Jordan Peterson, the Canadian right-wing commentator known for his outspoken views, is once again at the center of controversy.
The Controversy in Question
Peterson, this time, is in hot water due to comments made about MSNBC anchor Mehdi Hasan’s ethnicity. Peterson’s remarks came in the aftermath of Hasan’s impassioned monologue addressing a racist attack in Jacksonville, Florida.
Mehdi Hasan’s Monologue
During his monologue, Mehdi Hasan, a prominent Brown and Muslim broadcaster and author, delivered a heartfelt plea to the White conservative community. In the wake of a tragic shooting incident in Jacksonville where a 21-year-old assailant killed three Black individuals at a Dollar General store, Hasan urged people to take action. He implored them to confront hate preachers and denounce White supremacist ideology.
Racist Violence From the Right
Hasan’s poignant message drew parallels between the scrutiny and condemnation faced by Muslim communities following acts of terrorism perpetrated by a few individuals and the reluctance of some conservatives to acknowledge and address the growing threat of right-wing racist violence.
Peterson’s Controversial Response
Peterson’s response to Hasan’s monologue was unexpected. He took to social media and crafted a post that appeared to be in the form of free-verse poetry. He wrote: “You’re not really Brown / More like a light tan / Just like ‘White’ people / Plus you’re a Caucasian / By definition / Buddy.”
Peterson Was Criticized
Critics accused Peterson of deflecting attention away from the gravity of the racist attack and instead focusing on Hasan’s ethnicity. They questioned his choice to engage in such a debate instead of unequivocally condemning a racially motivated mass murder. Others labeled Peterson as a sensationalist, expressing concern that his actions were leading people down a dangerous path.
Mehdi Hasan’s Response
Hasan, understandably baffled by Peterson’s remarks, responded. “Nothing to see here, just Jordan Peterson, a White man, telling me I’m actually White. Also, how am I a Caucasian?” he asked. “You’re not Black / And you’re not Asian / What’s left? / Caucasian / It’s not that difficult,” Peterson replied, highlighting his lack of knowledge regarding the topic.
The Wikipedia Citation
In an attempt to bolster his argument, Peterson cited a Wikipedia page claiming that anthropologists had once classified Dravidians, a group of people from India, as “Caucasoid.” It’s crucial to note that this classification is outdated and grounded in a now-disproven theory of biological race, making it an unsuitable basis for discussions on contemporary racial identity.
Discrediting the Concept of Biological Race
The scientific community overwhelmingly discredits the notion of biological race. Human genetic diversity, rather than fitting into separate racial categories, is continuous and characterized by overlapping genetic variation among populations.
Skin Color and Facial Features
Traits traditionally associated with race, such as skin color and facial features, are complex and influenced by multiple genes. They defy simplistic categorization. Throughout human history, people have migrated, bred and – as such – created a world in which lines between racial groups are blurred.
A Social Construct
The prevailing view in the scientific community is that race is primarily a social and cultural construct with no sound biological basis. Contemporary research tends to use terms like “ancestry” or “population” to describe human genetic diversity, recognizing the intricate and interconnected nature of our genetic heritage.
Curious and Scared
News of Peterson’s words was shared across social media and he was largely criticized. “If you thought you hated his gender theories, wait until you hear Peterson’s ideas on race science! What will this [idiot] think of next? I’m curious and scared,” one person wrote.
A Fragile Man-Baby
Another individual said: “He sure seems to be a fan of telling other people what they are and what [group] he thinks they ‘should’ belong to. Typical fragile man-baby. It’s trendy to hate on trans people right now but I doubt he’ll get nearly as much support for his racist attack here.”
Language and Race Are Separate
Some people tried to figure out why Peterson was so confused. “Some Indian languages are Indo-European in origin, likely due to Aryan incursions into the subcontinent. That’s what Jordan Peterson is likely referring to. Language and race are completely separate,” one person said.
A Different Suggestion
Others gave different, more creative suggestions. One individual said: “He probably saw the definition of Caucasian that refers to ‘of the Caucasus, south of Russia’ and thought, ‘Well hey, India is south of Russia so that’s probably the same thing.’”
A Teenage Wannabe Nerd
Some people said Peterson behaves like a teenager. One person said: “[Peterson] reminds me of the kind of teenage wannabe nerd who waits until someone mentions ‘organic produce’ and then starts talking loudly about ‘organic chemistry’ like it’s a slamdunk refutation of ‘all that hippy [stuff].’ Picks one word whose meaning is context-dependent, hauls in another context inappropriately, and does a little victory dance.”
Peterson Scores Points by Cheating
The commenter continued: “His debating skills are sophomoric rather than adult, in other words. Like his stupid ‘solar panels are dangerous’ remarks. It’s all shallow wordplay, taking stats or words way out of context, scoring points by cheating.”
Peterson Should Stop Talking
Most people were absolutely astonished by Peterson’s words. “I… what? I have absolutely no idea what I just read. Who knew Jordan Peterson could get even more stupid? I really hope he shuts up before he causes some actual, real, serious damage,” one individual said.
No One Will Agree With Him
Others questioned who would agree with Peterson. One person said: “I’m so confused. He’s trolling, right? He’s just trying to cause a stir and get some attention. Surely? I don’t see who could possibly agree with him, left or right on the political spectrum.”
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