literarydiscussions.myfreeforum.org

Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

Einstein married his cousin. We could add to our consideration of the
term "incestuous" the term "consanguineous."

If you google on : arabia consanguineous genetic disease

http://el.hct.ac.ae/HSci/HP/Cos.html

and many other links, regarding the health problems which arise when
two people who are too closely related have offspring.

It is interesting to observe, from a purely scientific stand point, the very
obvious fact that the regulations set down by the Hebrew scriptures
"work" since there is not a widespread problem of genetic disease among
the Jews (with the exception of ultra-orthodox Hasidic groups, who feel
they have a very small population from which to choose an acceptable
spouse). By contrast, the rules and regulations set down in Arabic
scriptures seem not to have worked as well, even though the Arab
peoples are quite scrupulous about following and enforcing such rules.

There are genetic problems among other small groups such as the Amish,
who are forced to choose a spouse from within a very small community.

One of the Russian Tsars came to America for an extended visit, and was
even taken on a buffalo hunt. He wrote a letter to a friend in Russia to
exclaim how very attractive the women were in the New World. I suspect
there is an instinctual drive to be attracted to what is "different" to help
insure a hardy genetic shuffle. The Tsar's letter was on display at a
museum hosting the Romanoff exhibit.

A study was done of marriage behavior among the children of many
kibuttzim (nota bene the classy pluralization!). Children in a kibuttz are
raised together as if they were siblings. Even though they are totally
unrelated, and free to intermarry, none ever choose a spouse from
among their kibuttz brethern. It is as though some instinct is at work to
render such sibling-like fellows as undesirable. Familiarity does breed
contempt.

I will note, in defense of Islam, that there is a rule in the Qu'ran (if my
memory serves me correctly) forbidding marriage between two children
who have suckled from the same breast, even if they are unrelated.

SFG75 · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject:

TIME magazine recently had the newly released private letters of Einstein published. They are fascinating in that he corresponds lovingly with his boys while his soon to be ex-wife comes off as a horrible nag and outright bitch. Don't know if TIME did enough research to present her side of the story, though the letters are quite telling. Needless to say, it drove him into the arms of his cousin.

Einstein letters article.

_________________
To know how to suggest is the great art of teaching

Get your own free IRC Chat room