Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Journal 6: Stem Cell Research
Stem cell research is a difficult topic, but it is definitely the buzz word of today. I did not realize there were two types of stem cell research: adult and embryonic. Adult stem cell research is not causing nearly as much controversy as embryonic. In fact, most people accept adult stem cell research as ethical and it has already been used successfully to treat many different types of diseases. Embryonic stem cell research is controversial because in order to get the stem cells the whole embryo must be destroyed. However, this embryo is seen to some people as a human being. I would have to agree with this viewpoint. Although it is not and never will be implanted into a uterus to grow into a baby, it is the starting point that everyone came from. I do not agree that human life should be destroyed to save someone else’s life. This brings in the issue of second class citizenship, which is something that America does not stand for. America and the people in America make sure that everyone has all of their rights. It is surprising that the Democrats are usually the group of people who fight for the “little man” and stand up for the people whose rights are usually suppressed yet they support embryonic research. If they really wanted to give everyone their rights, they should fight against embryonic research with all their might because the embryos are the ones without a voice.
The Episcopal Church states clearly that the embryos that we have now should be used for research to cure disease, but new embryonic lines should not be created for this purpose. I agree with this statement when it comes to what we should do with the embryos we have now. I also agree with the Christian Coalition which states that killing one human being to save another is never morally just and supporting embryonic research would be the first time America has supported a program that endorsed the killing of human life for research purposes. Embryonic research is not something that we should try to continue. If we have researched with adult stem cells and found cures through them, we should continue to use adult stem cells. While it may be more difficult to find the correct stem cells, it is more ethical and we know that it works. Embryonic research has not had success like adult stem cell research. While supporters of embryonic research say they need more time, this time should be spent continuing adult stem cell research. Groups which would oppose this policy would be the people who believe embryonic research could have saved a loved one who recently died. Christopher Reeves and Ronald Reagan are just two famous men who died from diseases that have no cure as of now.
Embryonic research is not ethical. It is not ethical because it kills a human life for research purposes. Killing people is not ethical, it is against the law. The problem today is that there is a difference between what different groups consider to be human life or not. Personally I think that human life begins at conception, like the Catholic Bishops. People who support embryonic research do not believe human life starts that early. Until we can resolve this issue, embryonic research will still be a point of major conflict. Once we decide as a country when human life begins not only can we decide about embryonic research we can also decide the abortion conflict.
The Episcopal Church states clearly that the embryos that we have now should be used for research to cure disease, but new embryonic lines should not be created for this purpose. I agree with this statement when it comes to what we should do with the embryos we have now. I also agree with the Christian Coalition which states that killing one human being to save another is never morally just and supporting embryonic research would be the first time America has supported a program that endorsed the killing of human life for research purposes. Embryonic research is not something that we should try to continue. If we have researched with adult stem cells and found cures through them, we should continue to use adult stem cells. While it may be more difficult to find the correct stem cells, it is more ethical and we know that it works. Embryonic research has not had success like adult stem cell research. While supporters of embryonic research say they need more time, this time should be spent continuing adult stem cell research. Groups which would oppose this policy would be the people who believe embryonic research could have saved a loved one who recently died. Christopher Reeves and Ronald Reagan are just two famous men who died from diseases that have no cure as of now.
Embryonic research is not ethical. It is not ethical because it kills a human life for research purposes. Killing people is not ethical, it is against the law. The problem today is that there is a difference between what different groups consider to be human life or not. Personally I think that human life begins at conception, like the Catholic Bishops. People who support embryonic research do not believe human life starts that early. Until we can resolve this issue, embryonic research will still be a point of major conflict. Once we decide as a country when human life begins not only can we decide about embryonic research we can also decide the abortion conflict.
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I personally am completely against embryonic stem cell research. I believe that life begins at conception. If it did not, why in the world does a child begin to form the second the egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. That is the same as saying a fish is dead because it cannot breath air. Just because the embryo is not breathing, by no means, implies that it is not alive. I do not believe in embryonic stem cell research because promoting that will mean promoting the murders of unborn children. It is pathetic enough that our country is ok with abortion. However to promote it is obscene. God’s judgment shall be upon our nation for the millions of unborn lives it has allowed to be murdered.
It is important to understand that stem cell research in and of itself is a great thing, and will be very beneficial in the future for enabling us to treat diseases. However, something that many people do not understand is that adult stem cell research is just as wonderful and productive as is embryonic stem cell research. It is not as if embryonic is better, and even if it is better someday, adult stem cells are still sufficient and that is all that matters. Murdering one human being to save another is by no means ethical or moral. People need to understand that lives are at stake if we promote embryonic stem cell research. People must realize that each of us came from an embryo; an embryo that was labeled as life and allowed to grow. Embryos are the beginning of human life and we are wrong to place science above human life. WE must understand that God wants us to find cures for things and be able to help heal the sick. However, His Word makes clear that murder is unacceptable. God has enabled us to learn of new ways to treat disease, through adult stem cells. He has given us this privilege because he is disgusted with murder and abortion and wants us to obey Him. I believe that stem cell research should only take place using the stem cells of adults instead of those of an embryo. After all, we were all embryos once. Thus, an embryo is an unborn child regardless of age or form, and an unborn child must be allowed the right to life.
