Barack Obama once famously said the question of when human life begins is "above my pay grade."
But he has decided anyway.
His answer to Pastor Rick Warren's question during the campaign last year was flippant and wholly indecisive. But Mr. Obama moved swiftly and decisively in his first weeks as president to lift the ban on embryonic stem cell research.
Suddenly, his "pay grade" has been raised to the heavens, and he now feels he has divined the answer to when life begins.
If not, how can he possibly approve of experimentation on embryos? Unless he is certain it is not a human being -- and we have to wonder what else it might be -- it is playing God to pick an embryo apart, experiment with its cells, or try to harvest its budding organs.
We don't happen to think it's been scientifically proved that cutting into embryos is any more promising in fighting diseases than research using adult stem cells. Recent discoveries indicate very promising potential for adult stem cells. Meanwhile, Israeli scientists reported that embryonic stem cells used on a young boy with a brain disease actually caused tumors in the boy's brain and spinal cord.
We know adult stem cells don't hold the same glamour for the Hollywood set that embryonic cells do. But we also know that in adult stem cell research, no one dies.
Can we say that with certainty with regard to embryonic stem cells?
Moreover, it's not as if the previous administration outlawed embryonic stem cell research. It merely decided not to force taxpayers to take part in any new experimentation on human embryos.
Even if embryonic cells showed more promise, there's still the little matter of whether the embryo is human life.
Again, we're not sure what else it could be. We think it is human life. But even if you don't think so, you'd better be darn sure of it before you cut into it.
The moral of the story is, if it's above your pay grade, don't do it.
Comments
The determination of when human life begins varies by culture and religion.In vitro frtilization involves:"Giving special medication to the woman that results in the development, growth,and maturation of eggs in a woman's ovaries.Extracting perhaps 24 mature mature ova(aka oocytes)from the woman's ovaries. Fertilizing the ova with sperm, typically from her husband or an anonymous donor.Placing the embryos in a special incubator which encourages their growth.Selecting two to four healthy-looking embryos and implanting them in the woman's uterus.Disposing of the remaining 20 or so surplus embryos in some manner."Some are frozen in liquid nitrogen, others are "immediately discarded,cultured to demise, or donated to another patient or for research, training, or diagnostic purposes".Even if thawed,it's estimated that 75% of the frozen embyos won't survive. Outside of outlawing IVF, there'so way to change this.I see no problem,with the donors consent,in allowing stem cell research to be conducted on these embryos that will more than likely never survive in the first place. I guess while your at it, outlaw IUDs as well.
if it doesn't have a name yet, go right ahead and experiment away. cancer, diabetes, and parkinson's disease run in my family and i support stem cell & embryonic research to search for a cure. my mother has been a devout Christian her entire life and, unfortunately, this didn't prevent her from having parkinson's. i think we need to search for cures now rather than wait for the promise of eternal paradise.
I keep getting an error message. Test.
Screwy computers. The boy had a fatal disease. His family was desperate and took him to Russia for the treatment."This brain disease wasn't conducive to stem cell therapy in the first place, said stem cell specialist Dr. Marius Wernig of Stanford University, who said it's unclear exactly what was implanted."
AECS, You don't think it's scientifically proven. It's obvious from that statement that you don't have a clue about science. Nothing in science is proven. Just supported by data to the point where it is highly probable. How about this argument, if god gave us the ability to cure disease through the study and experimentation on unwanted embryos, don't you think he would want us to use our god given abilities to do so?
Try losing a family member due to the legal availability of a cure, especially when said cure has been used successfully in other countries, not just experimental, for years. Our political red tape and FDA approval processes are pushing the US into the dark ages compared to other more progressive countries. If stem cell research will lead to the cure of deceases, why allow religion to legislate against it.
Of course the almighty Pres. O has spoken so it must be gospel...He received his raise so therefore he is "omnipotent"...
c134: I guess the almighty W was "omnipotent" when he decided the other way, huh?
AC Editorial Addendum: Obama also believe the world is a sphere!!! Foolish man.
Ah Justus always eager to defend the Mulatto, need to work on your grammar and study up on the subject matter.
