Blog 10: Gattaca response

     It is human nature to ostracize certain types of people. In many cases, this is distinguished by types of gender, race, or even genetics that might seem superior like in the movie Gattaca's case. I agree with George J. Annas as he explains this in his hypothesis "The new ideal human, the genetically engineered 'superior' human, will almost certainly come to represent 'the other'. If history is a guide, either the normal humans will view the 'better' humans as the other and seek to control or destroy them, or vice versa." Many examples of how people are categorized by these characteristics can be seen in human history; one of the many being The Holocaust of WW2.
     The movie Gattaca takes place in the distant future where humans are designed at birth for perfection. This means that most that are born are without any risks of disease and are made in the image of what society considers "elite and superior". This puts those who are born out of natural birth at the bottom of the totem pole, because of risks that their "contaminated", low-class genes will affect the company's reputation. Although there are many people who are against this ideology including myself, many people have fallen prejudice to different types of discriminations just like in the movie Gattecca in human history and in our world today.
     Classifying different groups as 'others' can take us as far back as WW2, where The Holocaust took place. The Holocaust was a mass state-sponsored genocide by Germany against the Jewish people. All non-Germans were considered of "filthy blood", and were unfit in the German's "pure and Aryan" race. This meant that anyone who wasn't of German blood was considered 'the other' and was dealt with the consequences of extermination, or for those who were lucky, to join the labor force (reference to Annas: "If history is a guide, either the normal humans will view the 'better' humans as the other and seek to control or destroy them, or vice versa.")
     Although discrimination today might not be drastic enough to lead to genocide, we still experience it today in our everyday lives. Whether it's someone dislike towards you by race, appearance, gender, or in many cases sexual orientation. An example of this can be found in the recent passing of gay marriage in San Francisco. Many people are in opposition to the law, and therefore view gay couples as 'the other'; where gay couples experience the same opposition also, but instead view people against it as 'the other' because of their unacceptance to the ideology. This has caused many riots in San Francisco and many places in Northern California, where the battle head-to-head in trying to control the other.
     Despite what many believe is right (a world without prejudice beliefs); I believe that this ideology is an essential human characteristic, just like Annas states in his hypothesis. It is just the way the world is and how we are programmed to function. No one is perfect, which means that none of our ideas are perfect either, therefore creating friction between one another when ideas are presented. However, I do believe that with some time and careful consideration both sides can come up with a resolution that is fair to both parties.