First let me mention that it was I and not Eugene F Monaco who wrote that the white man was a good example of a hardy weed. I may have caused some sensitivities to bristle here
I intended to focus on the qualities that create a weed-- that is, a species that thrives in disturbed ground and that tends to outcompete native species when introduced into a new area. A more accurate definition would be "Western man", who by his aggressive and acquisitive spirit, as well as by his advanced technology, tended to exploit niches not exploited before he got there,
and to prevail economically over local populations unable to compete with him.This was the situation in Australia with the Aboriginal people who have been here for at least 40 000 years. Was it Arthur C Clark who said it, or was it Jared Diamond in his book 'Germs, Guns and Steel'... I think it was Clark... who said that the people with the more advanced technology will prevail over those less advanced.
The Chinese in the Pacific Rim and Latin America, the Indians in East Africa and the Greeks and Syrian-Lebanese all over the world are other examples of weeds that readily transplant and thrive. This is due to their cultural, not gross racial, characteristics. They tend to dominate economically.
Likewise, my use of the words "man" and "he", above, should not connote sexism In common usage I believe such words as "mankind" are still preferred over "peoplekind".
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