Thinking Critically

We were told to think long and hard about what we're trying to say about our topic. And after wracking my brain, what I am trying to say about embryonic stem cell research is this: Embryonic stem cell research should not be looked on as this evil thing that the pro-lifers are making it out to be. I'll admit that harvesting stem cells from an embryo results in its destruction, but the stem cells gathered have to potential to save the lives of many people. That said, we cannot go around stealing embryos like their going out of style, but fertility clinics have scores of leftover embryos that they don't need and won't use. Why not put them to good use instead of having them thrown out? Another interesting question I would like to ask is this: What makes a human life more valuable than the life of any other animal? In our hubris we have elevated ourselves above the rest of nature. We do not think twice about killing say a cow or a deer (unless you're a vegetarian or an animal rights activist), but when we talk about a human life being taken, we get all offended. Just as we kill off a herd of cows or a flock of chickens to feed humans, we should see the destruction of a mass of cells in order to develop new medical treatments as a sacrifice necessary to save lives.