I tried. I really did. I greeted the election of our current president with prayerful thanksgiving and have sincerely wanted only the best for him and for my country, my nation.

 

Recently I watched while, before the ever-present television cameras, leaders of the majority party rejoiced over his having lifted the “ban” on “embryonic stem cell research.” I listened, with an open mind, as our president proclaimed that his would be an administration ruled by good science, not by ideology.

 

I am sad.

 

There was NEVER a “ban” on embryonic stem cell research. The so-called ban was only against federal money (that is MY tax dollars and YOURS) going to research OTHER THAN the (I believe 17) “lines” of embryonic cells that were already in use. Private funding was NEVER banned.

 

What's wrong with private money? There wasn't much. Where did private money go? It went to ADULT stem cell research. Why? Again, as enthusiastic supporters of the majority party never seem to grasp, private money went WHERE THERE WAS PROMISE OF POSITIVE RESULTS. It might be interesting to note that the scientist who cloned "Dolly" the sheep switched from embryonic to adult stem cell research. He said that it was because adult stem cells were more promising. 

 

PROBLEM: embryonic stem cells tend to go “out of control.” Insertion of embryonic stem cells in rats and other test animals (I HOPE not human) has often resulted in non-desirable tissue generation – bone, teeth, hair, you-name-it… in BRAINS.

 

PROBLEM: embryonic stem cells have a much higher likelihood of transforming into cancerous tissue.

 

Private money tends to go where the pay-off is more likely. One of the “problems” with adult stem cells it that, until recently, they showed less promise of generating any desired tissue cells. This has recently been overcome.

 

The ONLY source for money to perform research on embryonic stem cells is the GOVERNMENT because private money is being bet on success. As happens so often, when a minority (even if embedded within the current majority party) want something, it must be your money and mine that they seek. 

 

Will my countrymen and countrywomen ever figure out, in a real and personal way, that government money is OUR money?

 

If adult stem cell research shows such promise, how is throwing MY money and YOUR money into embryonic research “good science” and not IDEOLOGY? Yolande says that it is neither. Her stance is that these embryos are just going to be discarded anyway, they may as well be put to some use.

 

Practical. Though this reminds me of the Nazi attitude toward Jews…

 

And do you really think that human cloning is not right around the corner? (Actually, I have a feeling that we’ve already rounded that bend.) “Good science” would advocate the cloning of embryos.

 

Who cares, and what can I do? For myself, I have written medical instructions and have told my wife, in case she becomes my “proxy” that I refuse any treatment that is the result of embryonic stem cell use. I would rather die than claim the sacrifice of a human being in my behalf. Please note that nowhere in this monograph have I mentioned “morality”, “ethics”, or “God”. Were I to consider these, my opinion would be reinforced.  

 

If this makes me unpopular with some… so be it.

 

Since we have a leader who VOCALIZES support for “good science” and SIGNS orders that seem to me to support ideology within his political party… I also resolve to pray even more ardently for him. I hope, with all my heart, that he is merely misinformed or misled rather than the cynical observer of what some may think of as the awareness of the unwashed masses that this might otherwise appear to be. I hope it is not a coldly calculated belief that the "little people" will never bother to check up on facts. Nice sounding sound bytes should be good enough to keep THEM in line. 

 

Mr. President, may God grant you all possible grace. 

 

Mr. President, I am one of the masses who reads and... despite the public education system, actually comprehend and remember what I read. Please do not insult me. Please do a good job.