HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Oct. 14, 2004 Like a snowflake, each of these embryos is unique, with the unique genetic potential of an individual human being. –George W. Bush The minute a sperm cell crashes into an egg and the dividing begins, many people see it as a new person. Others see at it as a cluster of cells with a potential for life. Either way, scientists believe stem cells from healthy embryos have a unique potential to cure terrible diseases. Unfortunately, extracting these cells kills them in the process. I admit it. I’m a hard core pro-lifer. I couldn’t even get an abortion if I was raped. I wasn’t a big fan of in-vitro fertilization at first, but I’ve warmed up to the idea over the years. At least it promotes the creation of life. But having a program where people are fertilizing eggs in petri dishes just for stem cell purposes (and paying donors, of course) is just plain disturbing. I, for one, don't want my tax dollars going towards this program. If embryonic stem cell research truly gets off the ground, I fear human life will no longer be held in the highest regard. Can you see the next step? Harvesting organs from full-term fetuses so Big Sister can have a transplant? If doctors operate on a fetus in-utero just before his due date to extract, for instance, the heart, the mother would give birth to a “stillborn.” This wouldn’t be considered murder, would it? No more than late-trimester abortions, where the baby’s head is birthed, then pierced. The very practice that is now illegal, thanks to President Bush. You might say to yourself, “What woman would be crazy enough to do that?” Just as women come in all sizes and shapes, so do levels of maternal instinct. Some women simply don’t have any. Some women would be more than happy to be a surrogate “mom” to grow spare parts…if the price is right. What I find even more disturbing is some of the people who see nothing morally wrong with embryonic stem cell research are the same people who oppose laboratory testing on animals! The same people who snarl at you for wearing a mink, or enjoying a slab of cow! We, as a nation, really need to think about what we’re getting ourselves into. There’s a definite “mad scientist” feel when you start treating human life like lab rats. Stem cells can also be taken from other sources such as adult bone marrow, umbilical cords, and placentas. Let’s stick with that and leave the embryos out of it! ------------ About the author: Karyn Hughes has a fiction book published by Authorhouse entitled, Scattered Dreams, which is about a newly single mother who battles ADHD. Hughes is also looking for an agent since she has six other finished novels and one more in the works. All Hughes’ novels are related and could be part of a series. Email: Karynlilly1@comcast.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
