One human species? Yeah.

The urge to group humans by those who invented race was not just about delusions of their own superiority, was also about an easier handle.

Like in the United States for American slaveowners, group punishment required group identification.

But is like with the label Asian as used in my country. To an American racist, if you have some people from China, some people from South Korea, North Korea and Japan in the same room? They are to THAT racist all SIMPLY Asians.

And said person may make various claims about them as a group, as if their nationalities were irrelevant. But also if they are subordinate in some way, like are employees at same company? That racist might talk of a group policy--towards Asians.

So is also a way to lower the importance of human difference. Like by claiming that frictions for historical reasons between Koreans, Chinese and Japanese are irrelevant for that person, an American racist can in effect claim that such things are tiny in comparison to a perceived greater dominance.

Does give me problems will admit, as various titles for groupings in the US have shifted finally to Black for many, or African American. But for Black folks who go visit the African continent, can be jolting have heard: In a place where your skin color does not supposedly provide any grouping at all.

Being dark skinned in Africa? Why would that be considered a race indicator?

Of course race is a social construct, and we can trace out why was constructed, but does not change continuing impacts. Like slave masters also wanted to be able to whip their slaves for punishment, but whipping an adult, never whipped? That person can go into shock and die. A solution might brutally use to prepare for the shock? -- Beat children to get them ready for the whip as adults. Was myself beaten with a leather belt by my father so brutally at 6 years old, my legs were bleeding. Slavery ended over 150 years ago. We have to face these things though.

Talk more on my blog Lost in Commentary: Facing the legacy of American slavery

So why not talk these things? I find the subject fascinating even though can be distressing. But one of the weird things about racists is the belief that they had awesome ancestors which makes them awesome too. So have noticed this insistence as if the history of American slavery somehow diminishes my ability. It does not.

Have talked some on my blog Seriously Commercial: Greek slaves would have laughed

People can have all kinds of wild ideas: especially when people wish to diminish or dominate others. But what YOU believe? Is still really up to you. I say that to also say: no excuses.

In our times the web lets truth flow freely. So you can read up on humanity, and learn how we are one species. You know, if you're actually curious, you know, about being human.


James Harris

Rebooting Star Wars

Was very excited for new movies in one of the most influential sci-fantasy arenas, where the start of course was in 1977 with Star Wars: Episode IV which was a mysterious start in and of itself.

There were eventually prequels by George Lucas, and then quiet, until control was sold to Disney, and renewed movies arrived with great box office success.

But am concerned they missed a few things, and figured would, as a fan, help them out, while not getting in the way of the latest effort.

Is a fun challenge: can I write a better angle, and not lose what has been done?

Yup. Is easy too.

Whenever Disney gets tired of mucking around, the reboot-sequel has a start with a young girl, who of course vaguely looks like the adult Rey. She also looks poor and is an orphan, but we watch her learning some basic gymnastics, showing a bizarre adeptness. Next we watch as she is with other orphan children and outcasts--scavenging. Inquisitive she is a great scavenger, and of course in one such quest for tossed away useful items, she finds something odd.

We recognize is a somewhat battered lightsaber, and she stares into it, while aimlessly hitting buttons on it. And THANKFULLY it is inoperative, but she pockets it. Now shift to older Rey, who is paying with hard earned cash for lessons in something or other, related to devices.

Then we find her tinkering with the lightsaber, and in time, it flickers. And now she has a clue what it is, and eventually gets a weak beam. Soon she is swooping it around with a familiar sound. Then we watch her dancing gracefully with it, and doing gymnastic moves....

Rey is scavenging again. Now she is a teenager, and is harder, but adult actor could be de-aged? She finds a small ball, familiar to people from the original movie. Now she is an adept engineer, and quickly repairing it, it floats...and soon zaps her! She quickly figures it out, and we watch her with her now stronger lightsaber going through more sophisticated moves.

Then finally we are with adult Rey, at age of first new movie, and she looks that way now, so should be ok. And after a brilliant practice session with the ball, where she is clearly adept, she suddenly lifts a hand and the ball flies across the room, sticks to the wall where it struggles a bit. Rey stares at back of her hand in surprise, then flicks downward quickly. The ball switches off and drops. She now holds her lightsaber up vertically and her concentration is clearly visible on her face. Her left hand she takes away, and then concentrates more, and slowly pulls away her right, and the light saber is steady, in mid air....

Suddenly we are on a space vessel looking at Kylo Ren, who is unconscious in something like a hospital bed, moaning and sweating. What I'd like is his father Han Solo standing over him looking concerned. But Harrison Ford wanted out which is why character was killed. I can easily resurrect him, but ok, his uncle is standing over him.

He has been called to the ship, as Kylo was finally found. Desperate for Jedi powers he had first gone on a quest to find the mythical and well-hidden Luke Skywalker. But failed. Which simply made him even more desperate for powers of his own. As he tried various things with little success. His mother Princess Leia tried to counsel and comfort him to no avail. He had no interest in the life she could give him. And then tragically she died.

He had then gone completely unhinged and now ready for anyone who could train him, he finally found a dark adept. Despite his parents, and his upbringing, he agreed to training in the Dark Side of the Force.

We get a flashback, where a scene like Luke in the cave plays out, but is more involved. Kylo's darkest fears and rage consume him in a twisted fantasy where he kills his own father. He also has Rey in them, who he has never met, and yup, am handling every prior just like that.

But these details have not been revealed. Kylo's uncle (would still like Han Solo) is standing over him as he mumbles Rey, Rey, Rey...over and over. And his uncle turns to the nurse and asks: Who is Rey? Nurse shrugs.

Cut to the famous scroll of lettering going off into the distance where much I just talked is explained.

Kylo has been recovered from a Sith Lord, and there are questions about what to do with him. While Rey is visible to beings strong in the Force, but where are the Jedi? So can't just toss that into it. And the script is how their path collides. How they confront the Sith Lord who wants his apprentice Kylo back.

And there is a bigger threat to the galaxy that will test them both to their limits.

Pull in all the other characters easily, from here.

Ok. Been working at this for twenty minutes and raring to do something else. So yeah, notice here Rey is less mysteriously powerful. She is a natural adept, called by the Force, and trained by the Force--the Force seeks balance. Why her? A mystery it is. But is not about her parents. They were nobodies.

There must be a different answer.

Ok, Disney can do their thing. Whatever they do, can handle it. Reboots? Are easy.

Ok will edit this thing like usual. Realized there was one more key piece.

Further into the movie we see Rey striding confidently with Kylo beside her. He has been babbling about the dreams he had and how real it all seems. Rey has been patient, but she suddenly stops.

Forget those dreams my new padawan. You were heading into the Dark Side. Such dreams are meant to be forgotten...if you would travel with me, that is.

What can he say?


James Harris