Are some facts outlawed?

Question

I was a lifeguard. In training, we were taught that, all things being equal, Euro-Americans and Asian-Americans were more neutrally buoyant than African-Americans due to differences in muscle to fat ratios. This fact helped us on the job, making us alert for fatigued African-American boys who were most at risk to drown.

Now, there may be some other differences in this world that are too taboo to be mentioned. Should some facts be outlawed? Are some differences too politically charged to be admitted even if they are true?

For example, if it can be proven that whites are weaker, all things equal, should they have different criteria to becomes soldiers, or to achieve relative fitness levels in school?

Panama -- there's a Russian saying along these lines: you can say whatever you want from inside the walls of a prison cell. The Russians really are best at this type of dark humor. Check this one out: life didn't work out, but everything else is just fine. Man, talk about dark and funny.

Answer 1

Yes, some facts are outlawed. Facts that have been deemed threats to national security are criminal...try finding a hard copy of "the anarchist's cookbook" or blue prints of the Pentagon or White House. Other facts, like the fact about body density you mention, run counter to the P.C. mindset. Expressing such facts will be met with stiff resistence, but as of yet it's not illegal. Case in point:

"In 2003, the fight to correct the shameful availability of this word has had positive results. Recently Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), gave a speech at Virginia Tech. There everyone was informed that a landmark decision was made with the people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Recognizing their error, beginning with the next edition the word ****** will no longer be synonymous with African-Americans in their publication."

(This program itself is blocking out the n-word within the quote I just pulled)

As to whether or not there should be different criteria based on race....no. There should be no preference based on race or sex. Set the standard, and those who meet it make it through. If whites are weaker as a whole there will simply be less whites...like most major league sports.

Answer 2

There is a difference between a FACT and a GENERALIZATION.

Fact: right now, the Sun is 93,897,876 miles from the earth.
Generalization: the sun is 93,000,000 miles from the earth.

Let's say it is shown that whites in general are weaker than blacks. Does that mean that Jeff Saturday (center for the soon-to-be Super Bowl champion Colts), who is stronger than the vast majority of everyone on earth, have lower standards?

Answer 3

it's a funny question. i don't think information should be withheld under nigh any circumstances, because the truth will always be somewhere for someone to stumble on.

the problem is how do we use such information? a good example was the summers hoopla at harvard when he said perhaps women were underrepresented in the sciences because of differences in ability. he was deriving that from their employment numbers though, which is irresponsible. if it's true it needs to be acknowledged... and on the other side if you say it it had better be something you can prove. he couldn't.

Answer 4

To quote The Neville Brothers, "It's freedom of speech, as long as you don't say too much."

Answer 5

Yes, just try to publish instruction on making nerve gas.