Reader: Darwin’s view was racist, chauvinistic

Dear Editor:

We are now in the bicentennial year of Charles Darwin’s birth in 1809 and next month will mark the 150th year since the initial publication of his book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.”

Both Darwin and his publications remain controversial, yet his theories are taught almost as sacred scripture in our government-run schools.

If we are to teach Darwin’s theories, we should teach more Darwin, not less.

For example, his faulty methods of scientific observation led him to conclude that: “… women, though generally superior to men in moral qualities, are inferior intellectually…” (1882 letter to Caroline Kennard). Darwin then followed up with his scientific observation: “Man is more courageous… and has a more inventive genius. His brain is absolutely larger…”

In chapter 19 of “Descent of Man,” scientist Darwin erroneously concluded that: “Man has ultimately become superior to woman.” Brilliant!

With regard to the topic of superior and inferior races, Darwin declared in a Feb. 6, 1862 letter to C. Kingsley that he had observed “a good many Barbarians and savage(s)…”

Darwin’s scientific predictions were: “It is very true what you say about the higher races of men, when high enough, replacing and clearing off the lower races. In 500 years how the Anglo-saxon race will have spread and exterminated whole nations; and in consequence how much the human race, viewed as a unit, will have risen in rank.”

His scientific prediction was that when his white Anglo-saxon race killed off the “lower races,” the human race will have “risen in rank.” Brilliant!

The 2008 Louisiana Science Education Act calls for the promotion of “critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of concepts, laws, principles and scientific theories.”

Darwin’s racist and chauvinistic scientific theories should be taught in our schools along with Darwin’s other writings in order that all of his scientific and social theories may be more properly evaluated and understood – let us bring the dark things to the light for frank examination.

I propose that instead of one Darwin Bicentennial Celebration, we have an annual “Darwinian Memorial,” fashioned after the annual Holocaust Memorial. After all, before Karl Marx’s ideas led to the death of tens of millions of people Marx wanted to dedicate his book “Das Kapital” to Darwin, and Adolph Hitler considered Darwin’s ideas as giving scientific legitimacy to the Aryan race’s intended “rise in rank” though the extermination of a “lower” race.

If our children are to be taught Darwinian theories, then the students should learn all, not a selected few, of Darwin’s scientific teachings – let us educate, not propagandize, our students.

Bert Robinson,

Baton Rouge, La.