I have sent the following letter to the editors of The New Republic:
Dr. Krauthammer's objection to the legality of research cloning
essentially rests on two conclusory remarks stated in his fourth
objection: "The creation of a child is the destiny of an embryo." and
"Research cloning is the ultimate in conferring thingness up on [sic]
the human embryo." ("Crossing Lines", April 29, 2002)
An embryo created for research purposes, one formed in the lab by
methods never occurring in nature, has the destiny determined by the
researcher creating it. To say otherwise is to assume the conclusion
without examining the real issues. One can observe the sanctity of the
cloned embryo, differentiating it from a "thing", while at the same time
caring about the millions of already born people suffering from the
agonizing ravages of degenerative neurological diseases. These diseases
themselves rob their victims of a measure of their own sanctity and
attempt to "thingize" productive members of society.
With no evidentiary support, Dr. Krauthammer asserts that "... cloning
... will inevitably enable further assaults on human dignity." This is
a consequence of research cloning only if we choose it to be and is by
no means inevitable. However, failing to attack the progressive
degenerative diseases where research cloning holds so much promise will
definitely allow these diseases to continue their own assault on human
dignity.
Gary L Peskin
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