[KillerShots]

It's a slippery slope. Sure, they were already discarded, and I agree it won't hurt anybody. But next time a similar issue comes up, there is precedent to dispose of embryos... Politicians will think that because people agreed to that much, it will be OK to take further steps in that direction in different situations. Perhaps eventually they will randomly take newborns for genetic experimentation because of this precedent. Be very careful with what messages you send to those in charge.

For now, it would be better to do such experiments with animals and perfect the science there, then we can re-visit this. Perhaps at that time, there would be non-lethal alternatives that we can't currently imagine.

 

[KillerShots]

Still, if we start experimenting on babies just because we let a few embryos that were going to die anyway serve a useful purpose, then our morals weren't worth much to begin with.

Bingo, they aren't. Look at recent history.

 

[KillerShots]

There is no moral issue with that, the moral issue comes with what naturally follows that, and where these embryos came from to begin with (but that's beside the point). What I fear is human nature and its lack of "common" sense. Normally I would be willing to give humanity the benefit of the doubt, but not here, not in this age.

This is the only area where I might stand against new technology, where it would logically take the lives of those who are not willing or have no wills of their own in its next steps. If someone made a choice to die and give stem cells, that would be different (and disturbing), but embryos cannot make such a choice.

 

[KillerShots]

Ah, but the argument now becomes when a person gains their right to live, and we launch into the pro-life, pro-choice debate. We know where we stand on that, and neither side is going to give an inch on it (which is why I'll make this brief). We both understand each others point of view, but we are fundamentally different and will act as such.

It's also good to know that you stand against taking anything from the comatose .

 

[KillerShots]

Ah, but we don't agree on where to draw the line. Hence the conflict.