From Where I Sit, As a Cancer Survivor

From Charles Krauthammer who writes for the Washington Post:

"President George W. Bush had restricted federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to cells derived from embryos that had already been destroyed (as of his speech of Aug. 9, 2001). While I favor moving that moral line to additionally permit the use of spare fertility-clinic embryos, President Obama replaced it with no line at all. He pointedly left open the creation of cloned - and noncloned sperm-and-egg-derived - human embryos solely for the purpose of dismemberment and use for parts.

I am not religious. I do not believe that personhood is conferred upon conception. But I also do not believe that a human embryo is the moral equivalent of a hangnail and deserves no more respect than an appendix. Moreover, given the protean power of embryonic manipulation, the temptation it presents to science, and the well-recorded human propensity for evil even in the pursuit of good, lines must be drawn.

I suggested the bright line prohibiting the deliberate creation of human embryos solely for the instrumental purpose of research - a clear violation of the categorical imperative not to make a human life (even if only a potential human life) a means rather than an end.

On this, Obama has nothing to say. He leaves it entirely to the scientists. This is more than moral abdication. It is acquiescence to the mystique of "science" and its inherent moral benevolence. How anyone as sophisticated as Obama can believe this within living memory of Mengele and Tuskegee and the fake (and coercive) South Korean stem cell research is hard to fathom."

So to use embryonic stem cells is not to facilitate murder. Rather it is to hold the promise of remedies that will enable those whose lives are diminished, ravaged, abbreviated, to hope for something better.
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Rabbi, this is so absurdly simple, Remedial Morality 001, that its need to be written continues to shock me. The idea that there are among us those who privilege a stem cell over an infant, a child, a teen, an adult suffering from a debilitating disease, seems so barbaric as to be almost inconceivable. That there are those who take this position in the name of a religion is monstrous.

I wonder why corporate irresponsibility is allowed to saturate our world with carcinogens, pesticides, and poorly tested drugs and medicines? Then I wonder why we trust private for profit companies with our health care too!!!

Sorry, but it's not happening. Look at the private investment leaving health care since his speech a couple of weeks ago. Without it, biotech will dry up and very possibly health care in general. If enough private investment leaves health care, the gov't may have no choice but to nationalize it or bail it out on a yearly basis.

A wise. gracious and disciplined man of faith offers his perspective, and the unwise, bigoted mob responds.

What a pleasure it is watching conservatism fall apart.

God be with you, Rabbi Wolpe.

Obviously this nitwit is a hero of the left. Cited by Newsweek and teaching at UCLA are the clear indicators I saw before reading his goofy comments.
Apparently he doesn't understand that "Thou shalt not kill," means literally "Thou shalt not murder."
Taking the life of an unborn child is murder, plain and simple, no matter what the left says.

Two wrongs do not make a right!!!

Obviously there are many Geneticists and DNA experts on this forum. I would think that the researchers would know best what kind of cell is best to use. But when the religious aspect begins to enter a medical discussion, a rational exchange of opinions is impossible.
For religious fanatics, life begins during intercourse or even while getting undressed.
So let me clear up some points of contention.
A human blastocyst has between 70 and 100 cells, a fruitfly has 40,000. A fertilized egg can be frozen and unfrozen and still remain viable. Try that with any other mammal and see if it works! No higher life form an be frozen and re-used. The simple fact that there is no breathing and no conscience, precludes an embrio from being a viable life form.
Besides that, 27,000 children die EVERY DAY from poverty related deseases and starvation. Living, breathing children condemned to death by the same morons who cry murder because a lump of cells.
Or how about the millions who suffer from debilitating deseases, paralized and without hope? How can any rational human explain to them that we have to slow down research because of some religious fanatics?
And don't get me started with invisible space buddies. It is a crying shame that superstition still has so much influence on our lives and is a hindrance to scientific progress!!

Oy veh. Another one who muddles stem cell research with using public fundings for embryonic stem cell research.

