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The Logical Choice
from:The debate rages on, like two celestial bodies smashing into each other fighting for space. Only this fight is with words and, instead of smashing into each other, they just want to be heard. Embryonic stem cell research seems to be the focus of this colossus debate. On one side you have the pro-lifers with their quest of saving humanity from an immoral act and protecting the plight of human life on all levels. On the other, you have the liberal scientific pro-choice community with their quest for knowledge and medical advancement. Finally, the average citizens like you and me.
Where should our opinion, the average citizens like you and me, rest on the subject? First, what is the meaning of embryonic stem cell (ES)? According a report by The National Institute of Health prepared by Ruth Kirschstein, MD and Lana R. Skirboll, PhD, An embryonic stem cell is derived from a group of cells called the inner cell mass, which is part of the early (4-5 day) embryo called the blastocyst. (ES-2). According to research done by John Hopkins University, These cells are pluripotent. The cells have the potential to become any type of cell in the body and might one day be used to replace damaged or cancerous cells (Godoy).
To simplify matters for you, think about a third degree burn victim. We all know this persons skin, once healed, would never look normal again even with the current technology. But here comes stem cells, once inserted into the affected area, they have the ability to become a new skin, regenerating a normal skin for that victim.
So, as stated above, saving humanity from an immoral act and protecting human life on all levels is a pro-lifers mantra. The immoral act they wish to save us all from is the aborting and harvesting of an embryo. To harvest an embryo for its stem cells, even to further medical advancements in hopes of making the quality of life for all human beings better, is a part of protecting life on all levels.
Isnt protecting a womans right to choose to abort a part of protecting the plight of human life on all levels? I would argue that the inalienable rights of a human being, is a necessary part of the human life. Think what would happen if the pro-lifers never had the right to voice their opinions. We would not be having this debate.
What is interesting to note is our scientific and technological advancement has made these very pro-lifers quality of life better. But they ignore this by bolstering their view with an emotional appeal, citing Although that embryo may only contain four or five cells, most pro-life advocates believe that destroying it is equivalent to taking a human life. (How Stuff Works 31-32). That in essence is the crux of their immoral argument.
But it stands to reason that if one fails to act in saving one humans life then, in essence, you are condemning that person. Take for example two cars are rolling out of control, one blue and the other gold. The blue car contains an embryo and its destination is over a cliff, the gold car contains a ten year old child and its destination is into a burning building, you can only stop one car. Which one would you save? I would think the ten year old child.
What I find hard to fathom here is the end product of the pro-lifers reasoning. What about the individuals that stem cell can help? Would pro-lifers wish to see a woman die of breast cancer, when an unwanted embryo or donated embryo could be harvested to cure her? What about a child that is born with pediatric leukemia? According to a Times Online report, stem cell scientists say their research could help cure the child. Should we refrain from this line of research and let the child die? I would think that stem cell research then would fall in the category of protecting human life on all levels.
I must confess though, I do sympathize with their view that killing an embryo is like killing a human being. But if we do not utilize an unwanted embryo to develop cures for existing diseases then I fear that on a broader spectrum of things the pro-lifers would rather see the whole of humanity perish.
The liberal scientific pro-chose community believes that, cloned embryos will allow determination of the cause of a persons illness by analysis of embryonic stem cells derived from the persons own cloned embryo. (James). This is just the least of the promises of stem cell research. Human life has been plagued with disease since the dawn of time but, through scientific advancements, we have managed to thwart some of them. Now, because of stem cell research, we might be on the verge of curing much more diseases than ever before.
According to scientists, Alzheimers and Parkinsons are but a few curable diseases. Though President Bush has stopped federal funding for any new stem cell research, he will only allow funding for existing stem cell lines (cnn.com).
Politicians and scientists alike around the world have gone through great lengths to establish a moral code when doing embryonic stem cell research. The Parliament of the United Kingdom appointed a committee to investigate the issue of embryonic stem cell research. This committee, called the Donaldson Committee and chaired by Professor Liam Donaldson, submitted their recommendation that the 14-day limit on embryo experimentation be maintained and that this should apply to both embryos produced by natural means and by therapeutic cloning, (Panno, 78). Even the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has decided not to compensate donors for the stem cell studies, to be sure that the woman did not feel pressured to participate in the research for financial reasons, (Walker).
Just think what a great accomplishment it would be if all the women in the world who suffer from breast cancer underwent this treatment instead of loosing a breast. Think of those who die every year from cancer. According to David A. Prentice in his article, Current Science of Regenerative Medicine with Stem Cells, Repair of damaged organs and tissue using stem cells could potentially address the needs of these patients, encompassing most of the top 15 leading causes of death in the United States (33). Think of your mother living until she is two-hundred or your child living healthy all of his or her life. Baring a utopian society, what could be more precious than this?
After viewing this evidence I could sympathize with the pro-life individuals. Pro-lifers believe that The drive to protect the lives of those we know and love is instinctive for individuals and societies. He also goes on to state, Embryos could feel, that the smallest such embryos, like us, are warm to the touch, that they move as they grow, and breathe just as surely as we do. (Sherley).
But this view, it seems from the outside looking in, that this line of research has a promising medical application for human beings. The promise of a better future for our children is what every man and woman of child-bearing age and those that wish to have children would want. I would not like to know that my child would be afflicted with say Lou Gehrigs disease, a disease that affects the nervous system, and I would be powerless to help. I would hope as a parent you would feel the same way and realize the necessity for embryonic stem cell research.
Works Citied
Berger, Eleni Research Avenue Adds Fuel to Stem Cell Controversy. Cnn.com. 18 July 2001 archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/07/11/stem.cell.fact/
Bush to Allow Limited Stem Cell Funding. Cnn.com. 10 August 2001 archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/08/09/stem.cell.bush
Godoy, Maria, and Joe Palca. A Brief Time Line of the Stem Cell Debate. Online Posting. 16 June 2006 www.npr.org
How Stuff Works. Mental Floss. Jan/Feb 2006: 30-32.
Kirschstein, Ruth and Lana R. Skirboll. Stem Cell: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions. Department of Health and Human Services. June 2001 stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport
Panno, Joseph PhD. The New Biology: Stem Cell Research Medical Applications and Ethical Controversy. New York: Facts on File, inc., 2005.
Park, Alice. Why Harvard is Recruiting Egg Donors for Stem Cell Studies. Time.com. 6 June 2006 www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1201298,00.html
Prentice, David A. PhD. Current Science of Regenerative Medicine with Stem Cells. Journal of Investigative Medicine. 1 Jan 2006: 54.
Sherley, James L. Crossing the Line on Cloning. Boston.com. 12 June 2006 www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2006/06/12/crossing_line_on_cloning/
Mr. Lewis is a published author and poet. His first book, Pay to Play, was published in January 2005 by Around the Way Books. It details Marlon a regular guy who received an offer he couldnt refuse. Black Issues Book Review said of this title Lewis's voice is of someone who knows the street, and his book is an entertaining read for someone who doesn't know this world or for someone who can relate to it. (May-June, 2005 issue)
His second book, The Plexus Agenda is due out in November 2007. This exciting espionage novel explores the belief that the next United States civil war will be Blacks against Whites. Mr. C. Lee of the NAACP states it was quite gripping, compelling, and a total page turner. It was too entertaining to put down. You have identified some of the fears African Americans have, and manage to weave them into one hell of a story.
You may read more about his books and poems at the publishers website: http://www.aroundthewaybooks.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andre_Lewis
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