It is astonishing to think that almost seven percent of the population has either a tube stuck into their hip, or has to go through severe pain by stabbing them selves with needle. If stem cell research could eventually decrease the pain and hassle that millions of people have to go through every day, why not try it? Science shouldn’

t be stopped for a religious or moral idea. By studying the stem cells, scientists cal understand how they transform into the many specialized cells that make us what we are (Research). This study may show us what leads to multiplying cells of cancer and various birth defects. The human embryonic stem cell has brought public debate. Pluripotent stem cells (cells that can develop into many different cell types of the body) are isolated from human embryos that are a few days old (Research). Pluripotent stem cell lines have also been developed from fetal tissue (older than 8 weeks of development) (Research). These embryos used for stem cell research could become humans, but they are so young that this cannot be considered killing a baby. I agree with Sophie in that this cannot be considered murder, as these embryos are commonly discarded and never developed into a human being.

The main controversy is over the consumption of donated embryos that will never enter a uterus. There is no evidence from ancient religious texta about embryos, as they did not know that we would be creating these cells in a laboratory. These is no test for whether and embryo is a person (Ethics). Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D., of Georgetown University states that the official teaching of the Holy See of the Roman Catholic is unequivocal in its opposition to the use of embryos as means (Ethics). For one who holds that we should treat every embryo as a person for purposes of the duty not to kill, embryo-destructive experiments could gain justification only if it were argued that it is sometimes permissible to kill some persons in order to help other persons, and that is an uphill argument within any moral view (Ethics). But the official teaching of the Holy See is not the only interpretation of Catholic tradition. Margaret Farley, Ph.D., of Yale University explains that in history and in present theological discussion, there is more than one Catholic line of reasoning, including a strong Catholic moral defense of humanitarian embryo use. For one who concludes that we are not obliged to refrain from using embryos that will never enter a womb, embryonic stem cell research is a case of fostering a worthy end by using only non-persons as means (Ethics).

It is necessary to acquire as much information as possible on stem cell research, as it could be a “God-send” for those with disorders such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’

s, stroke and damaged tissue (Stem).  

“The Ethics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.”

  International Society for Stem Cell Research. Guenin, Louis. Mar. 31, 2008. http://www.isscr.org/public/ethics.htm

Research Ethics and Stem Cells. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007 [cited Monday, March 31, 2008] Available at http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/ethics

“Stem Cell Research is Necessary, Important,”

The Daily Reveille. Browne, Erik. Mar 31, 2008. http://media.www.lsureveille.com/media/storage/paper868/news/2007/02/01/Opinion/Stem-Cell.Research.Is.Necessary.Important-2690720-page2.shtml

Eliot Spitzer, a major participant in the United States government, deserves all of the punishment that he received for taking part in the prostitution circle. I completely agree with Vincent Romano, who said that he now knows what embarrassment the people that he prosecutes must go through. Spitzer will surely get a taste of his own medicine, and I don’

t think he would dare go back to his old job after the lies he told. Even if this had nothing with prostitution, Spitzer broke the code of his moral crusade, and would be dismissed in any situation that involved moral principals. If Spitzer were in the industry of business, his crime would be less significant, because it is a personal matter.

Spitzer’

s job was to accuse people involved in prostitution, and he ended up spending over $80,000 dollars on hiring his own prostitutes (Spitzer). One would think that with much experience with criminals and prostitution, Spitzer would know how to hide his evidence, but he went out of his way to cover his tracks, triggering the bank to alert the IRS (Spitzer). This man seems like a spoiled brat who is used to getting more than he needs. Spitzer has a wife and family who must be desperate for a supplier if they want to stay united. This millionaire has gone as far as Florida to meet these women, and has been doing it for over 10 years (Spitzer.)

            Spitzer, and anyone involved in the government should know that they can be wire tapped if they are doing something illegal. If he wanted to run for public officer, he should have kept his act clean, because people are always watching every move he makes.

I thought this political cartoon was a funny representation of Spitzer:

http://www.politickernj.com/finally-focus-isnt-new-jersey

“Spitzer Prostitute Details: $80,000 Spent, Mood Music, Multiple Prostitutes, Up To A Decade Of Use And An Ever-Present Security Detail.”

The Huffingtonpost.com. March 12 2008. The Huffington Post. 17 March 17, 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/12/spitzer-prostitute-detail_n_91116.html

Recently in Johannesburg, South Africa four white students were seen in a video that contains five black housekeepers taking part in activities in the style of those held on the show “Fear Factor.” Two of the white men taking part in the video were students at the University of Free State and were banned from campus after the video was released. This video, they called the “Reitz Fear Factor,” showed these black Africans in a race, but it was played in slow motion with the background music from “Chariots of Fire.” In a different scene, these housekeepers are competing to drink a bowl of stew while on their knees. The white males had urinated in this mixture before it was given to the contestants. The black employees were laughing when they started to drink the stew, with potential urine in it, and it was claimed that they were aware of the reasons for making this film (“Whites”). The four white students created the video in reaction to the school’s efforts to try to integrate its residences. Eighteen years after the official end of apartheid, they were still separated into white and black dormitories (“Outrage”). Apartheid is the practice that separates people according to race (dictionary.com). At the end of the movie, there is a message saying, “That, at the end of the day, is what we think of integration,” (“Outrage”

).

This video was shocking, and contained many offensive racist references in it. It is surprising to see how inconsiderate people can be towards their community even if they are trying to convey a message that they feel strongly about. The video contains disturbing content that would be banned anywhere, no matter the race of the people in the video. The activities that the black Africans take part in are humiliating, and show how the white race had more power, brains, and speed than the black race before the white-minority rule in 1994.  Just because the racist actions are less common, there are still tensions between the white and black race around the world. South African people will have to join the effort to make their country unify, and videos that satire the racial problems do not remind the nation of their goal. The deputy chairwoman of the South African Human Rights Commission, Dr. Zonke Majodina, said, “We’ve taken for granted that just scrapping the old apartheid laws is going to make things work better in our vision for a nonracial South Africa, but in fact it’s not going to happen overnight,” (“Outrage”

).

There have been recent protests to the new integration laws on campus, but these small riots should not prevent the two races coming together in the same institution. This video makes people aware of what is going on in South Africa, but it brings up negative reviews and the stronger urge to fight racism in Africa. The white students are laughing at the black workers as they play rugby, and the workers are forced to complete senseless tasks so that they can be to ones to laugh at. The South African government is not doing nearly enough to bring about a change in attitudes (“S. Africa”

). Former president, Nelson Mandela, said,

“We’re in denial that there’s a problem,” (“S. Africa”

)

South Africa has horrifying racist past, and South African universities have undergone massive changes since the fall of the apartheid state 14 years ago (“S. Africa”

). Although there is progress, the government must grab this bull by the horns and take action to successfully integrate South Africa.

SOURCES

“Outrage over a racist South African university video.”

The Citizen. 27.Feb 2008. Citizen.com. 28 Feb 2008. http://www.citizen.co.za/index/Article.aspx?pDesc=1,1,22&Type=top&File=080227153211.yzplymec.xml

“Whites tricked blacks into consuming urine, university says.”

CNN. 28 Feb 2008. CNN.com/world. 28 Feb 2008. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/27/saf.racist.video/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

“S. Africa students sorry for racist video.”

CNN. 29 Feb 2008. CNN.com/World. 28 Feb 2008. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/28/saf.racist.video/index.html?eref=rss_world