Armed Forces vs. Embryos
President Bush has refused to allow federal funds for stem cell research that utilizes embryos because it results in their death. The embryos used for this research are ones that are left over from fertility clinics and die undeveloped whether used for research or not. The researchers hasten the death of the embryos they use. In taking this position the President stated, “I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our creator. I worry about a culture that devalues life, and believe as your president I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for life in America and throughout the world.”
The problem with the President’s statement is the fact that he started a war that was clearly elective, knowing that his action would result in the death of a number of Americans, over 2200 at this writing.
Well, just a minute, through the ages leaders have consistently dispatched warriors presumably to save the people at home. Yes, but the stem cells the President chooses to protect would be used to save the people at home as well as people throughout the world from disease, some fatal. The analogy is clear. In each case the lives of a few are sacrificed to save the many. If life is precious in the one case it is equally precious in the other. Well, maybe not equally. There will be little social consequence from the hastened death of a discarded embryo, but there is an abundance of social consequence from the death of a warrior who leaves family. -TEB