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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

Kill, baby kill!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Dear Editor,

Regarding the Omaha World-Herald news release on stem cell research at the University of Nebraska, I opine as follows: Because of the tragic oil spill off the coast of Louisiana, we can now laugh and make fun of the recent political mantra "Drill, Baby, Drill!" Modern science, in the hands of ethical scientists, is used for the good of mankind; in the hands of unethical pseudo-scientists as a means to their end of self-aggrandizement, making of science a modern idol to be worshipped as our great hope for a cure-all for all human suffering Modern science has become the great modern, sophisticated idol that has replaced the superstitious idols of the ancients and often fails, due to the human imperfections of our species and our faith in its indefatigable power to improve man's human condition. Based on (a) front-page article on stem cell research (The North Platte Telegraph, May 1, 2010) and its green light at Nebraska University for the slaughtering of human stem cell embryos, we can now replace the entrance signs to our borders "Welcome to the Good Life" with a new mantra, "Kill, Baby, Kill!" and proudly welcome all you future legislators and/or regents to do your dirty work. Ah, yes! Kill, Baby Kill! In the name of progress, the elimination of human suffering is our goal. Compassion, don't you see, this is what the University of Nebraska stands for.

Sincerely yours,

J.G. McHale,

McCook

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  • One wonders what Mr.McHale would propose as an alternative to scientific research and investigation? I wonder if he's aware that the majority of embryos used in stem cell research originate in facilities devoted to fertility issues and would otherwise have been disposed of without any consideration of contributing to improving the human condition. Perhaps Mr.McHale is one of those who only considers the benefits of science when it can deliver a newer larger television or some golly-gee whiz-bang weapons system capable of more efficiently slaughtering extant sentient human beings.

    -- Posted by davis_x_machina on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 9:08 AM

  • Actually there has been just as promising research on adult stem cells that eliminate the need to use any embryos. So in essence there is no need to even do this kind of research.

    -- Posted by Chaco1 on Tue, May 11, 2010, at 10:51 AM

  • Ah,but Chaco if you read the research much of the progress in adult stem cell utilization has come about as the result of prior and parallel research with embryonic stem cells. Further I'm not aware that anyone has solved the problem of adult stem cells not being pluripotent as are embryonic stem cells.I'd think it foolish to abandon either line of investigation.Just as I think it foolish to allow the complete waste of a resource such as blastocysts that would otherwise be disposed of. Johann Kaspar Lavater has posited that "There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive. I know where I wish to stand.

    -- Posted by davis_x_machina on Fri, May 14, 2010, at 10:35 AM
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