Jim,
Thanks for speaking for the other side so well.
I always tell my state legislators that I am the last person that will be objective about this issue.  But I think we have walked away from some pretty promising research because some folks want to put all their eggs in the embryo basket (pun intended).  I think we have wasted some considerable time in this country not coming together on other sources of stem cells and research in those areas.  Lets get off the embryo train and back to the broad spectrum of research  I say and let the politics wait in the wings.  We all have more in common on this issue than we think.   Lets not let the pundits divide us in another election. 
Thanks again for all you do
We love you Jim!!
 Sandy in Wisconsin where the dragonflies and labradors play.
 ----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Lubin
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Study shows spinal cord regeneration

(I'm copying this from my replies on another list, so forgive me if it sounds like I'm rambling on)

I've never thought of myself as part of the
"Moral Majority" as you say (I am a Roman Catholic) but agree with president Bush on this and I will explain way.

I do believe that a human egg and human sperm make a human being from the time they are joined, from that point the zygote contains all the 46 chromosomes need to be human. It's called an embryo after about 10 days. Being a human, it is entitled to protection to life from the Government. Therefore, the Government should not be funding the destruction of life for the purpose of research.

Now your opinion of when a human is a human and entitled to protection obviously differs from mine and president Bush. You can decide for yourself when a human becomes a human that is entitled to protection. Some people thing after birth and not before.

I'm against IVF treatments as well because it creates extra embryos in the process, but since they exist then keep them on life support (i.e. frozen) indefinitely. They are not something that should be killed (i.e. by removing stem cells) to possibly make another persons life better. I have a moral problem with taking one life to improve another persons life.

As for using those extra embryos in research for the possible benefit of others, just because they are going to be destroyed anyway, following that reasoning, here's my problem with that. A person with a traumatic brain injury or in a coma being kept alive on ventilator will never be completely healed and will die without the life-support, so why not harvest their body parts to improve someone else's life? I see both equally wrong.  The Nazi's conducted medical research on the people they were going to kill anyway. I see it as the same.

Embryos left over from IVF are not the only source for stem cells. (2006.06.27: Research on Alternative Sources of Pluripotent Stem Cells, http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t060627.html )
So I feel those sources should pursued since there would be no moral or ethical concerns. I'm all for scientific advancement that does not conflict with my morals and ethics.

Now, if scientist want to use stem cells derived from a human egg and another cell, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), I don't consider that a human and have no problem with research on those stem cells.


At 12:34 PM 7/20/2006, Alan Junghans wrote:
I was a little vague in the "Kill stem cell research", but he sure is holding back progress.  If he had TM or Parkinsons OR ANYTHING that could benefit, he might tell all of the "Moral Majority" to piss off and do the right thing. 
I didn't want to admit it before, but he is truly a friggin idiot who is clueless.....
----- Original Message -----
From: Krissy Z
To: Alan Junghans ; TM List ; TMA-New-England
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Study shows spinal cord regeneration

i never voted for him...he repulses me...and to veto this stem cell reseach. something so important to folks like all of us,his brain is not just wired to what priorities should be.
what goes around........

----
Jim Lubin              
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://makoa.org/jim
disAbility Resources: http://www.makoa.org
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