Are All Men Created Equal?

From the best biology we know: the acquisition of traits (phenotype) is both a product of nature (genotype) and nurture.   Is it racist to say that we should not expect a cat to do calculus?  Is it racist to say a mouse may never be able to write a book?  These are rhetorical questions, but as a bottom line I would say it is good to not expect complete uniformity of ability in all of Hashem’s created beings, which of course does not dictate license for bigotry.

G-d does not harbor excess in His creation.  When something exists, it is supposed to be that way because Hashem has ordained for it to be as such.  Thus, it is such that while I won’t deny anyone, even a different species of animal or a computer (maybe someday), proper education if aptitude is demonstrated, there does come a time when we should realize that it is cruel to hold onto expectations that the problem of dumbness be alleviated merely by endless hard work.  Rather, we should give credit and encouragement where it is due.

Should we expect a human to run as fast as a cheetah?  Should we expect humans to regularly give birth to as many offspring as mice?  Some of our greatest strengths may be in our inherent differences because created species, nations, and beings are not meant to be completely alike.

A New War to Wage – Obesity at Epidemic Proportions

It used to be that people died in battle. It is still that way.  However, the forms are changing.  Now, people are becoming more likely to die from overeating, such that we must wage war again, this time with a silent killer, obesity.

Obese bellies should be considered as having similarity to the unwanted tattoos the Nazis forced on the Jews during the Holocaust.  Obesity is not just killing, but it is maiming its victims.  The morbidity of obesity increases daily, and if it not stopped somehow, it may claim more lives than the Holocaust did.

Sales of Decadent Sugary Foods Isn't Sustainable

Recently, I encountered the stats that within a generation’s time 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes, and that consequently life expectancy will likely plummet.  This diabetes threat is real.  It could happen, especially given the prevalence of foods with added sugar at the average American grocery store.  

Greedy capitalists have placed faith in idols.  They have no fear, for as Judaism puts it, “They say God does not avenge.”  They are fearlessly profiting by getting us hooked on added sugar, where sugar should be regarded as a dangerous drug.

We don’t want to sustain capitalism's greed.  It is flawed and outdated, and it must pass.  Transition to the new system probably won’t be easy.  This will likely present difficult times at first, which may be likened to birthing pains, where the end result will be an awesome and wonderful creation.