Sometimes I wonder where common sense has gone.
All this arguing about the morality of using embryonic stem cells for research and science is fine. I guess people need to debate such things.
But hereís the bottom line for me: There are about 400,000 frozen embryos in storage at fertility clinics across the United States. They were made through in vitro fertilization, in which eggs are extracted from a woman and fertilized with sperm in a petri dish. Two to four embryos are implanted back into the woman.
Doctors normally make more embryos than are needed as a just-in-case scenario, because it is an expensive process both financially and emotionally. The unused embryos are frozen at 321 degrees below zero.
So what do you do with the unused embryos? Some of them are donated to other couples who have difficulty with conception. Thatís fantastic, and it makes a great photo opportunity for the President. Adoption at any level makes sense.
But what about the rest of the frozen embryos? They stay frozen for a while, then they are destroyed. Itís a simple process: they get taken from the liquid nitrogen, they thaw, they get tossed in the biohazard trash.
So if a couple so chooses, why not let their frozen embryos get used for medical research? Donít give me the sanctity of life baloney. They are going to be thrown away. Use them.
Think about it. We all know people who could benefit from what doctors and scientists predict will occur with embryonic stem cell research. Do you know someone with Parkinsonís, Alzheimerís? How about that benefit for the girl seeking a new kidney, who will only get one if she is lucky, through a donor, when someone else is not so lucky.
What about the person with ALS? We are going to watch him wither into death, and we are righteously saying, sorry, canít use those embryonic stem cells to cure his disease? Thatís moral? No, thatís hogwash or worse.
President Bush may be a man of principal. He can call the use of embryonic stem cells murder, But heíd better be prepared to hear the same sentence when someone dies whose death could have been prevented through the use of stem cells.
Itís not a ìslippery slope,î as press secretary Tony Snow said. Thatís an excuse for laziness. Abuse can be prevented, laws can be enforced. This is a logical endeavor. Itís at least as logical as a certain war that is happening right now, one that is costing Uncle Sam about $2 billion a week.
I hope people remember this stupid presidential veto in future elections, and also the votes cast against the bill by Senator Norm Coleman and Congressman Gil Gutknecht.

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