High Society July 15, 2007
Posted by Webmaster in Immigration.comments closed
AP:
NEW YORK - America used to be the tallest country in the world. From the days of the founding fathers right on through the industrial revolution and two world wars, Americans literally towered over other nations. In a land of boundless open spaces and limitless natural abundance, the young nation transformed its increasing wealth into human growth.
But just as it has in so many other arenas, America’s predominance in height has faded. Americans reached a height plateau after World War II, gradually falling behind the rest of the world as it continued growing taller.
By the time the baby boomers reached adulthood in the 1960s, most northern and western European countries had caught up with and surpassed the United States. Young adults in Japan and other prosperous Asian countries now stand nearly as tall as Americans do.
Even residents of the formerly communist East Germany are taller than Americans today. In Holland, the tallest country in the world, the typical man now measures 6 feet, a good two inches more than his average American counterpart.
Compare that to 1850, when the situation was reversed. Not just the Dutch but all the nations of western Europe stood 2 1/2 inches shorter than their American brethren.
Does it really matter? Does being taller give the Dutch any advantage over say, the Chinese (men 5 feet, 4.9 inches; women 5 feet, 0.8 inches) or the Brazilians (men 5 feet, 6.5 inches; women 5 feet, 3 inches)?
Many economists would argue that it does matter, because height is correlated with numerous measures of a population’s well-being. Tall people are healthier, wealthier and live longer than short people. Some researchers have even suggested that tall people are more intelligent.
I think the fact that this is indicative of the Latinization of America. More and more “American” men are Mexican and Latin-American, who tend to be shorter and consume less nutritious diets.
British Equality Commissar Threatens to Quit July 15, 2007
Posted by Webmaster in England, Britain and the UK, Equality and Egalitarianism.comments closed
The administration of new British PM Gordon Brown isn’t colored enough for Trevor Phillips.
The head of Britain’s equal rights watchdog has accused Gordon Brown of appointing too few ethnic minorities and women to his Cabinet, provoking a furious row about sex and race discrimination.
Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, also criticised the Prime Minister after he appointed two Muslims as Ministers but failed to give them ministerial salaries.
Mr Phillips issued the warning in a telephone call to No 10 last week and threatened he would quit his high-profile role unless the Government took the issue of equality seriously.
Oh please, oh please don’t throw me into the Briar Patch, Br’er Trevor.
If he does leave, maybe he can pursue a new career as theologian.
