Arkansas Blog

As much as Danforth's politics have often disturbed me, it pleases me to point out that he is an ordained Episcopal priest, an ex officio Christian, as it were. Despite his party affiliation, he is at least coming down on the right side of this issue, which weighs heavily on the side of his religion against the tide of his party. Good for him.

Since my liver is growing to the size of a driver's side airbag and the last couple of weeks have been very uncomfortable. I'm thinking more and more about the possible cure for what ails me that could be brought about with more stem cell research.

Kinda vaults this subject a few blocks head of gay marriage and abortion on my list of priorities. I'm thinking if every person named Bush were suddenly diagnosed with a life threatening condition that might be cured 10 years from now with unfettered stem cell research, we might see Smirky whooping a JFK on us and calling for a cure for a thousand diseases by the end of this decade thru the use of stem cells.

I'm a kind person, I apologize to my dogs when I cut them off walking down the hall. I treasure life, however I treasure the lives of those born more so than those that are unborn. Of course I'm not for chasing women down and hoovering out their fertilized eggs, but for many reasons unwanted fertilized eggs become available every day. To destroy them when they might hold the key to long lives without illness for millions of future generations is pre-dark ages thinking. If there ever was a sin, that would be it.

We have to reject mumbo-jumbo that chains people to hospital beds or worse yet, cuts their lives short. No higher power worth his or her salt would promote the trashing of fertilized eggs that might fix someone's mommy or allow me the chance to see my grandchildren. If your Bible tells you stem cell research is wrong, please please take this opportunity to use it to beat yourself upside the head real hard about 50 times and then lay back and rethink your position. I have to think the scriptures might read a little differently post pounding. And should you happen to knock something loose, you might instantly see the value of stem cell research in your own life.

Nicely said, DBI, and I hope your liver gets better, but I'm afraid your argument might be a little too deep for them.

On a lighter note, I listened today to Diane Rehm's show on NPR and heard a Republican senator (Gordon Smith of Oregon--also a Mormon, for what it's worth) explaining how his adopted son's suicide has led him to some republicanly unpopular opinions on medicine, psychiatry and research. Funny how issues get crystal clear when when they hit close to home. Much as I mourn the loss of his son, it seems to have done him some good. May it do good for others, too.

It's fun to see the "faith-based" folks wrestle with science.

It's fun to see the "faith-based" folks wrestle with science.

I like your sense of optimism, sjs; but I don't seem much wrestling going on amongst the faith-based gang. Typically they act like they have all the answers; and because their truth source is a private direct line to the almighty, the rest of us just have to take their word for everything.

There's nothing like first-hand experience with life's tragedies to shake up that smug self-righteousness that so many Republicans seem to have in spades...like Rush turning to the ACLU for help after years of vilifying the organization (though he did manage to take its help while never admitting wrong doing and still ranting on about all his typical crap). I've witnessed more than one person change their holier-than-thou tune about the poor and/or sick needing to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps once one of their loved ones is in need of compassionate understanding and help.

I meant spj, sorry.

Yes, suzie, it's too bad that so many folks can't empathize until they have experienced something themselves.

It may be a lack of imagination...