| For the first time in his presidency, President George | | | | diseases develop in the cell and tissue level.It sounds |
| W Bush made a historic veto last July 19th killing the | | | | perfectly fine and enormously beneficial, so what's |
| hopes of further development in the stem cell | | | | the fuss all about? As I was (objectively I hope) told, |
| technology. The terminated bill was aimed at lifting | | | | the controversy is rooted from the fact that the |
| the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell | | | | most viable stem cells are from the tissues of an |
| research which President Bush himself imposed in | | | | embryo. Applied in human context, it is the human |
| 2001.The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was | | | | embryo-- the beginning of life, something we humans |
| unanimously voted by both the Senate and the | | | | cannot alter or infringe on (as social and moral |
| House of Representatives, but both chambers fell | | | | constructs taught us).And when morals and ethics |
| short of the needed two thirds vote that would | | | | are in the picture, politics cannot be missing. Given |
| have overturned Bush's veto power. With an | | | | the numerous analyses, view points, and opposition |
| argument on grounds of social morals, the veto from | | | | coming from organized religions and groups, |
| the president was somehow already been expected. | | | | governments of countries where stem cell research |
| Bush has always been vocal in his stand against | | | | are existing are placed in an extremely stressful |
| embryonic stem cell research and the technology | | | | tipping point. With pragmatic, revolutionary promises |
| that uses human embryos in trying to develop miracle | | | | colliding with instituted social beliefs and moral |
| cures for terminal diseases.With the veto, President | | | | convictions, governments are at the mercy of |
| Bush gained a wider support ground among the | | | | mutually exclusive polars. A solid support base is what |
| conservative Republicans and the many progressive | | | | keeps a government alive (and a president popular). |
| religious and conservative advocacy groups. | | | | If majority of the people are secular, hurting their |
| Disappointment and frustrations, on the other hand, | | | | beliefs won't do a government any good. But what |
| escalated among the seculars and liberals.The issue | | | | about the national interest in advancement and |
| has been residing in the highest offices of the | | | | progress? And so the debate ensues.Far more issues |
| country but many common Americans are still | | | | arise from stem cell. Should further researches be |
| unaware on what is the real deal about stem cell. The | | | | pursued and developed into technologies? Should |
| only message the government and other concerned | | | | currently accepted stem cell procedures be widened? |
| parties are sending to the social base is the potential | | | | Should we be contented with adult stem cells or |
| of stem cell to cure terminal diseases. Not enough | | | | bank more on embryos? Should stem cell research |
| understanding on how stem cell can achieve this | | | | and technology be funded by the state? Where do |
| potential and its political, social, and religious | | | | we draw the line between morals and practicality?To |
| underpinnings is being made available to the large | | | | constructively engage in the issue, I argue in favor of |
| public which at the end of the day is at the receiving | | | | the stem cell advocates. The religious opposition |
| end of any legislation.In a very lengthy conversation I | | | | some sectors have is not something new to be so |
| had with a cousin who teaches Biology, I came to | | | | alarmed about. They had the same stance about |
| understand that stem cells are cells of the body that | | | | divorce, about euthanasia, and even about war. Yes, |
| are at their very early stage of development and are | | | | their opposition is a necessary element given that we |
| not yet designed to perform very specific functions. | | | | are (ideally) in democratic society where multi |
| Unlike brain cells that cannot replace the functions of | | | | perspective political stands are celebrated. However, |
| the heart cells, stem cells can be developed and | | | | their opposition should not in any way be the turning |
| assigned to do whatever function. This characteristic | | | | point of the fate of any attempt to advance human |
| is apparently what is seen by experts to be | | | | knowledge, especially if they (the anti-stem cell |
| million-years missing link to solving serious body and | | | | groups) or their loved ones can benefit from it. |
| organ malfunctions.Scientists and researchers say | | | | Issues like the fraud and embezzlement of South |
| that by focusing on the yet unspecialized nature of | | | | Korea's Hwang Woo-suk are valid and worth the |
| stem cells, specifying mechanisms can be done to | | | | scrutiny it deserves. But essentially, the incident is not |
| turn these stem cells into a particular kind of cell to | | | | in any way indicative of the follies of stem cell |
| be used to replace damaged tissues of an organ. This | | | | technology.No technology cannot alter life. All the |
| premise promises stem cells to function as repair kits | | | | technologies we have accepted and been using have |
| especially to diseases that are currently hard to solve | | | | altered our lives in greater deals that we can |
| like heart diseases, diabetes, spinal chord damages, | | | | recognize. Dealing the issue of stem cell with |
| Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. On a | | | | objectivity may just weed out the hindrances there |
| scholastic note, stem cell technology advocates argue | | | | are in arriving at a sound and equitable deal with the |
| that by exploring the many possibilities of stem cells, | | | | benefits of stem cell. |
| humanity will achieve a greater understanding on how | | | | |