Quote:
Originally posted by bilmore
I know little of this topic, but my impression is that what he's blocking involves fetal stem cells, that those cells are only available from dead feti, and that he believes that, if one opposes abortion, one must also oppose the use of those aborted feti, from where, I presume, most such cells come.
So, in the anti-abortion crowd's minds, and, obviously, in Bush's mind, you are choosing your life over the lives of others.
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BB-
Hi! Actually, the big debate is not over "fetal stem cells", its about "embryonic stem cells." i.e. the cells are harvested after the embryo has been alive for about 2 weeks (I think), before it gets to the fetus stage.
Moreover, the embryos involved in the research aren't taken from abortions. They are basically the leftovers/extras from the vast fertility industry we have in this country. Those "extras" are eventually destroyed if not used.
This may change the moral calculus a bit, although everyone should realize that this is one piece of a "slippery slope" issue with very serious moral implications.
A continuum of such issues which evolves as technology advances. See, e.g., The current practice where some parents have new children to create tissue, marrow or organ donors for existing ill children. One end of the continuum may one day be the possibility (seen only in SciFi now) of creating and raising human clones as new bodies for rich old people.
There is some line that our society should not cross, and as a general matter, it is indecent for any society to cannibalize its youngest members to prolong the lives or increase quality of life for its oldest. Where you draw the line all depends on your definitions.
S_A_M
