Thank you again, Lo.
Mr. Todd, I didn't have enough time to do the research your comments about creating an industry of embryonic stem cells for research purpose deserved. I think eventually there will be one. The president's "research into stem cells" is all smoke and mirrors. He originally said there was 60 cell lines--then that has shrunk to 22--now, scientist who work in the field, say the 22 cell lines are so contaminated with mouse DNA they are virtually useless, You seem to operate on the premise that human life at any stage is should be regarded as "sacred". Where on this war ridden, murderous planet do you find it is "sacred" What about the entire DNA we share in common with Chimps--is that sacred too?
What about adult stem cells? The number of cell divisions is already fixed in the telemeres attached to the end of each gene. (Dolly the sheep syndrome)
This country cannot survive if it does not stay ahead of other countries technologically. IBM has sold its PC line to China and all the technology that goes with it. China is not threatened by any of its neighbors but it is arming faster than we are according to money spent relative to GDP. Mac computers has broken off with IBM—perhaps because they don’t want to give away their technology to the biggest tech pirates in the world.
We can all sit around and navel gaze over this stem cell research for the “highest moral principals”—but the rest of the world won’t. You want a cure for cancer--don't go to Sloan Kettering--go to Korea--they'll be happy to take your money.
Dan, why do you oppose the notion that we should all play by the same rules and measure things using the same yardsticks? Add up the number of times you’ve hammered the U.S. about our treatment of terrorists in our prisons and compare it with the number of times you hammered the terrorists about beheading Alan Berg on TV. Same number? I doubt it.
By the way, it was Clinton's administration that came up with the idea of flying prisoners to foreign countries for "More Thorough Interrogation." I don’t know where you get your authority to speak for our armed forces. I can speak only for myself. Three times in my life I was faced with a “shoot-don’t shoot” situation where I was an undesignated back-up for a partner. Fortunately I didn’t have to but I can tell you it will concentrate your thinking—or in your case, maybe not.
Dick
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