There are many things I know absolutely nothing about. Yet, I feel as qualified as the next person to have an opinion about the controversy roiling around particularly scientific or esoteric topics that hold our interest. The contention surrounding particular issues makes them more interesting. First, I must declare that I decline to have anything to do that is mathematical for in that subject I am illiterate. I also refrain from thinking about black holes in the far reaches of the galaxies and feel sympathy for members of the “Flat World Society” who number quite a few. But, anything biological (excluding needles and drawing blood) is intensely interesting to me.
One subject that absorbed some of us older folk is related to a wildly controversial and wholly weird event that took place in the 1920’s. This was the monkey gland thing that involved Fatty Arbuckle, a silent screen comedy star. I know little about this event but this does not disqualify me from having an opinion. So I opine that investigations into life-extending (and libido stretching) research involving “stem-cell” studies are a good thing. Many since Ponce De Leon have sought magical solutions to extend life including waters here in South Florida that qualified for the Conquistadors as the “fountain of youth”. If such a fountain exists, I say go for it. I also say, if stem-cell research might solve some problems humans have with terrible conditions, and then go for that also.
The greatest obstacles facing those who want to extend life that may end the “life” of some “cells” is the prison walls and ancient iron shackles that restrict thinking. Since I believe THINKING should be ALLOWED, I think that well-meaning but severely restricted people should not have the power they now exert over scientific research and the civil control by elected officials over the process. I will go further to say that the current President has devolved from the leader of ALL the people in this country to become the puppet of not-so-well meaning religionists who want ALL of us to think and believe as they do. It is really not a contest between narrow thinkers and divergent, broad thinkers. It is about religion.
Life does not begin until the fetus leaves the womb, draws breath and is cut from the umbilical connection to the mother. I believe this although the scientific explanations are beyond me. I know this goes counter to those who believe life begins at conception. However, the death of cells when research on stem-cells is an outcome, no individual dies or gets killed by the researcher.
I believe that the current lock on research spear-headed by a wrong-headed president should end so that ALL the people in this country can benefit by the knowledge gained by fostering stem-cell research. It is the right thing to do.