In a century where Globalization is at its prime & Cultural- Diversity is encouraged.
Must "Race" even exist?
My birth certificate reads, "Sinhalese" as my race.
A race which in my country - Sri Lanka, a cluster seem proud of.
But after pondering over my race for awhile in the time span of roughly two years, I just cannot grasp what makes me "Sinhalese".
Breaking RACE down,
According to the National Center for Science Education race was identified by the following:
People whose ancestors have been living in the same geographic area for a long time tend to show similarities in visible characteristics such as size and shape, skin color, and hair form, and also invisible characteristics such as blood groups.
Hence the belonging to a particular race depended on the above, and it makes sense that such a thing was created many moons ago.
Plus hundreds of years ago the world wasn't as diverse and diversity in families would not have even been heard of - to even be thought of!
We have participated and still participate in International Trade and have overcome Invasions and Colonization.
Sri Lankan people today, have a mix of genes from all over the globe- especially due its geographic location.
Therefore to me it just does not make sense for race to even exist on an individual's birth certificate.
The Sinhalese people were chosen under the criteria, of language, heritage and religion.
According to SL's criteria of a Sinhalese:
Language - I know the language. I can speak it - but I don't use it as often as some.
Heritage- I have no idea how they traced my heritage to come to conclusions in the first place- but according to my birth certificate mine's Sinhalese.
Religion- The Sinhalese people are supposedly linked to the Theraveda teachings of Buddhism- which I respect, but do not follow.
Hence I feel this criteria is not even applicable to me or anyone really, especially in this century. (Particularly, if you want live a be apart of multicultural society and be diverse etc.)
Sri Lanka, which exists as a tiny plot of land in the middle of the ocean - in which travelling from one end of the country to the other can be done in a day - has four races.
Yes, that dot you see on the world map shown above contains a country of FOUR races.
A country which ended its 30 Yr Civil War in 2009 due to racial conflicts- is yet to fully submerge itself too looking at everyone as equals.
Regarding which race is the most peaceful - no race here is more superior to the other- ultimately it's a matter of who is more human at heart, and that is evident is ALL races and vice versa.
Unfortunately there is always weed among the wheat. And racial conflicts seem to be an inevitable occurrence-
However I feel if we re-imagine one's birth certificate including no race-
Such ignorant , blatant and turbulent conflicts would be able to diminish.
Today even though there are families containing people of diverse races, a child is sent out to society with either of the parent's race.
If this choice is made upon modern markers of race such as, culture.
Culture did not descend to Earth from God/the Gods, it's man made.
However why people shouldn't be demarcated by culture is because, it's promoted, it's shown to the world and shared.
And to me as long as you are human I don't see the crime in being able to be a part of other cultures - however the topic of culture is a completely different ball game.
My question lies with race, how can man-made boundaries of years and centuries ago, define what race you should belong in, TODAY.
I am a proud Sri Lankan, and my culture and customs have definitely made me who I am today.
My culture being a mix of different races.
However as a Sri Lankan I am ashamed that I cannot speak one of its official languages, Tamil - and wish I had been taught it in school with same sternness Sinhalese was taught to me.
Regarding the belonging to one race, I just don't see how it makes sense, and I am open to discuss it.
Do comment if you know exactly why "Race" should exist today.
Image Source:
Yes, that dot you see on the world map shown above contains a country of FOUR races.
A country which ended its 30 Yr Civil War in 2009 due to racial conflicts- is yet to fully submerge itself too looking at everyone as equals.
Regarding which race is the most peaceful - no race here is more superior to the other- ultimately it's a matter of who is more human at heart, and that is evident is ALL races and vice versa.
Unfortunately there is always weed among the wheat. And racial conflicts seem to be an inevitable occurrence-
However I feel if we re-imagine one's birth certificate including no race-
Such ignorant , blatant and turbulent conflicts would be able to diminish.
Today even though there are families containing people of diverse races, a child is sent out to society with either of the parent's race.
If this choice is made upon modern markers of race such as, culture.
Culture did not descend to Earth from God/the Gods, it's man made.
However why people shouldn't be demarcated by culture is because, it's promoted, it's shown to the world and shared.
And to me as long as you are human I don't see the crime in being able to be a part of other cultures - however the topic of culture is a completely different ball game.
My question lies with race, how can man-made boundaries of years and centuries ago, define what race you should belong in, TODAY.
I am a proud Sri Lankan, and my culture and customs have definitely made me who I am today.
My culture being a mix of different races.
However as a Sri Lankan I am ashamed that I cannot speak one of its official languages, Tamil - and wish I had been taught it in school with same sternness Sinhalese was taught to me.
Regarding the belonging to one race, I just don't see how it makes sense, and I am open to discuss it.
Do comment if you know exactly why "Race" should exist today.
Image Source:
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