On the Paint Job

On the Paint Job

Human civilization is a dialog between tribalism and universalism. Part of the trouble with tribalism is that tribal identity is largely illusory, and its arbitrary definitions are cynically manipulated by power elites, to control the uncritical. This has been well understood for a long time.

One of the more pernicious identity-illusions is race. The genetic science is clear: race is skin-deep. DNA differences within any so-called race are generally far greater than differences between alleged races. This science is intellectually disruptive; but for political disruption, try technology. I therefore invite you to imagine this future technology: germ-line skin-tint re-editing, a.k.a. the Paint Job.

Here’s the Paint Job’s salespitch:

“Dear future parents of color: have you been stalked by guards in department stores? Are you constantly pulled over? Do you fear for your life when a policeman looks at you? Have you been denied loans, schools, homes and jobs at first sight? If you have, and if you want a better life for your children, then have we got a cure for you! Just one injection of our patented Paint Job^TM  serum, and all of your children will be so white and blonde and blue-eyed that you’ll never have to give them the Talk!”

I predict that the Paint Job will be genetic engineering’s killer app; simple, cheap, safe, but with high demand in a massive market. Racial identity-jihadists will object to this erasure of the very concept of race, but the corporations will smell money.

To see the inevitable result, read “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss:

http://teacherweb.com/VA/WarwickHS/Elliot_T/Text-The-Sneetches.pdf