Matthew Rothschild: Obama Hits Right Notes on Stem Cell Research; Republicans Heartless

[marmar]

from The Progressive:




Obama Hits Right Notes on Stem Cell Research; Republicans Heartless
By Matthew Rothschild, March 9, 2009


This was an easy step, but it was the right step, and it was the humane step.

When he signed the Executive Order lifting the federal ban on new embryonic stem cell research, President Obama was making good on a campaign promise. That’s what made it right. He was taking an action that is popular with the vast majority of the American public. That’s what made it easy. But it’s also an action that holds out the promise of curing a whole variety of debilitating diseases from diabetes all the way to Parkinson’s. That’s what made it so humane.

In a graceful touch, Obama invoked the famous and the unsung who fought so hard for embryonic stem cell research.

“As we restore our commitment to science, and resume funding for promising stem cell research, we owe a debt of gratitude to so many tireless advocates, some of whom are with us today, many of whom are not. Today, we honor all those whose names we don’t know, who organized, and raised awareness, and kept on fighting – even when it was too late for them, or for the people they love. And we honor those we know, who used their influence to help others and bring attention to this cause – people like Christopher and Dana Reeve, who we wish could be here to see this moment.” .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.progressive.org/mag/wx030909.html

[supernova]

1. He is spectacularly good at

mentioning the empty chair.

He almost always notices the people missing from the room, who by all rights, should be there but can't and takes the time to say something. That is the hallmark of a compassionate person.

What a lovely man we elected.

[Cha]

2. Rec'd~ I hadn't seen this on

what Obama said about Dana and Christopher Reeve..thank you. I always think of them too and how happy they would be now if they were still on the Planet.

[burning rain]

3. Well, if the theocons are right, and every one...

of these embryos has a soul, then there should be no problem in the end, as God will put each soul up in a heavenly mansion. Most religionists' horror of death seems as much of an admission that they don't really believe after all.