Scientist concludes: Maori are not ‘retarded psychotics’
Everyone needs someone to shit on. For New Zealanders, it’s the Maori.
Three years, while trying to explain why Maori are overrepresented in jails and crime statistics, researchers Rod Lea and Geoffrey Chambers claimed they (the Maori, that is) have a so-called “warrior gene” that makes them predisposed to “commit acts of brutality.” These findings — surprise, surprise — upset quite a few people.
But now another scientist has come forward to debunk Lea and Chambers’ findings. Not only is the warrior gene bullshit, says Gary Hook, but the Maori aren’t retarded either. Good for you, Maori!
From News.com.au:
Researcher Gary Hook found “there is no evidence to indicate that the behavioural characteristics of Maori as a people are in anyway unusual”.
“Maori are not borderline psychotics, retarded, hyper-aggressive, depressive, antisocial, impulsive, suicidal risk takers and to suggest otherwise is irresponsible and not supported by the facts,” Dr Hook wrote.
He said there was evidence the two researchers had made several serious flaws in their scientific reasoning. And not only was the science criticised but the ethics of claiming a “genetic explanation for negative social and health statistics” had been questioned, he said.
“While conviction rates for domestic violence of Maori exceed those of any other group there is no indication that the (monoamine oxidase gene) system carried by Maori functions any differently from that of any other ethnic group and certainly no evidence to indicate that it was anything to do with violent behaviour in Maori.”
Racial stereotyping, particularly by scientists, was “unethical and scandalous”, he said.
That’s not to say racial stereotyping can’t be fun. Just watch this video:
via Maori ‘not retarded borderline psychotics’ | News.com.au.
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using the word retarded here is just off. it’s a slur that demeans and offends people with special needs. Yes, they actually are human beings with feelings shocking as they may be to you.
Jeff, while I’m not perhaps the archetypal rugby mad, oudoorsy Kiwi, I am a New Zealander, and I take exception to ‘everyone needs someone to shit on, and for New Zealanders it’s the Maori’. Few if any post colonial countries have a track record like NZ’s in the last 40 or so years of making amends to their indigenous population. For a small country, huge sums of money have been handed over, as have vast tracts of land. This in the name of the ‘crown’, which is actually the NZ taxpayer. Subsequent governments have got behind the revival of Maori language, sponsoring traditional arts and so on and so on. I don’t say the situation is perfect, but I don’t think it bears much relation to the way you characterise it. But a cheap shot makes for easier copy eh?