This is a controversial subject that won't soon be solved, if ever. Still, I do notice that the left ALWAYS hurries to "experiment" with abortions, embryonic cell research and anything else that will "prove" life begins at delivery. Kill A Baby For Obama is still a good slogan... potential discoveries not withstanding.
I guess you think the sun doesn't orbit the earth too?
The moral of the story is he reversed what Bush did, what is the diffrence? When Bush did what he did, while he was president, we had to live with. You did not see anything wrong with it,so what is the problem now. This is what presidents do when they are in charge!!!
I didn't see Bush trying to reverse the abortion laws. I guess that's Obama's fault too. Seems like Obama is getting blamed for everything wrong that ever happened in the universe! Why is he suddenly the scapegoat? Something is wrong with that picture.
coal; Because they now have someone besides Clinton to blame it all on. W did nothing wrong. The Repubs can't accept responsibility.
At least they're being put to use rather than being thrown out.
Same idiocy, different day. Did anyone on the editorial board get a semblance of education as they were growing up? And you, PT, with your own omnipotent wisdom that you do nothing with but sit on your toadstool and incessantly chirp on a daily basis. Where do you come up with your rhetoric? "the left ALWAYS hurries to experiment with.... " What a pile of rot. You've got too much time on your hands, PT. Go accomplish something meaningful, for crying out loud. AC, you are reaching the abyss! You're losing subscribers daily, and yet you still keep up the steady stream of hysteria.
Stem cell research is already happening, so what's your point? Second, point to one example where a stem cell was saved and became a person? Hasn't happened has it? Stem cells are simply cells that can potentially develop into any type of cell in the human body, you got two types embryonic and adult stem cells. All embryonic stem cells come from "in vitro" fertilization labs, and they are donated to science labs with the consent of the owner. Plain talk is this folks: Octo mom, you know, the lady that just had the eight kids that the State of CA will be raising, well, she probably still has some in vitro stem cells left, and if she signed a consent to have the left over stem cells donated to science, well off they go to a lab..They are not harvested from eggs fertilized inside a woman's body..Now here is where I find the arguement by the opposition amusing and confusing: If you got a problem with embryonic stem cells being used for science you should have a problem with in vitro fertilization too, because it's not GOD who decides life by bringing man and woman together, it's a dude or chick in a labcoat that is in charge of when life begins. Illogical , illogical...
Great argument, motorman!
I think we should start harvesting brains from scientists and all those smart folks. I know it would result in a lot of dead people but look how much we could learn. An Executive Order deeming it a national need ought to clear the way. After all humans are nothing more than evolved primordial soup. Who wants to go first? Looks like a lot of prospects right here.
The President did NOT authorize any research. What he did was authorize stealing my money to do it. It seems to be all he knows how to do is spend my money.
44: In your case I'm afraid the harvest would be of famine proportions.
Once again the AC is blindly and broadly being cynical..."we're not sure what else it could be. We think it is human life. But even if you don't think so, you'd better be darn sure of it before you cut into it"..Well guess what smarty pants? THEY HAVE BEEN CUTTING INTO "IT" FOR YEARS, EVER SINCE IN VITRO FERTILIZATION BEGAN!! So what's your point of arguing, and where were you then when this type of research and human harvesting began??? I have no problem with embryonic stem cells that are frozen in a freezer, that will probably be destroyed anyway, being used to search for a cure to Alzheimers, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases that afflict mankind...God gave us the power, use it...And if you don't want embryonic stem cell research then shut up about Octo Mom because in order to use the thousands of left over embryonic stem cells that are left over in labs you will have thousands of Octo Moms in the future..You got three choices for leftover embryonic stem cells: Use all of them, throw away the left over ones, or use them for research...
Thanks Talktoast!
Send your tax money to Halliburton, they can use mine for stem cell research.
SistaX: this topic, this thread is way above your pay grade, exit now! Your comments have no logic and no merit...
Ok Motorman...instead of an attack...could you point out ONE think in my post that is not true?
I wonder if the opponents to this research will stand up for their priniples and when cures are found, will refuse treatment for them or their family members with diabetes, Parkinsons, MS, etc.?
I wonder if someone who favor's gun control will take his own life if an armed citizen saves his life. Same principle, Tech.
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