable breeding policy.
It seems taboo to discuss, but we all tote our IQ around with us and our society is made up of a variety of people ranging from, simply put, smart to dumb. We are trained to think that we are all smart in our unique way, but some have a few more pistons firing than others. A lack of intelligence isn't always as visually obvious as walking on all fours, but evolutionarily speaking some humans are not as advanced as others.
That being said, let's look at the Chinese governmental mandate called the "One Child Policy", and take a look at how it might be compared to social policy about inbreeding. Both policies dictate that citizens should not procreate in ways that are harmful to society. Watching "The Family Who Walks On All Fours" I started to wonder why social policy doesn't favor intelligent offspring over the offspring of parents who are less evolved. See the movie Idiocracy. Maybe it's too hard to draw a line without obvious visual deformities, or Is it because we don't have a good enough way of testing how smart or evolved certain individuals are? Why isn't there a test that evaluates our DNA, determines our biological intelligence and dictates whether we're permitted to have 1 kid ( below par) or 3 kids ( really smart), or maybe not any kids at all?
I think about mandates currently in place to enhance our society, how they will change and what we can do to encourage intelligence without becoming a bunch of Nazis.
Two things: - Good brand communication requires strategy and creative. Together they are a powerful combination. - Good presentation communication must be simple, concise & captivating. I recently wrote a blog on this discussing the impact of Powerpoint.
Where has Russian been? Are they making a come back? What a lucrative way for the government to increase nationalism - it's just as fun as handing out drugs only you boost your population instead of creating a bunch of strung out losers.
If your Mom said, "Alright, I've signed you up for sex camp, you have to go procreate for the next two weeks," would you kick and scream? Well.... maybe, it is kind of strange, but it's being embraced in Russia.
This article talks about "Nashi", the 100,000 person strong youth movement run by Vladimir Putin's Kremlin that has become a central part of Russian political life. During the camp sex is encouraged and condoms are nowhere in sight.
The main reason Russians feel it's an important movement is because, "the hard-drinking, hardsmoking and disease-ridden population is set to plunge by a million a year in the next decade." Some point out the similarities to Nazis movements, while others feel it's an effort to combat democracy.
Despite the somewhat obvious governmental agenda, kids are going; obviously for the sex but also for a sense of purpose and for opportunities for an education and a chance at getting a leg up. "Nashi supporters drown out protests by Russia's feeble and divided democratic opposition," mmm I guess sex is a powerful thing. I know history repeats itself, but how has Russia so quickly forgotten that communism didn't work out for them the first time around. The Kremlin's chief, Vladislav Surkov, is trying to explain why questioning the crooks and spooks who run Russia is not just mistaken, but treacherous." It seems to me that we have similar problems, eg. the US healthcare system; we know there's a huge problem, we know it needs fixing, but we're having trouble figuring out how to get started.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
With all the social network sites being developed it makes sense to figure out the next step - how do we connect people who are in need of connecting but aren't aware of the importance of this currently unformed connection.
Traveling has made me realize how impactful one can be just by talking and spreading information.
I read this article the other day about an invention that makes it a lot easier to transport water, and said to myself, "wow, what an ingenious idea," and I'm wondering how far the idea has really progressed, and what potential it has if the right people learn about.
This reminded me of that old Chinese proverb, you can give a man a fish to feed him for a day or you can teach him to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime. It seems to me like the best thing to do with a good idea is not only get it out there, but get it to the people who need it so it has as many opportunities to succeed as possible.
