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