Already somatic stem cells, those derived from a person's own fat or skin, etc., or umbilical cord blood, have made advances in actual humans. In contrast, embryonic stem cells have been shown to be fraught with problems - viability, rejection or leading to tumors. Maggie Gallagher just wrote an essay where she quoted a scientist in the field that said that private monies for embryonic stem cell research is drying up. Why? Because somatic stem cells are doing what embryonic can't and have no ethical taint.

As a cancer survivor, he should be the last to want someone coming at him saying, "Hold still while we put these tumor growing cells into your body."

Hmmm, unfortunately the new format puts the senders name at the bottom of the commentary. Must remember to check the name first before reading any more comments as the "many-faced/laced with dishonesty lady of many aliases" i.e. Farnaz aka Farnaz2 aka Observer12 aka Observer31 aka Yael1 aka ivri5678 aka ivri aka Billy8 has returned.

CCNL:

Please accept my condolences for the loss of your fellow Stem Cells. Surely, you can find comfort in your Cburch of Clancy, Nussbaum, and Luigi (CCNL).

Given the depth of your grief, it occurs t to me that you should go directly to Archbishop Luigi of the Lasagna. His Pastemence can help you if anyone can.

In the Name of the Lasagna, the Meatballs, and the Holy Ravioli.

The human embryo is the most pristine state of life, the genesis of us all thereby he or she should be protected and respected like any new born.

"embryo: In humans, the prefetal product of conception from implantation through the eighth week of development." answers.com

"The Visible Embryo is a visual guide through fetal development from fertilization through pregnancy to birth. As the most profound physiologic changes occur in the "first trimester" of pregnancy, these Carnegie stages are given prominence on the birth spiral.

The shape and location of embryonic interal structures and how they relate and are connected to each other is essential to understanding human development. Medical professionals create a mental picture of this process in order to determine how well the fetus is progressing. It is also the basis of knowing how and when errors in development occur and if a possibility exists for a corrective intervention."

It is equally important for expectant parents to understand the relationship of these internal structures and how their infant develops through pregnancy."

http://www.visembryo.com/baby/

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/185610/2919/Development-of-the-human-embryo

"The term embryo applies to the earliest form of life, produced when an egg (female reproductive cell) is fertilized by a sperm (male reproductive cell; semen). The fertilized egg is called a zygote. Shortly after fertilization, the zygote begins to grow and develop. It divides to form two cells, then four, then eight, and so on. As the zygote and its daughter cells divide, they start to become specialized, meaning they begin to take on characteristic structures and functions that will be needed in the adult plant or animal.

An embryo is a living organism, like a full-grown rose bush, frog, or human. It has the same needs—food, oxygen, warmth, and protection—that the adult organism has. These needs are provided for in a variety of ways by different kinds of organisms."

Embryonic development
434 x 254 - 14k - jpg
www.scienceclarified.com

Day 6: Embryo implants in the uterus ...
409 x 306 - 26k - jpg
www.solutionsphc.com

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated:
Hmmm, and why don't we just harvest the organs/cells/blood from Alzheimers patients??? Why waste all these valuable resources??

March 11, 2009 12:46 AM
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I don't mean to pressure you, but are you volunteering, CCNL?

embryonic stem cells have become obsolete.
Google this statement and you will find many results confirming this statements validity.
Here is some of the results:
A second kind of stem cell that has triumphed is an entirely new creation called iPS (short for induced pluripotent stem cell), a blockbuster discovery made in late 2007. These cells are created by reprogramming DNA from adult skin. The iPS cells are embryonic-like in that they can turn into any cell in the body—and so bypass the need for embryos or eggs. In late February, scientists reported on iPS cells that had been transformed into mature nerve cells. While these cells might become a choice for patient therapy in time, scientists are playing this down for now. Why? These embryonic-like cells also come with the risk of cancer.

