randomguy132
October 21st, 2007, 10:44 AM
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/18/1034305-scientist-apologizes-for-hurtful-remarks
(http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/18/1034305-scientist-apologizes-for-hurtful-remarks)
A profile of Watson in the Sunday Times Magazine of London quoted him as saying that he's "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really."
While he hopes everyone is equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true," Watson is quoted as saying.
...
London's Science Museum canceled a sold-out lecture he was to give there Friday.
...
And Watson's employer said he wasn't speaking for the Cold Spring Harbor research facility on Long Island, where the board and administration "vehemently disagree with these statements and are bewildered and saddened if he indeed made such comments."
...
Watson's publicist, Kate Farquhar-Thomson, would not address whether Watson was suggesting he was misquoted. "You have the statement. That's it, I'm afraid," she said.
...
Some years earlier he was quoted in a newspaper as saying, "If you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a woman decides she doesn't want a homosexual child, well, let her."
...
"I think Jim Watson is now essentially a disgrace to his own legacy. And it's very sad for me to say this, because he's one of the great figures of 20th century biology."
That last quote about sums it up for me. Talk about a fall from grace. Before this, if you mention his name, people think of brilliance and the Nobel prize. However, now those will come to mind, but so will thoughts of racism and bigotry.
It's sad how a whole lifetime's worth of reputation can be instantly tarnished. I guess this isn't the first time he's been quoted as such, but having this published in the Times brings it out into the mainstream now.
See also:
http://the-half-decent-pharmaceutical-chemistry-blog.chemblogs.org/archives/2007/10/18/what-s-your-problem-watson
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/18/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-US-Scientist-Racism.php
(http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/18/1034305-scientist-apologizes-for-hurtful-remarks)
A profile of Watson in the Sunday Times Magazine of London quoted him as saying that he's "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really."
While he hopes everyone is equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true," Watson is quoted as saying.
...
London's Science Museum canceled a sold-out lecture he was to give there Friday.
...
And Watson's employer said he wasn't speaking for the Cold Spring Harbor research facility on Long Island, where the board and administration "vehemently disagree with these statements and are bewildered and saddened if he indeed made such comments."
...
Watson's publicist, Kate Farquhar-Thomson, would not address whether Watson was suggesting he was misquoted. "You have the statement. That's it, I'm afraid," she said.
...
Some years earlier he was quoted in a newspaper as saying, "If you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a woman decides she doesn't want a homosexual child, well, let her."
...
"I think Jim Watson is now essentially a disgrace to his own legacy. And it's very sad for me to say this, because he's one of the great figures of 20th century biology."
That last quote about sums it up for me. Talk about a fall from grace. Before this, if you mention his name, people think of brilliance and the Nobel prize. However, now those will come to mind, but so will thoughts of racism and bigotry.
It's sad how a whole lifetime's worth of reputation can be instantly tarnished. I guess this isn't the first time he's been quoted as such, but having this published in the Times brings it out into the mainstream now.
See also:
http://the-half-decent-pharmaceutical-chemistry-blog.chemblogs.org/archives/2007/10/18/what-s-your-problem-watson
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/18/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-US-Scientist-Racism.php