From racialism to racism
Georgina Lawton (A twist in the tale, 17 August) questions whether DNA testing companies accurately present information about race. More importantly, she questions how genomic testing companies treat the concept of ethnicity. Quoting Mark Thomas, an evolutionary geneticist, Lawton agrees that “these companies are using ethnicity as a nice, polished euphemism for race”.
However, Lawton should have taken her critique further, for some DNA testing companies actively exploit popular misconceptions about race and ethnicity, and in so doing, pander to age-old racialist views regarding the inheritance of biological and cultural traits. An email ad from one of these companies bears the click-bait title, Do you have royal blood? Thus, the long-discredited notion that cultural or psychological traits are transmitted “in the blood” are simply shifted to the implication they are “in the genes”.
The great danger lying in this racialised take on ethnic differences is that it only requires the injection of a few invidious distinctions between ethnic groups to turn racialism – the heightened awareness of biological differences – into racism. Ironically, then, what ostensibly began as an attempt to show how surprisingly diverse human genetic endowments are may unfortunately have the effect of hardening negative racial stereotypes among people believing in the objective reality of biological race, thereby further confusing biology, personality and culture.
Margaret Vazquez-Geffroy
Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
Our obesity epidemic
George Monbiot’s analysis of the obesity epidemic (24 August) is surely on the mark about the role of sugar we now ingest from products marketed by food and drink companies. But it cannot be correct that daily kilo-calorie intake and physical activity remain the same as compared to 1976. Weight gain comes from some combination of excess intake and reduced energy outgo taken over time. Social status, environment and failed public policy are, as Monbiot states, drivers of the imbalance.
Norbert Hirschhorn
London, UK
• I was disappointed that George Monbiot came to no conclusion as to why we are becoming fatter while eating less. Could it be because we now have too little fat in our diet? Low-fat yoghurts don’t make us feel full.
The sugar in everything we eat is too efficiently absorbed. Fat is not very efficiently absorbed by our digestion, makes us feel full and kept us slim in the past, when fat in the diet was acceptable. Fifty years ago, my uncle’s frying pan would be awash with lard as he cooked his bacon and eggs. By today’s standard, he was far from fat.
David Woodroffe
Luton, UK
The Brexit conundrum
Theresa May shows a lack of political nous by resisting the Brexit expats’ challenge (24 August). She claims that she is merely carrying out the expressed will of the British people.
The voters, however, will not take ownership of the problems resulting from Brexit. All fingers of blame will point to politicians. Hard, soft and remainer politicians will in turn point the finger at the PM. Any form of Brexit may lead to the breakup of her political party and the poisoning of political discourse in a divided country for a generation – not the legacy any PM would wish. A new referendum would not sort the situation.
There is, however, a simple solution. When we approach the point of no return for exiting the EU, there are only two possibilities regarding a trade deal. The government will either have a deal that is 100% agreed with both parliament and the 27, or it won’t. If we have an agreed deal, then we should have a referendum of the facts: remain or soft Brexit. If we don’t have an agreed deal, then we should have a different referendum of the facts: remain or hard Brexit.
The resulting informed will of the British people would provide a more powerful mandate for the PM. The voting public would then have to take responsibility for causing problems resulting from Brexit.
Dougie Thom
Edinburgh, UK
• Regarding your piece Brexit turmoil may lead to new party (24 August): in 1981, a group of centrist Labour MPs broke away to form the Social Democratic party. When this new party failed, it merged with the Liberal party in 1988. Those MPs who feel that Jeremy Corbyn is too leftwing or Theresa May too rightwing already have a natural home with the Liberal Democrats, who support remaining in the EU.
The formation of the SDP helped ensure that Britain had Tory governments from 1979 to 1997 and aided Margaret (“There is no such thing as society”) Thatcher’s dismantling of the welfare state. Do those Labour MPs who disagree with Corbyn really want to see Britain’s poor dying in ever greater numbers due to state benefits sanctions, homelessness and a failing NHS?
Angela Smith
Norwich, UK
• While I heartily agree that Jeremy Corbyn should assert “a more strident anti-Brexit position”, I would be less than thrilled were he to screech it out, as my third-grade teacher was wont to.
RM Fransson
Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
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