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