Park on Flakes & Snowflakes
Bob Park on Bush's "historic" veto:
STEM CELLS: PRESIDENT BUSH CHOOSES SUPERSTITION OVER SCIENCE.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bush vetoed the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act." The first veto of his presidency was exercised to protect surplus embryonic stem cells in fertility clinics from research, thus preserving their "dignity" so they can be put out with the garbage. He did so on the grounds that using them in research would be "murder." This is based on the ancient belief in a "vital life force," or "soul," which is said by some Christians to be assigned at conception. The first sign of differentiation in embryonic cells occurs in about 8 weeks. Jews, however, say that infants don't get a soul until they draw their first breath. They cite Genesis: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." On the other hand, superstition may not be the best guide. Why not turn to science?
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* Robert L. Park, "Bob Park's What's New", Friday, 21 Jul 06; archive at http://www.bobpark.org.
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on Saturday, 22 July 2006 at 20.12
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I've long thought it would make more sense for religious absolutists to come up with something more concise, coherent and brass tacks than the Bible to be absolutist about. As many have said, you can cite Bible passages to prove or disprove almost anything. (An eye for an eye or turn the other cheek; what's your pleasure?)
And that's not even considering how many slips twixt cup and lip, so to speak, might've occurred over two-plus millennia. I think of some poor, bored monk a few centuries back having a little mischievous fun while slaving over tedious ancient parchments, possibly in poor light.
I view Bush's exercise in showing reverence for components of procreation as hypocritical and blatantly self-serving politically. Hypocritical, because he so obviously is willing to sacrifice an infinite number of Iraqi civilians' lives to stay his failed course. Ditto for cheap-labor illegal immigrants, too many of whom perish in the desert. The truth is that Bush is selfishly unwilling to take the political heat for either withdrawing or sending in enough troops to secure the place properly.
From a scientific standpoint — alien concept for Bush and his minions — a sperm cell isn't a human, nor is an egg, nor is a zygote or an embryo. They are what they are, just as a living, breathing, sentient human being is what he or she is. Certainly ethical considerations should bear on what's done with components, especially where experimentation is concerned. But to equate them with a human being complete with a soul is patent nonsense.
I've tried to imagine born-again true believer George W. Bush being interviewed about his grasp of the Bible, of Christian faith and tradition, by an expert. Bill Moyers would be my choice. I have a strong hunch Bush's ostentatious faith would be revealed as a yard wide and a quarter-inch deep.