The Theory of Evolution is Racism

My opponent defines racism as the belief that race accounts for difference in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. This definition must be taken as a whole to be accurate. It is not merely safe to say that belief that race accounts for differences in human character is racism. It is a known fact that members of particular races such as African Americans and Asians are more likely to be lactose intolerant. It is also a medically proven fact that certain diseases are more prevalent in certain races. The same genetic difference that makes African Americans more prone to sickle-cell anemia also prevents them from contracting malaria. Different racial characteristics can be as obvious as skin tone; therefore, the first part of the definition provided is not sufficient. The second part of my opponent's definition is key, the belief that a particular race is superior to others because of these believed differences. My opponent defines Evolution as the process of natural selection, where desirable genetic traits pass on to successive generations and as a result, the species slowly evolves to contain these genetic traits. He then argues that belief in the existence of these genetic traits implies belief that one group of people is superior to another, and if one group is superior to another then it is a racist belief. However, there are several problems with this line of argument. First is that the view of superiority is far too narrowly construed. A trait that may make one group of people superior in one climate does not make them superior in another climate. In areas of the globe with higher levels of solar radiation and direct sunlight, the human body adapted by developing a darker pigment to the skin, this trait is a superior trait in those climates, but are not superior in other regions of the world. Likewise, in colder climates, thicker hair was a superior trait as it protected the body from cold and thus it became more prevalent. Another flaw in my opponents argument is that is assumes desirable genetic traits exist only along racial divides. This is clearly not the case. In the early Middle Ages where disease was widespread due to poor sanitation people with weaker immune systems were less likely to live to an age to procreate. As a result, the children of each successive generation were more likely to exhibit the traits of their parents, in this case a more hearty immune system. In times when food was scarce society considered full figured women more attractive than slighter women as their shape was a sign of health and fuller hips resulted in fewer complications during childbirth. As a result, more children were born with these genetic characteristics. These traits existed within racial groups, not between them. This further highlights how race is not a factor in the Theory of Evolution. Finally, the final two contentions of my opponent fall clearly into one of the most several fallacies of logic, the genetic fallacy. The genetic fallacy is committed by attacking the origin of the argument rather than the argument itself (http://en.wikipedia.org...). Stating that people with racist beliefs and intentions supported an idea does not make the idea inherently racist. Racist claims made by the Nazi party and by other Eugenic movements were not based on empirical scientific evidence; rather they attempted to rationalize their beliefs of racial superiority through use of a scientific theory. This was a poor argument on their part, but the does not invalidate the Theory of Evolution. In conclusion, in order to attest that the Theory of Evolution is a racist theory one would have to assume that desirable genetic traits that would be passed on through natural selection exist solely within one race. Additionally you would have to assume that the existence of specific racial traits make one race superior in all climates rather than in a particular climate or geographical area. The Theory of Evolution merely claims that difference exist and that genetic traits that are more desirable will be passed on to successive generations. It does not explicitly or inferentially claim that these traits in any way make one particular race superior to another.