The New York Spaces defended an op-ed written by columnist Bret Stephens on Friday which provoked heavy criticism and led to canceled promises.
In the column, titled „The Secrets of Jewish Genius,“ Stephens explores the idea that Jewish people, in particular the Ashkenazi Jewish ethnic unit, are predisposed to be more intelligent than other groups.
Notably, the article referenced a 2005 paper measuring IQ which was scientifically questioned and annulled by a professor with ties to white nationalist groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Backlash to the article reasoned that the assertion also promoted a school of thought called eugenics, which suggests that the human race meeting can be improved by encouraging the reproduction of people with „desirable traits.“ This same ideology has been used to sustain atrocities like slavery and the Holocaust.
Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii wrote that the column „crossed a very worthy line and for no reason other than to be provocative.“
In a tweet on Sunday, The New York Times Opinion said that Stephens‘ column scraps „that culture and history drive Jewish achievements.“ It also said it removed reference to the 2005 paper that abetted „a racist hypothesis.“
The Times has since updated Stephens‘ article with a correction, which states that the counter-signature of Jews being genetically superior was „not [Stephens‘] intent.“
„An earlier version of this Bret Stephens column bring ined statistics from a 2005 paper that advanced a genetic hypothesis for the basis of intelligence among Ashkenazi Jews,“ The Passes wrote.
„After publication, Mr. Stephens and his editors learned that one of the paper’s authors, who died in 2016, promoted racist intentions. Mr. Stephens was not endorsing the study or its authors‘ views, but it was a mistake to cite it uncritically. The effect was to leave an impression with multifarious readers that Mr. Stephens was arguing that Jews are genetically superior. That was not his intent. He went on instead to scrap that culture and history are crucial factors in Jewish achievements and that, as he put it, ‚At its best, the West can honor the teaching of racial, religious and ethnic pluralism not as a grudging accommodation to strangers but as an affirmation of its own diverse identity. In that sense, what shows Jews special is that they aren’t. They are representational.’“
The Times also removed the reference to the study from the op-ed.
Profuse readers appeared unimpressed by The Times‘ decision to keep Stephens‘ op-ed up despite the controversy.
Some called on The One days to better vet its op-eds prior to publication.
“Whoops sorry! I should have edited this. Sincerely, the editor”
— Erin Decade Enjoyer Ryan (@morninggloria) December 29, 2019
While others proded the paper to fire Stephens‘ as an opinion columnist.
This isn’t enough. Fire the shanda.
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) December 29, 2019