It seems to be quite the fashion here on IGS to speak of GÇ£otherGÇ¥ people, our fellow humans, as if they are somehow by the very nature of their birth within certain political spheres or ethnic groups somehow lesser then whatever group or category we were either born into or migrated to ourselves.

I would like to put that foolish notion to rest once and for all, humans as a specie are generally equal in capacity on average. There is no legitimate quantifiable empirical data that has ever indicated otherwise.

Certainly political & religious spheres create patterns of social behavior that become readily identifiable with some people raised under their influence, but these are just that, patterns of behavior, not inate genetic destiny or limitations.

I would like to challenge all those who speak here on IGS to meet the minimum standard of intellectual honesty when posting about groups of people that are GÇ£otherGÇ¥ than themselves, to apply all the rights, privileges, capacity, and humanity they attribute to themselves to the GÇ£othersGÇ¥ equally. If that standard is met I think it will elevate the overall conversation here on IGS.

The popular and powerful religious, nationalistic, and ethnic chest thumping will have it's place as indicators of our individual patterns of behavior but they will no longer be allowed to masquerade as proven scientific facts.

I will attempt to have my future posts reflect this more intellectually balanced standard and I both invite and challenge you to join me in doing so.