That's Not How I Define Pro-Life

In their first one hundred hours campaign, the House passed legislation to allow federal money to be used for embryonic stem cell research. President Bush has already once vetoed such a bill and has promised to do it again. Unfortunately, the bill doesn't have the 2/3 support needed to overturn a veto. This is a tragedy for the American people---who by-and-large support stem cell research, for people all over the world who rely on American research to advance science and medicine, and particularly for those suffering from diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, etc.

Embryonic stem cells have proven to be the most versatile and promising source of help for those suffering from debilitating and deadly diseases. These stem cells have the potential to grow into any type of cell, thereby possibly replacing the defective cells that cause many diseases. Miracles won't happen immediately--it could take years or decades for researchers to figure out exactly how to use these embryonic stem cells to fight the many different types of disease. Unfortunately, however, it is nearly impossible for anyone in the United States to even begin such research. Nearly all scientific research in the United States is supported by federal funds in one way or another--thus there are very, very few instances in which embryonic stem cell research is allowed. While this bill doesn't expressly forbid embryonic stem cell research, it implicitly does.

The President's reason for opposing the bill is that he is pro-life and does not believe in destroying "human life" for research purpose. One thing he forgets to mention, however, is that these embryos are already destined to be destroyed. The embryos in question are those created by couples for use in infertility treatment but are no longer wanted. The choice here is not between making a baby and using the stem cells for research. The choice is between the dumpster and research. And President Bush and those who support his position are choosing the dumpster. Unacceptable.

Which leads me to my question of what it means to be pro-life. How exactly can it be pro-life to oppose helping people who are independently living, breathing creatures; who feel pain; who have parents, siblings, spouses, children; who are already a part of this world? How can it be pro-life to oppose research that can improve the human condition? That is not pro-life. That is pig-headed.

Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to benefit all of us. While we don't want to think that we might have a parent with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, a sibling with diabetes, a spouse with kidney failure, or a child with cancer, odds are good that we will face some such struggle in our lifetime. And should that happen, I want to know that every single thing possible is being done to make sure that I or the person I love has every opportunity to beat that disease.

Make your voice heard: Contact your elected officials and let them know that you support the use of federal money (it is your money after all) for embryonic stem cell research. You can do it online using the links below.

http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm