All, I plead guilty as charged by 'Halur' to being ignorant and uneducated about these matters - and many others. I did not fully understand 'Halur' response on race and, in my possible confusion, 'Halur' seems to be making the same point that I originally made: race is a biological construct but when used to discriminate it has a social construct. I would further add, it has a political, economic constuct too. However, I might have completely misunderstood 'Halur's' response.
However, after reading 'Halur's' responses to my comment that caste has no basis in religion, specifically Hinduism, I am even more convinced now that my comment is accurate. Consider: 1. There are Hindus who have no caste (white Hindus for example). 2. There are atheists, agnostics (who may be ethnically Hindu) but have a caste. If caste had a basis in religion, then clearly one could not have an atheist Brahmin as is sometimes the case. 3. As we have seen on this forum, some Catholics have adverstised their caste. One might conclude then that since some Catholics and some Hindus have a caste, then it has a basis in religion. However, I argue that is more a function of their social practice than religious beliefs. 4. The comment that religions have a sort of regional, geographical basis, and that the caste structure is to identified with Indian Hindus puzzles me. For one, if caste is a fundamental belief to Hinduism, then why is it being fought in some quarters, ignored in others and advocated in others. Are we moving towards a new and improved Hinduism if we are seeking to expel it? Or is it more likely we are reforming centuries old social practices. 5. One cannot both say caste is a part of Hinduism, yet seek to expel it. Even if one considers religious Hinduism to include social practices, then the caste aspect ought to be low-down (very low-down) on the rung of beliefs. The great Hindu tradition of Brahman, Atman, Moksha, the moral teachings of the 4 stages of life, etc. dwarf and hopefully negate the caste artifact, which to my understanding is a social contruct. I have said all I really wanted to say. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my view. Regards, George
