Editor,

The Aug. 18 letter to the editor written by Martin Cole blames our DNA for systemic racism. Fortunately for the human race, this is a huge simplification for explaining racism, whether it’s individual or institutional.

To go a bit further into our biology, our amygdala, an ancient part of the mammal brain, is triggered by emotions, including fear and anxiety. If unscrupulous leaders convince us that our towns and suburbs will be destroyed by outsiders — city-folks? — they are activating our amygdala.

Luckily, humans also have frontal lobes, a more advanced and rational part of our brains. This is where we stop to learn, think and reason, before we get all freaked out.

So, if a man is screaming and coming at you while swinging a big stick, amygdala rules, and you run or fight him and his stick.

However, if folks are telling you that the sky is falling or that those others will ruin your life, you have lots of time to understand their motives — sell guns and arms, win an election? — and to study and reason it out before you board up your house or vote.

Evan Hornig

Langley