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The "controversial" Michael J. Fox ad for stem-cell research

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saucycobblers:
Hi Doug. It make me furious too. I try as much as I can to educate people about diabetes, but it's mostly an uphill struggle. And then public figures pass insensitive comments like this and much hard work can be undone - even if most recognise him to be the f**kwit he obviously is, these comments still add to the public perception of the condition. And on a personal level, MJF doesn't need any extra crap to deal with on top of what he already has on his plate. He has thus far dealt with Parkinson's with dignity and extraordinary bravery - qualities Limbaugh could only wish he himself had. This comment must have been devastating to him. Many, many years ago I was accused of being no better than a drug-addict when I was injecting myelf discretely at my desk, the only difference being, apparently, that my drugs were on presription. All in the name of a 'joke'. I still remember the anger and red-faced embarrassment nearly 15 years later. Grrrrrr... I feel right worked up now! >:( :-\

Nicky x

ednbarby:
This, from the author of the piece about Limbaugh's comment, says it all:

...his astonishingly insensitive remark


RIP, Republican control of Congress.  Or not.  I really don't care.  After all, if it doesn't affect me directly, why should I?

 8)

Kelda:
Watched this advert and feel it was extremely powerful.

How can people deny the use of embreyonic stem cell research when you see MJF like this? yes - there needs to be some type of regualtion in the area but trhis research is vital - it could thousands of millions of people for all we know... who knows what cures we might find in such research - parkinsons? diabetes?............. cancer? aids & HIV?

I thouroughy recommend MJF's autobiography - it makes very interesting reading.
 

injest:

--- Quote from: saucycobblers on October 27, 2006, 08:44:49 pm ---What an excellent and well considered piece of journalism, and I agree with every word of it. If
Limbaugh himself enjoys good health he would do well to think before he starts shooting his mouth off (I'm from the UK and know diddly-squat about him, so I don't know if this is the case). From a personal perspective, I've had Type 1 diabetes since I was a teenager and have encountered much ignorance, prejudice and downright insensitivity as a result. It's a tough condition to live with - injecting myself 4-6 times a day in my stomach is the easy bit, believe me. Do I want rid of it, and would I be prepared to do almost anything to be rid of it? You bet your ass I would.




--- End quote ---

Do you ever listen to him? I do occassionally when I am in an argumentative mood...yesterday was one of those. He has been catching a lot of flack because of his comments. So yesterday he was going on and on about how he was handicapped too! He lost his hearing and everyone laughed at him! He was addicted to pain killers (prescribed) and everyone was happy...no one gave him a pass. He KNOWS what it is to be handicapped! boo hoo...BUT he says.."I don't dwell, I don't bring it up! I am not using my handicaps as a crutch to get sympathy. When people found out I am deaf they rejoiced! Am I bitter? No of course not! I am not a victim...I do appreciate those of you that have supported me." blah blah...

so he is not bringing up all the deaf and addiction to get people to get off his back...uh huh!!? please...this is one of his favorite ploys...rant for fifteen minutes on something then end by denying that he just DID rant about it...argh!

Penthesilea:

--- Quote from: [email protected] on October 27, 2006, 07:58:01 pm ---Those who are against stem cell research need to understand what it can do for medical science, and that it in no way "kills babies". 

so why is it so wrong to use aborted and still-born fetuses? 

....and we are not playing God as the bodies are already dead, and their essence, spirit, soul, whatever you wish to call it, has departed that vessel for other planes of existence.   

--- End quote ---


Sorry, but you're wrong here. The contorversy is about embryonic stem cell research.

Excursus:
There are also adult stem cells, but they're very different fom embryonic stem cells and they can be gained from living humans, e.g. before chemotherapy, and the adult stem cells are given back to the patient after the chemotherapy - so no controversy about adult stem cells.
But since adult stem cells underwent a great deal of exogenous interaction with other cells they are not as helpful, useful and valuable for scientific research as embryonic stem cells.

Back to embyonic stem cells (ESC):
To gain embyonic stem cells for research the embryos are distroyed, respectively they get distroyed by the procedure of extraction.
For ESC research not stillborns or aborted fetuses are "used", but redundant embryos from in-vitro-fertilisation (IVF).
To be exact, they have to be in a specific phase of ontogenesis, when the embryo exists of exactly 8 cells. This is the same time, when the embryo otherwise would be implanted into the uterus (in case of IVF), respectively when the embryo ends it's journey through the fallopian tube and attaches itself to the uterus (in case of natural conception).

The big question is now: when does human life begin? Are 8 blastomere cells a human being? If so,  human beings are destoyed ("killed", as the opponents say) for ESC research.
If not: so when does a human being begin to exist?

The ethical problems with ESC research are to be taken serious and I think it's good that there is a debate about it.
I'm not against it, but can't cheer lighthearted for it. I think it really is a difficult situation.
Additionally: what does normally become of the redundant IVF embryos that are not implanted into the uterus, when they are not used for ESC research? They are stored and/or destoyed as well. Difficult topic.


And for Limbaugh: never heard of this guy, but he seems to be an idiot, from what I've read here/on the link.

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