Have you ever wondered why we call white people caucasian?
The answer is surprisingly racist.
Okay, so let's first go over the generally accepted definition of Caucasian. Most people would say something along the lines of: a white-skinned person of European descent.
Weeeeeell, not exactly. That's the definition that is often used in North America, but outside of Canada and the US, most people would define Caucasian as: someone from the Caucasus region.
Hold up... what's that?
The Caucasus region is a region along the border of Europe and Asia that includes the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey.
So, if this is the case... why do North Americans refer to all people of European ancestry as Caucasian?
As you can probably imagine... the answer is pretty darn racist.
It all started in the 1700s, with a German philosopher named Cristoph Meiners. He believed in the very-not-sound theory of scientific racism. He also believed that people from the Caucasus region had the "whitest, most blooming, and most delicate skin" and this somehow made non-Caucasians as inferior and, in his words, more "animal-like." I don't even know where to begin with how messed up that is. Let's just agree that it's messed up for all the obvious reasons that we're both thinking.
Along came German scientist Johann Blumenbach, who was also interested in this very-not-sound theory of scientific racism. Blumenbach collected human skulls (skulls have a history of being used to try to "prove" differences between human races, like that men were smarter than women because their skulls are usually larger). Anyway, Blumenbach added to Meiners' theories. He stated that people from Georgia were the most beautiful on Earth (why he made this conclusion is unknown, he just liked the look). From there, he concluded that Georgia must be the birthplace of humanity (because, you know, that makes so much sense). He then went on to change this theory of race ever so slightly, saying that actually, all European people came from Georgia, and were therefore part of the same race: Caucasian.
Then he took it a step further.
Blumenbach created four other categories (pretty arbitrarily) of people that he deemed as "degenerate forms of God's original creation." These were: Mongolian (the yellow race), Malyan (the brown race), Ethiopian (the black race) and American (the red race).
Nobody really took to these categories (because duh) except for... the United States. It is still the most common term to refer to all white people, today.
Next time you go to refer to a white person as Caucasian, take a moment to think about the history of the term.
America the beautiful.
So much to see. So much to experience.
Just because we don't have exotic oceans and ancient history doesn't mean there isn't majesty to take in.
There are many vacations to put together.
And now we don't have to use a paper map to plan.
Our apps and GPS have it all planned out.
Redditor driedkitten wanted to compare notes about the greatest ways to see the USA, so they asked:
"Where is the most beautiful place in the United States?"
So far the cliffs of California is my favorite part of the US.
The Falls
niagara falls GIFGiphy"Subjective of course, but Crater Lake is certainly a sight to behold."
KaboodleMoon
"My home state of Oregon is full of beautiful places, South Umpqua falls, Illinois River, and Multnomah falls. Are some favorites."
jlp120145
Oh Hoh...
"A tie for Acadia, Hoh rainforest, and Rainier in the fall."
ParkLaineNext
"I was going to say Acadia. It's very underrated for some reason. My mom's friend by coincidence ended up being my English professor in college and we went on a trip to see family in ME. We stopped at Acadia for a day and she said it reminded her a lot of her visit to Greece."
NunChuckNorris007
"Hoh rainforest is absolutely devastatingly beautiful. Hiked the whole Hoh river trail when I was 17 and it's still near the top of the list for my favorite things I've ever done."
Hal9000_Red_Eye
In Awe
"Glacier national park. I was continuously in awe that the place was real life."
StrebLab
"The vistas of this road, on a motorcycle, were beyond breathtaking to experience. Would 100% do it again. Being on a bike allowed for stops at the waterfalls where there was no room for vehicles to pull over, and the views from the tunnels under the road were supernatural."
tastygrrrl
The Road Ahead
"There is a stretch of the Navajo reservation where there is no cell service, AM or FM radio reception. The road stretches before you for miles surrounded by red rocks touching blue sky. The buzzing undercurrent of modern connectivity fades away and your brain can be truly still."
tulleandtiaras42
"We did a little unscheduled off-roading in that area when we came to a road closed barrier. A Navajo couple pulled up alongside us while we pondered the dirt road heading roughly in the direction we wanted to go and assured us it was passable. Really lonely place... but wonderful."
KaleidoscopeWeird310
On a Clear Day
Mountain GIF by Sunshine VillageGiphy"Mount Rainier."
WWDB
"If I stand right at the doorjamb of my front door on a clear day, I have a beautiful view. I owned this house for 15 years before I figured that out. You can't see it from any other position in the doorway, or if you're outside."
Wise_Ad_4816
Mountains are hot. That is all.
See the Country
Happy Dance GIF by PLAYMOBILGiphy"Depends on what you’re looking for. The United States is a big place."
"For me - Hawaii is hard to beat."
Own-Willingness-3935
Beautiful scenery...
"Zion National Park is the most well-known place in Utah. But my entire state is an outdoorsman's paradise. LOTs of beautiful scenery in both the northern and southern parts of the state."
nekor18670
"Totally!!! And it’s very different. I personally prefer Southern Utah because the red rocks make me feel like I’m on Mars. But I grew up in the salt lake valley, so the mountains lost a lot of their majesty. But if I’m being honest, I miss them terribly."
Bye-sexual-band-n3rd
Smell the old growth
"I’m incredibly biased, but the most beautiful place is the California redwoods. Drive up 101, and then detour towards Petrolia. There is absolutely nothing like it. Roll down your windows and drive 35mph. Smell the old growth. Stop at the pull out. Take a small hike. It’s worth it."
Altril2010
"Yes, 100%. My brother lives in McKinleyville and I am going to see him the end of April. Can't wait. It's my happy place. They are like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls... you have to see them to believe them. Those redwoods are something else!"
strongy78
Utopia
"Yosemite! You drive thru the tunnel and come out the other side. Looks like heaven/Utopia."
Socalrdb
"Did a hike in Yosemite on January 1 last year. A spectacular way to start the year. I had seen photos of it, seen it in movies, watched countless videos on Youtube about it but -nothing- prepares you for the sight of El Cap as you turn that corner. I was very nearly moved to tears."
ThrustersToFull
Amazing
Episode 1 Boat GIF by The SimpsonsGiphy"The Shenandoah Valley. Its an amazing place if you're an outdoorsman. Hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, camping."
homoco4396
All the wonders of the world. I may have to check all of these out.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.