Watch the video of President Bush announcing his veto of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. (You might be distracted by some rambunctious children in the background who were once frozen embryos themselves, now being raised by their adopted parents.)
Don't be surprised if this is the last clear moral stand on biblical principle by an American president for a long, long time.
8 comments:
Let me ask you. You called this a "clear moral stand on biblical principle."
How is this based on biblical principle?
Life begins at conception is a bibilical principle. Almost more importantly, there is no political opportunism here. Polls of the general population, lawmakers, and even Bush's own party opposed this veto. He had nothing to gain politially by vetoing this bill.
Yeah, what he said.
Should have known the one person who's even more cynical than I am would let me have it on this one. ;-)
See Bush's comments here. Or just read these quotes:
"Yet we must also remember that embryonic stem cells come from human embryos that are destroyed for their cells. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. We see that value in the children who are with us today. Each of these children began his or her life as a frozen embryo that was created for in vitro fertilization, but remained unused after the fertility treatments were complete. Each of these children was adopted while still an embryo, and has been blessed with the chance to grow up in a loving family.
"These boys and girls are not spare parts. They remind us of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research. They remind us that we all begin our lives as a small collection of cells. And they remind us that in our zeal for new treatments and cures, America must never abandon our fundamental morals."
the "biblical principle" of life at conception obviously wasn't so clear to augustine:
http://www.laweekly.com/general/features/conception-misconception/3190/
augustine believed life began at a stage he called "embryo animatus".
the fact is, that these embryos in question were destined for the medical waste bin. they were not being stored indefinitely waiting to be adopted. the embryos in question were leftovers from fertility treatments. bush was using a straw man.
billy bob said:
"the fact is, that these embryos in question were destined for the medical waste bin."
That is exactly the problem! Think about it - what is the ultimate end of the philosophy that says it is okay to create life, and discard it, as long as you did not intend for it to "live".
coach c:
nothing about bush's actions changes where the embryos are going. bush talks big about these embryos being a person to satiate the pro-lifers in the republican party, but nothing he has done in his two terms of office has done any good for the embryos he claims to be defending. whether they go in the trash or the petri dish, the embryo has still met its end.
you can only conclude that bush is exploiting the embryos and the adopted kids for his own political gain.
billy bob, you are correct to a certain extent, however, I fail to see how Bush is benefitting politically from this move. He has been roundly battered on this one.
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