Commentary by Cantice
I might be late, but I just heard that the FDA recently approved the “growing” and selling of cloned meat for general consumption. This cloned meat will not have to be labeled as such; it will be sold in our supermarkets next to the uncloned meat. Currently cloning meat is too expensive for ranchers to immediately begin production. So odds are that you won’t need to panic over this unknown as you do your shopping for at least the next five years. Some of you might not be panicking at all, but anticipating the benefits of meat that may be superior (double-packed with protein, super-lean, etc) to the natural kind. Others of you may be wondering what exactly is cloning. That leads me to the next life issue.
Last Thursday I attended a conference entitled Stem Cell Research: Understanding the Controversies. The conference mainly consisted of eight panelists presenting their research on aspects of stem cell experimentation. This research included (1)attitudes of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) treatment couples about donating their frozen embryos to science (the majority prefer this option), (2)current findings of ANT experiments(altered nuclear transfer-removing an embryonic cell’s nucleus, taking out other cellular info, and rendering the cell humanly unviable—they create vegetative state embryos), some consider ANT a morally acceptable means for the procurement of human embryonic stem cells, (3) a social scientists’ statistics tracking the significance of state initiatives for stem cell research (have these initiatives attracted bio-scientists from states with no stem cell funding initiatives), and (4) a theoretical overview of religious conceptions of the beginning of life (40 days vs. 17 days vs. conception) which explain religiously founded opposition to human embryonic stem cell research. Whew, that was a mouthful. Now back to my first point. The ANT researcher from the President’s Council explained that cloning is taking a body cell (say from a cow’s flesh) and blending it with an embryo which is pluripotent (able to form into any kind of cell, organ, etc), zapping/infusing it with electricity (or something) and watching it grow into whatever cell you merged it with (in this case a cow’s flesh). If you have understood my sketchy explanation (biological community, I apologize), or were already familiar with these procedures, then you know that deciding whether it is morally acceptable to use human embryos—even those formed by ANT—is just one of the moral considerations of this cloning.
Now to try and tie all of this together. This week was the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. So us prolife-types were present at the silent march lamenting (silently) the loss of life due to legalized abortion in this country and the negative impact of it on American citizens, women, men, and children alike. While you reading this may never want to identify yourself as part of this prolife movement, I think current events leave you no choice but to “understand the controversies” and decide to act in your own best interests. As human life experiments become more frequent and radical, who do you think could end up a target? The better question might be who won't become a target.
As for practical action for the moderately pro-life, or the weakly pro-choice I suggest you check yourself if you have a tendency to shake your head when you see a pregnant teenager or single woman. I've learned to feel proud of these women, realizing that it takes toughness to go the path of carrying a baby to term knowing that the road ahead will not be easy. If you want to go even further, buy that woman some maternity clothes or the best seller What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Unless your brain has been totally reprogrammed to believe that this type of help somehow hurts women and children, you too can become a life preserver. A once popular songstress made the following refrain famous: I believe the children are our future. I tend to agree.
Response
by Wanda
Whew...that was a lot. Warn me next time you plan on going "scientific" so that I can find a cute medical student on campus to interpret. In defense of all those out there (including myself) who passed science by the skin of their teeth ....huh? I think what your saying is any type of embryonic cell research is unethical...right? I am at a lost for words this week. Because I am constantly confused with the purpose and energy that Pro-lifers put into these types of discussions and the financial support poured into these pro-life organizations. I would have to agree there is something very unnerving about extracting stem cells from aborted embryos or in-vitro eggs. But a recent study just showed that birth rates were up in the US and birth statistics haven't been this high since over 20 years ago. We are even among the top countries with such high birthrates. The other day a study showed that most women getting abortions were married and their reasons being they just couldn't afford, or manage to care for another child (which says a lot about the domestic support that husbands are not providing in their own homes.)
What is even more interesting in these debates over stem cell research and abortion is that men have many times been the leading voices against these "ills." Appropriately so since they are not the ones who serve as the primary childcare provider...isn't that interesting. I am a realist and sometimes even labeled a cynic but I think that you should fight the battles that you can win. Women have aborted babies for thousands of years, overturning Roe vs. Wade is not going to stop it. It will actually drive it underground, thereby leaving many women who choose to abort vulnerable to sham doctors and even death. The biggest killer of humans is not abortions but hypertension, heart disease and car accidents. Let's pull resources together to deal with issues of poverty and healthcare or even quality education. Focusing on trying to stop scientists from creating and exploring is pointless. There is too much potential revenue that can be scored from their science. I wonder how much money the pro-life organizations are pouring into social programs or advocating in DC about equal pay for women, or better education? I believe that every decision we make we have to answer to God for but that also includes how well we use our resources. If we want to maintain the sanctity of life we should also focus on the quality of life-which is also sacred. Cantice, it's nice to see that your challenging us to reach out and help young women facing a difficult time in their lives. Who knows maybe you can lead other pro-lifers to fight for quality of life issues too.
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