ruruminations – cnàmh na cìr – chewing the cud

Barack Obama has withdrawn the ban on funding of embryonic stem cell research, saying that it will open up a new frontier in scientific research free from political interference.

This could be stated in another manner: Science without limits or ethical constraints.

I believe Obama has done this with good intentions, believing this move will in time improve the lot of many with serious debilatating diseases.  However, I believe he is desperately misguided in this action given that the use of embryonic stem cells neccesitates the death of human embryos, death of one human life for the relief of another.  This is not a trade that is justifiable under medical ethics.  Of course one of the strategies used to allow people to justify this stance is the depersonalisation/dehumanising of the embryo by means of language.  It is the same matter at issue here as in most abortion cases.  It is a matter of comfort or convenience.   I suppose it oughtn’t to be a surprise to us that Obama would make this decision given that he is fairly clearly pro-choice.  Though it is not a surprise it is still lamentable.

Returning to the broader issue being addressed in his broader statement regarding scientific research without interference from the political sphere.  Politics is there to lead our nation, but it appears that the gurus of secular science have mesmerised the leaders of the nations with their nigh on magical claims, so as to give up any right to dictate what these modern magician will do.  It appears that secular science is the new religion of the secular west.  The priests of this religion, who are seemingly more and more above the law, are the research scientists who seek to offer up sacrifices in their secret temples.

This ought to raise a few eyebrows.  You worry that in the present climate such a statement might be found to be illegal and worthy of a prison sentence.  Given that the government are moving to remove certain free-speech clauses from current legislation.

Side-tracked again, so back to the idea of science without limits.

History shows that there are always those who have now qualms in crossing every imaginable ethical boundary given half a chance.

I know that there will still be limits on the funding given in the USA, given that there is an application process and also that Obama was at pains to stress it was not a free for all, but whit is intesely concerning to hear poilicians make statements to the effect that science should be free from political intereference (which has mostly if not entirely been based on ethical objections).