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Alcoholism and Race

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Gina B, Jul 2, 2010.

  1. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Do you believe that certain races are more disposed to alcoholism? I've heard it said that native Americans and Hebrews are physically pre-disposed to alcoholism.

    Do I believe that? I don't know. I do think people can, by reason of race (which, because of culture, can affect the habits of their parents and thus the kids esp. while in the womb) but when it comes to people saying native Americans are physically weak in this area, I tend to look at things as a whole and have to say I'm not inclined to blame heredity. I would blame culture and government.

    Why government? Because of something I think is both right and wrong. Most natives do not have a lot of concern because of the way their community works, and what can be gained between being native AND being American. For example, in central AK, there are homesteads to live in, shares, and a yearly subsidy. Technically, a native there could get by without having to work. Idleness leads to sin, and they're already surrounded by alcohol, so why not?

    Then there are those that say it's racism to say certain groups are more prone to alcoholism, no matter what we say the reason is.

    So call me a racist, but I think native Americans are more prone to being alcoholics, and I'm pretty sure it isn't because of anything in their DNA. I think it's because people came here, stole their lifestyle, later tried to make up for it by giving them the basics of life for free, and it makes it much easier for them to give in to addictions than it is for other Americans.
     
  2. ReformedBaptist

    ReformedBaptist Well-Known Member

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    My answer is no.
     
  3. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Couple of points.

    There are no NATIVE Americans; all emigrated from Asia or Europe or Africa to the Americas. Some did it 6,000 years ago; others 500 years ago. But ALL immigrants.

    There are no RACES. There is one RACE called the Human Race. To use evolutionary terms does us no favor.

    Now, among ethnic groups I am 100% in agreement. Different groups have physical, mental, psychological predispositions to differing diseases, addictions, etc. Like northern Europeans get skin cancer at 10 times the rate of southern Europeans.

    We worked in 1989-90 on the Reservation and saw first-hand the vast differences alcohol has on an anglo v indian. Same amount, different results. Abstinence is much more needed than temperance.

    And indians who were NOT "abused" (many tribal groups in the arctic and remoted amazonia) have great trouble with alcohol and mind-altering natural substances. I would laugh at those trying to blame "whitey" for the ills of the indians.

    I do not find any evidence of Hebrews (btw, that is a language, not an ethnicity) having issues with alcohol.
     
  4. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    You do not have to do wrong because someone else did you wrong. Just a sorry excuse. Not that there is any truth to that is what happened here. If you do wrong it is because there is sin in your heart. It matters not what race or economic situation you are in.

    The truth is people are looking for love. Far to many do not know what that is but the yearning for it is in their minds and souls. So they fill it with far to many of the wrong things to get some relief. They are looking for peace, love and fulfillment.

    Government is not the answer, economics are not the answer, but only Christ. Native Americans are more predisposed to "tradition" eg Native American religion than others are. If they are not getting drunk they are involved in Peyote, black magic type ceremonies, and all sorts of things that create problems for them. Alcohol is not the problem but the symptom.
     
  5. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Hebrew...it's what my family introduced me as, and it stuck. Whenever asked about the race of my kids (if you've seen their pics you know why people ask) it's part of the description. If I say Jew, people think of the religion and so I don't often use that. What IS the proper terminology?

    Do you have any reading material you could recommend that talks about the differences is actual physical affects among different ethnic groups?

    Do you believe there is 100% zero connection between alcoholism and what was done to Indians by later immigrants? I know you said you find it laughable, but is that 100% laughable or could it be more around 80 percent?
     
  6. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    Easy access to alcohol to native Americans is part of the problem.
    If you compare this to another "race" or better "nation" such as Pakistan you get a better picture. Alcohol is banned in that nation. There is no such thing as a bar. You won't find any "drunkards." Alcoholism is not a problem at all there. The government won't provide or even allow it into their nation. It is against their religion.

    Now drug addiction, on the other hand....
     
  7. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    Like everything else people do, whether or not to use alcohol is a choice. Yes, it can become addictive, but one has to use it excessively for it to become an addiction. I drank for over 5 years while in the Air Force. When I got out, I celebrated by getting drunk for the last time and then quit. I've only had an occasional drink since early 1973, and now I can't have alcoholic beverages because of the sugar. I am part Sioux Indian, French, British, and American.
     
  8. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    I used to live in OK with the Indians, and knew of the high level of alcoholism. I have been to Ukraine and know of the high level of alcoholism. I live in the south now and know of the high level of alcoholism.

    Human nature is the downfall, not race.
     
  9. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    Gina, you look white in your picture.
     
  10. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Right. So, sin IS a racial issue. We all got a sin nature thanks to Adam, the father of the human race.
     
  11. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    Gina, I hear what you are saying but I believe there is a dna component in alcoholism for some.

    I say this for several reasons:

    I lived in Navajo rez country for many years, in northern plains rez country a few, and much of my life in Apache rez country. I am part Cherokee. I will share what I learned there.

    Doctors in those areas treated alcoholism the same as diabetes in those groups--as the body's inability to handle large hits of sugar. Apparently the body reads alcohol as sugar, and while many are not aware, sugar is very addictive because it causes the release of happy brain chemicals much like cocaine does.

    We raised a boy born with fetal alcohol syndrome. We raised him in a strong Christian home and environment, and he was a hard worker without a lazy bone in his body. And yet, as a child he had an underlying hunger for sugar that was off the charts. As a teen, alcohol became the draw, and we eventually lost him to the world of substance abuse and crime.

    There was no getting around the fact that the substances his biological parents did prenatally affected him. I suspect if he fathers children it will affect them also.

    Now, I also believe salvation CAN give him the ability to resist those inborn temptations, just as it can give any other person that ability. His situation is not hopeless, but it isn't a matter of his just having anything handed to him and conditioning him to be lazy.

    Now what about your inborn sin tendancies. We all have them. Want to discuss those?
     
  12. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    And I look pretty white in real life too, unless I'm really tan, and then people try to deport me or talk to me in foreign languages. :laugh: What color do you think I should be? I'm a little confused.

    My oldest three children are mixed (we make our own boxes on forms and check "other" when they ask for race) and those are the pics I was commenting on. (the two white ones are stepkids, no doubt on that one!)
     
  13. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    I looked white once.
     
  14. Thinkingstuff

    Thinkingstuff Active Member

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    I'm believe in genetic predisposition for alchohol. Just like I believe in genetic predisposition for certain disease. The fact that people use alchohol to take advantage of other people is a shame and the way of the world. The man is putting other people down again so he can maintain power and wealth. Gov 'ment also supports planed parenthood in predominately black neighborhoods. However, there is a universal law. What goes around unfortunately comes around.
     
  15. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    TY for the reply.

    Inborn sin tendencies of my own to discuss? Sure. Go ahead and start a thread on it, I'll join in.
     
  16. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    After living over 50 years with alcoholics in my family & observing it in my wifes family, I believe that there is a genetic predisposition for it. My grandfather was a miner who worked 12 to 14 hrs a day in heavy labor but still found time to drink to the point of inebriation. My dad had latent predispositions for it but mom watched over him & kept him sober ( most of the time). My brother, a Baptist Minister, was a bad alcoholic in his wayward youth & my wife is a recovering alcoholic as is her mother & sister.... these are all white people with European ancestory. I am thankful I am not in that Bill W family but I also believe its a choice. No one impels us or compels us to drink. Many could delude themselves that it is so , but it is not. Anyone who denies that they themselves are not responsible for becoming a drunk is a weakling who wishes to blame others for their life.
     
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