EDWARD D. RAFFERTY,
Sir, - I wish Mr Mark Rafferty (no relation) had consulted an anthropology textbook before composing his recent letter (August 20th) in which he makes the paralogism that race is not a consequence of genetic make-up.
Mr Rafferty's comments - "Genes do not determine race" and "Genetically there is no difference between the races black, white, red or yellow" - may be a concession to political correctness; however, genetic make-up or the chromosome composition with the DNA material, most certainly differs between recognised "racial groupings".
To my knowledge most contemporary anthropologists recognise three basic racial groups: caucasoid (white), mongoloid (yellow) and negroid (black). However, hybridising over the millennia has resulted in an amalgamation of these races, which theoretically, will eventually result in homogeneity.
He then proceeds to redefine the terms "race" and "culture" by stating: "race is not a biological construct but a complex social and historical one." The result of this garrulous essay leads him to the conclusion that the Irish are a "race" and travellers (a separate race) are excluded from Irish society by "racism".
I would happily welcome further explanation of Mr Rafferty's reasoning since I can only assume there's an interwoven thread of logic I've overlooked. - Yours, etc.,
EDWARD D. RAFFERTY, Wexford Town, Co Wexford