Modern social Darwinism is looking at altering DNA of babies with genetic diseases. This isnt the future we need.

Ally Pronina, Columnist March 9, 2020

We all have value and deserve to be loved for who we are, but society doesnt always recognize that. There are plenty of different bigotries across history, a major one being social Darwinism, also known as eugenics.

Eugenics can be defined as selective breeding of human populations to improve the populations genetic composition. This started as advocacy for sterilizing those seen as less fit, but has since moved on to include gene editing for babies with genetic disorders.

Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist and ethologist, says this idea would work to improve human beings.

Just as we breed cows to yield more milk, we could breed humans to run faster or jump higher, Dawkins tweeted.

He went on to say that it would be bad in practice, but the idea that humans need artificial improvement is abhorrent in itself.

Cows humanity does not depend on how much milk they produce. Peoples humanity does not depend on their athletic ability. Our worth does not come from things determined by genetics such as weight, height, and appearance. Our value comes from qualities we have which make us unique and able to change the world.

Being human means imperfection. A world where everyone is the same would be a boring one. If we were all perfect and the same, we might as well just be robots.

Improve is subjective. As someone who cannot jump high or run fast, I disagree changing my genetic makeup so I could improve it. It wouldnt change who I am as a person at all.

Throughout history, there have been individuals who made noteworthy achievements despite and because of qualities eugenicists would want to change their genetic makeup to get rid of.

Harriet Tubman an African American who many in her time would have considered inferior because of her race created the Underground Railroad which saved thousands from slavery. Helen Keller someone who was blind and deaf founded a school for others with disabilities. Susan B. Anthony whose status as a woman would have been enough to be less fit was a leader in the Womens Suffrage Movement.

As a society, we have made progress in accepting diversity. African Americans are not legally enslaved. People with mental disorders are not institutionalized. Women can vote. However, the entertainment of eugenic ideas is still around; thats going backwards in history.

Eugenicists want a perfect race. Again, perfect is a subjective term. Being human means imperfection. A world where everyone is the same would be a boring one. If we were all perfect and the same, we might as well just be robots.

Eugenicists would argue improving genetics would increase quality of life and that is what makes it human. Why change peoples genetic make-up when we can change societal attitudes?

During segregation and slavery, false beliefs about black Americans decreased their value as people. If Rosa Parks used gene editing to change her skin tone, she wouldnt be a hero in the Civil Rights Movement.

Back before the Americans with Disabilities Act was established, it was not peoples disabilities which caused them to not be able to have jobs. It was societys false belief that they were not smart enough to be in the workforce.

During the 1800s, it was not the gender of women which restricted their opportunities. It was societys posturing that they were not as smart as men.

Eugenics had a place in Nazi Germany, not todays America. We have evolved to be more accepting of people and having a more negative view of eugenics. This can be seen from the backlash Dawkins has received- simply for saying something supporting eugenics.

Or, as Anne Frank wrote in her diary, In spite of everything, I still believe people are good at heart.

Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.

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Opinion: People with disabilities don't need eugenics to improve - UI The Daily Iowan