James Thomson, the stem cell pioneer from the University of Wisconsin who was the first to grow human embryonic stem cells in 1998, is an independent codiscoverer of iPS cells along with Japanese scientists. Already these reprogrammed cells have eclipsed the value of those harvested from embryos, he has said, because of significantly lower cost, ease of production, and genetic identity with the patient. They also bring unique application to medical and pharmaceutical research, because cells cultivated from patients with certain diseases readily become laboratory models for developing and testing therapy. That iPS cells overcome ethical concerns about creating and sacrificing embryos is an added plus.

The human embryo is the most pristine state of human life, the genesis of us all thereby he or she should be protected and respected like any new born child.

I stand with you, Rabbi Wolpe! You hit the nail on the head!

Well, well, JJ and CCNL in a cambat zome!!! Too Funny!

CCNL, go back into you non-liberated state and quit making assinine statements about embryos needing a proper burial.

JJ, will you ever change???

"Who needs to possibly increase their chances of begetting 'Dementia' by taking chances with some-one elses "AlZHEiMERS" biological Stem-Cells or via their organs?, But iNSTEAD"

I'm... gonna venture to say you don't need to worry about that, JJ.

The mechanisms involved just don't work that way.

No one talks muchbout the "MiSCARRIAGE" Question. Hence: A National "Miscarriage[fetus]-Bank."

Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage

Who needs to possibly increase their chances of begetting 'Dementia' by taking chances with some-one elses "AlZHEiMERS" biological Stem-Cells or via their organs?, But iNSTEAD

Use "Miscarriaged" Stuff {waisted Fetus's & Embilical/Placenta but w/Family-History attached to that expired/Zygote, so to spaketh} to experiment with in order to create super-humans-Race!.

Note: THAT;

Out of some 4.4 Million potential? Births p/yr in the United-States, that 25% (1.1 Million Miscarriages) of that Statistic is not in vain? Soo

by 'Miscarriage(s)'; nature REVEALS (opposite of secrets) to US "IT"s {aka 'Creator/maker' of Us Photons} insanity that , after-all, "IT" has a Sanity to "iTSELF" [aka G-D] being Wise or not so wise?!

iMPORTANT: The 'Brain' & The 'Heart' (Internal stuffs & things) & the 'Knees' (externals..) did-NOT Evolve well.

Those Organs & Limb hath still some a ways to get perfected by the Holyi "invisible-Hand.

--- Once Upon a time in TiME,

OUR Prophet & Father of many, His Honorable Galalio Gallalao [pbuh et al; Darwin, Einstein ..] said,

--- "EPPUR Si MUOVE" and yet... "IT"

[aka 'Lord', and by a 1,000 names & NO-MORE by 99 names]

... does move!" a.k.a

"WE [i] are on A holyi Cosmic, but Miraculous {sin/Curseth-Free} odessey/move/mission.

Hmmm, and why don't we just harvest the organs/cells/blood from Alzheimers patients??? Why waste all these valuable resources??

As a cancer survivor as well, I stand with you Rabbi Wolpe.

One assumes human embryos cannot last forever in the cryogenic state. As with all life, they should be given proper burial and allowed to decompose (or be cremated) with dignity as all human life is. Creating/breeding these embryos for research or use in life-saving drugs is akin to cloning humans simply to harvest their parts for life-saving transplants.

And the fastest growing voting demographic and possibly the largest voting bloc in the USA is ? ::

The Immoral Majority i.e The 70 million "mothers and fathers of aborted children" whose ranks grow by two million per year. They easily put BO in the White/Blood Red House!!!! The math: ~one million abortions/yr since 1973(Roe vs Wade) X 35 yrs x 2 parents/aborted child = ~ 70 million.

The popular vote: 69,456,897 votes for BO, 59,934,814 votes for JM.

And as BO promised the members of the Immoral Majority, he is now the leading advocate of abortion-on-demand to include the destruction of human embryos.