THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, February 25, 1995            TAG: 9502240018
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

SCIENTISTS SAY RACES AREN'T GENETICALLY DIFFERENT: WE'RE MAINLY ALIKE

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the new studies showing zero genetic difference between races would deliver a mighty punch to rascists' jaws?

In a perfect world, rascists would rub their jaws and say, ``Darn, I guess if there is no genetic difference, one race cannot be inherently better than another. Let's all live together in love and peace.''

But racism never was based on rational thought. Racism is rooted in hate and fear and the desire to be better than somebody else. The weirdest kinds of false science have been used - are still being used - to ``prove'' racial differences.

Now Stanford University geneticist Luca Cavalli-Sforza, has reported, and other studies are showing, race is only skin-deep, and differences in appearance result from differences in climate, not genes.

``I find the term `race' pretty useless,'' Cavalli-Sforza said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

``We have no basis to claim there is any genetic basis for differences in intelligence in any racial group,'' said Joseph Graves, a geneticist from the University of Arizona.

Odds are, the lack of genetic difference between races will be twisted into an argument for ending affirmative-action programs. Opponents of the programs will argue they are no longer needed, given the now-established genetic homogeneousness of us all.

The truth, however, is that affirmative-action programs were implemented not to combat racial inferiority but to level the playing field after decades of racial prejudice. Science may now assert that racial differences are insignificant, but prejudice remains.

The new scientific reports hardly count as bombshells. Earlier evidence, for example, had prompted the American Association of Physical Anthropologists to say that ``pure races'' do not exist and probably never did.

Racists may be saying, ``I wonder what race this guy Cavalli-Sforza is. That ain't a good American name like Smith.''

We don't know what race he is, and it doesn't matter. by CNB