It is important to understand that stem cell research in and of itself is a great thing, and will be very beneficial in the future for enabling us to treat diseases. However, something that many people do not understand is that adult stem cell research is just as wonderful and productive as is embryonic stem cell research. It is not as if embryonic is better, and even if it is better someday, adult stem cells are still sufficient and that is all that matters. Murdering one human being to save another is by no means ethical or moral. People need to understand that lives are at stake if we promote embryonic stem cell research. People must realize that each of us came from an embryo; an embryo that was labeled as life and allowed to grow. Embryos are the beginning of human life and we are wrong to place science above human life. WE must understand that God wants us to find cures for things and be able to help heal the sick. However, His Word makes clear that murder is unacceptable. God has enabled us to learn of new ways to treat disease, through adult stem cells. He has given us this privilege because he is disgusted with murder and abortion and wants us to obey Him. I believe that stem cell research should only take place using the stem cells of adults instead of those of an embryo. After all, we were all embryos once. Thus, an embryo is an unborn child regardless of age or form, and an unborn child must be allowed the right to life.
Katie Hawkins, I agree with you very greatly about what you posted here. In a class discussion last week, my group was talking about the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. Some of the group believed that destroying embryos is OK and some believed that it is wrong. The line of difference was that "who knows?" Since it was at the end of the discussion, I mentioned that maybe we should let God decide what is right and wrong (after all, He is God.) A girl responded "well, not everybody believes in God." And I bluntly replied that "that is the biggest problem of all, isn't it?" This is just a thought, but for people to understand the possible evils of embryonic research, perhaps bigger Understandings are called to order.
And by the way, I completely agree with you Craisydaisy. Can I just copy paste your journal entry? :)
I definitely agree with you on the issue of life and when it begins. I feel the majority of people glossed over that issue in this country, dismissing it as not important, while it is what determines the legality of abortion and embryonic stem cell research. One would imagine that we would seriously consider life and its characteristics in a public debate or something of that nature where many views are looked at; I could even think of the beginning of life as being a case in court. Once we decide the legality of life and its specific beginning, then we have the justification to commence with or condemn stem cell research. As a secular country, we must come to a logical conclusion on this widespread issue; we should not let it exist without addressing the specific details of when a person receives his/her rights. If we do let this issue go, there’s no telling how far our country will slip into destructiveness. Morality is considered a relative issue in this country, so until we are able to produce a law, what amounts to atrocities in the minds of many will continue.
I strongly agree with embryo researches. I think an amount of cells should not have the same rights than a “real person.” The stem cells are taken from the embryo in such early stage that you could never say that looks like a human being. Not only the shape, but also nothing in that group of cells should be considered human. There are no heart, brain or even legs there. A promise of a future human life is definitely different than a human life. When you get an embryo in its very early stage of life and take its stem cell, you are taking its possibility to become a human being (what it never was.) Technically you are taking some cell’s life not a humans being life. Most of the arguments against these kinds of researches are from people directly related to a religion entity. I am not saying arguing against religion, but I believe that we should not let religious values interfere in the development of the science. People know what these interference costed in the past, when the catholic church burned thousand of people in the inquisition because there were people saying that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
The promise of what these stem cell researches can bring to the humanity are unlimited. Just these facts should overcome any possible Pro/Con debate, since in the end humanity will gain more with results. The question that should be considered is: what will bring more happiness?
The promise of what these stem cell researches can bring to the humanity are unlimited. Just these facts should overcome any possible Pro/Con debate, since in the end humanity will gain more with results. The question that should be considered is: what will bring more happiness?
In the last couple of years, stem cell research has changed from an issue of interest only to research scientists to a political issue linked with abortion. Nowadays this is a topic which is drawing the attention not only of scientists; it is taking the attention of politicians, religious figures and almost everybody in the world. One of the main reasons this issue became political is because it involves economic, religious, moral and ethical concerns. Is it more ethical for a woman to donate unused embryos that never that will never become human beings or let them be tossed away as so much garbage when they could help save thousands of lives? Embryonic stem cells are obtained from early-stage embryos, a group of cells that forms when a woman's egg is fertilized with a man's sperm.
I strongly agree with embryo researches.Stem cell research can improve some lives and even better can save millions of lives. This is the primarily reason people have to keep in mind when we are talking about stem cells research. People can help with medical progress and let millions of people stop suffering. People should separate science and religion because that makes people be in a debate with themselves. Religious people believe that stem cells are the essence of “life,” but nobody can say when “life” really starts. People have to think in their own benefits and society benefits to have a better and a healthy future. Stem cells can finish with several diseases that now are devastating to society.
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I strongly agree with embryo researches.Stem cell research can improve some lives and even better can save millions of lives. This is the primarily reason people have to keep in mind when we are talking about stem cells research. People can help with medical progress and let millions of people stop suffering. People should separate science and religion because that makes people be in a debate with themselves. Religious people believe that stem cells are the essence of “life,” but nobody can say when “life” really starts. People have to think in their own benefits and society benefits to have a better and a healthy future. Stem cells can finish with several diseases that now are devastating to society.
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