One under-rated topic, is that the historical success and prosperity of Western societies, has a lot to do with the millennia-long prohibition of first- and second- cousin marriages.
This came from the ancient Roman Empire and then via Roman law into the law of the Christian churches, that marriages were 'prohibited up to the 4th degree of consanguinity', i.e., if you were related across 4 generations, having the same great-grandparent (2nd cousin), as well as having the same grandparent (1st cousin).
This not only helped people to be physically healthier. Maybe just as important, it required the development of 'co-operative', high-trust societies, where you could have confidence your daughter would be treated well, even though not marrying a relative within the 'clan'.
The downside of this is that Western societies came to be 'too trusting', they reflexively assume that others are 'like themselves' when this is sometimes not the case.
By contrast, there is an immense ongoing tragedy in societies with heavy marriage amongst cousins, especially first cousins. One tragedy is the amount of genetic and health problems in many births from such marriages. Another tragedy signified by cousin marriage, is that people are doing so because they do not trust that their daughter will be treated well outside of a marriage within the 'clan' ... a sad state of affairs.
One under-rated topic, is that the historical success and prosperity of Western societies, has a lot to do with the millennia-long prohibition of first- and second- cousin marriages.
ReplyDeleteThis came from the ancient Roman Empire and then via Roman law into the law of the Christian churches, that marriages were 'prohibited up to the 4th degree of consanguinity', i.e., if you were related across 4 generations, having the same great-grandparent (2nd cousin), as well as having the same grandparent (1st cousin).
This not only helped people to be physically healthier. Maybe just as important, it required the development of 'co-operative', high-trust societies, where you could have confidence your daughter would be treated well, even though not marrying a relative within the 'clan'.
The downside of this is that Western societies came to be 'too trusting', they reflexively assume that others are 'like themselves' when this is sometimes not the case.
By contrast, there is an immense ongoing tragedy in societies with heavy marriage amongst cousins, especially first cousins. One tragedy is the amount of genetic and health problems in many births from such marriages. Another tragedy signified by cousin marriage, is that people are doing so because they do not trust that their daughter will be treated well outside of a marriage within the 'clan' ... a sad state of affairs.
https://youtu.be/usxasoD-fBE?si=zyt2_3S0YhmX6CrJ
ReplyDeleteCandace Owens staking her reputation that Brigitte Macron is a man.
Like Big Mike from the Whitehouse or Big Jock Ardern from (ahem Down Under), Le Grand Macron is a dude.