Chasing the Wind

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Snowflake Project

The House of Representatives have decided to represent the unborn and voted to sacrifice frozen human embryos for scientific research. Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) said, “If they did have the ability to consent, wouldn’t some of them choose to do so?”

I dunno, Joe. Let’s ask some of them. President Bush held a press conference just before the vote with 21 frozen human embryos that now range in age from 3 months to 7 years. The older ones may be old enough to understand such a question, “Would you mind if we destroyed you in the name of science?” I suspect most of them wouldn’t like it.

The Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program seeks to “rescue the unborn children suspended in fertility clinic freezers.” While Joe Barton says, “If given a choice, err on the side of opportunity,” I think a better approach would be, “If given a choice, err on the side of life.”

President Bush will no doubt veto this legislation. A much better approach is the “Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005” that encourages harvesting of stem cells from umbilical cords and establishes a national umbilical cord blood bank. No humans are destroyed.

And nobody to ask, “Would you mind if we do this to you?”

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Michael's avatar

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Michael

Follower of Jesus, conservative, freedom-loving patriot.

14 responses to “Snowflake Project”

  1. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    IVF presents some interesting challenges. What, exactly, do we do with the 400,000 per year unused frozen embryos? Obviously, they can’t all be implanted. So, what next? Do they remain frozen forever?

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  2. Vox Avatar
    Vox

    Actually, the 400,000 number is a false figure thrown around by the media, I will try to find the stats on that one. There are many embryos, though, and they could be implanted. Many couples have elected to donate their unused embryos to couples who, for one reason or another, are unable to conceive their own. What a beautiful, loving and generous ‘choice’ to make.

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  3. Vox Avatar
    Vox

    Here is some info on the 400,000 frozen embryos

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  4. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    Looks like the 400,000 number is exactly what I said it was – the embryos created that have not been implanted and are still frozen. And the question remains – what happens to them? Do you think there are 50,000 – 100,000 people who want to implant someone else’s embryos a year?

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  5. Vox Avatar
    Vox

    Most of those embryos are “being held for family building” which would seem to mean, there are people hoping to implant them already.

    As for the rest, less than 10,000, yes I think there would be that many takers, especially when you consider that they implant 3 or 4 on each try.

    But that really isn’t the question. THe question is, what value do you put on a human life? That arguement played out on my blog last summer.

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  6. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Vox, your thread captures the argument.

    In other words, even if it were 4 million frozen embryos, does that justify experimenting on some of them? There are 400 million Americans – how many can we sacrifice for science?

    I wish that Snowflake press conference had more… press. I would love to see those children.

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  7. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    “The” argument? There’s only one? Using frozen embryos for scientific research is the only moral implication of creating and freezing embryos?

    Wow – I had no idea it was that simple.

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  8. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Of all the words exchanged, you pick the word “the” to criticize.

    Ok, I mean “the” as in “the argument in the comments section of this post”. Blow a smokescreen all you want, but try to address the possibility that human life may be destroyed and offer a moral justification for it.

    Then pick a word like “of” and criticize it, too.

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  9. Sean Avatar
    Sean

    Well, I’m with Jo on this one. (pooof). My hair is on fire!

    No, Jo I think has a point that the freezing of embryos seems to me to try to get around the acceptance of fate one has in life.

    If we ascribe humanity to the embryos, then is this not using another as a means to an end (fulfilling the couple’s wishes?).

    How many adoptions are not considerd because of this?

    This option is technologically available. Let’s say that an artificial womb, is developed – does this make it ok to incubate the baby in such a manner? Is this trying to force our way around fate using another human?

    What about a surrogate mother, are we not using her as a means to an end (paid or not)?

    Children are gifts from God, and I think that forcing the issue through technological means is perhaps standing on shaky ground. Otherwise, lets start harvesting embryos and replace the abortions out there – (two extremes, granted)

    I have not really thought it out, but it would seem to me that there is a basic difference between using technology on oneself, and using it to co-create another human. Perhaps we are thwarting our fate with these decisions.

    I don’t think that the concept as a whole can be defended. Is it our right to do this?

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  10. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Well, let’s put it this way: when does life begin?

    You can’t know the answer to that, so you have to make assumptions. If you’re consistent with the value of life, though, you want to be as prudent as possible.

    Are you taking the viewpoint that a fertilized embry when planted in a womb is life, but when not planted it is not life? On what basis do you decide that?

    The most prudent suggestion, I suppose, would be to avoid the practice of in-vitro fertilization in the first place. And you look funny when your hair is on fire.

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  11. Sean Avatar
    Sean

    Well, the basis seem to be when the potentiality for humanity is first manifest.

    The fertilized egg is human – location is immaterial.

    Fate should decide whether it will implant of make it to term. Most do not (according to my limited knowledge).

    But, of course, MEEEEEEEE really wishes to have kids…..so, this one time, fertilizing seven knowing that six will be voided, or frozen, or subject my whim is ….a ….good thing? Is it a God thing?

    Here’s what’s missing. To be fully human, to experience this short term as life, you must be open to the divine, and death, and the birth, and ignorance, and insecurity and pain, and love, and everything fine and nasty, and your part in the larger scheme of things, or your sort of missing the point. It not all about MEEEEEEE.

    I think….

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  12. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    I agree with all that. You know, I hadn’t thought of in vitro as an extention of the abortion argument until today. In the meantime, there’s 400,000 embryos frozen and waiting. Rep. Joe Barton says some of them would want to be used for science.

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  13. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    Thank, you Sean.

    I think the number saying 88% of the 400,000 are waiting for future implanting is misleading. Many people don’t intend to implant the extra embryos, but don’t want them to be destroyed, either.

    I know several people who have been through IVF and for whom this is a tough situation.

    I’m not ready to say IVF is in itself a bad thing, since the children I know that exist because of IVF are precious miracles, just like any child. But I think it poses a lot of moral questions that we just don’t have good answers for yet.

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  14. Sean Avatar
    Sean

    I’m off the the barber’s.

    Cheers.

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About Me

Michael, a sinner saved by grace, sharing what the good Lord has shared with me.

Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, said, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

If you’re not living for the glory of God, then what you’re doing is meaningless, no matter what it is. Living for God gives life meaning, and enjoying a “chasing after the wind” is a gift from God. I’m doing what I can to enjoy this gift daily.

Got questions? I’m not surprised. If you have any questions about Chasing the Wind, you can email me at chasingthewind@outlook.com.

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