As other western countries line up to fund or not fund stem cell research, Dr. Stephen Hawking offers some words of sanity.
Stephen Hawking, the world’s best-known living scientist, has attacked “reactionary” forces in Europe and America who are trying to ban research into stem cells derived from human embryos…
“I strongly oppose the move to ban stem cell research funding from the European Union,” said Professor Hawking…
“Europe should not follow the reactionary lead of President Bush who recently vetoed a bill passed by Congress and supported by a majority of the American people that would have allowed federal funding for stem cell research,” he said in a statement to The Independent.
He was doing good up to last part. In fact, at least 60% of Americans support the government funding stem cell research.
…President Bush and some religious authorities, notably the Catholic Church, argue that the microscopic four-day-old embryos from which stem cells are derived are potential human lives…
But Professor Hawking dismissed these objections, saying that banning stem cells from human embryos is equivalent to opposing the use of donated organs from dead people…
“Stem cell research is the key to developing cures for degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease from which I and many others suffer,” he said…
“The fact that the cells may come from embryos is not an objection because the embryos are going to die anyway,” Professor Hawking said.
“It is morally equivalent to taking a heart transplant from a victim of a car accident.
Good analogy. Is anyone on the Bush team listening?
“Is any one from the Bush team listening?”….
Ya gotta be kidding!
Bushco in total is so in love with its own “Compassionate CHRISTIAN ?enlightenment? ” that the sound of their own voices is that of “angels singing” which naturally cancels all other voices, particularly those of “REASON” like that of Dr Hawking!
I beleive that science has a free will and that it should be allowed to go as far as needed. If there is a case of morality or tthe lack thereof, then it is up to God to sort the mess. Not up to the humans. I beleive that stem cell should go and the comparison made to donating organs is plausibe.