WP,pg1: In Heartland, Stem Cell Research Meets Fierce Opposition

[DeepModem Mom]

In Heartland, Stem Cell Research Meets Fierce Opposition
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2005; Page A01


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The moral debate over embryonic stem cells stretches far beyond Capitol Hill to state capitals and research parks across the country, where a fierce competition is underway from Maryland to California for cutting-edge research and the profits that could follow.

In Maryland yesterday, advocates began a campaign to secure state money for stem cell research. A House of Delegates effort to spend $23 million a year on research died in the Senate earlier this year after a filibuster threat by Republicans and conservative Democrats.

Here in Missouri, a similar battle is raging over the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, which has built a $300 million laboratory and stocked it with sophisticated machines for nearly 200 scientists recruited from as far afield as China and Argentina.

Yet social conservatives in the Missouri legislature are effectively blocking some of the most ambitious research envisioned by the Stowers staff, saying that research with embryonic stem cells is so immoral it should be a crime....

***

Repeated legislative efforts by Bartle and his colleagues forced the Stowers Institute to curtail recruiting and stop planning for a second 600,000-square-foot facility. At the same time, those efforts have spurred creation of an impromptu statewide alliance of business leaders, liberal science advocates and antiabortion Republicans who favor the research....Advocates in Missouri and beyond expect the outcome to have broad implications for politics and science as states struggle to define the limits of medical inquiry. This is true whether the research money comes from private pockets, as in Kansas City, or the public treasury, as in California, where $3 billion approved by voters has been blocked by lawsuits and legislative maneuvers....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/09/AR2005080900793_pf.html

[w13rd0]

1. These knuckle-draggers...

...will cause further brain drain in Missouri, and may endanger our biomed industries, which actually are pretty decent. We should just give the Ozarks to Arkansas.

[htuttle]

2. They should speak for themselves -- we're cloning sheep up here in WI

Then again, I think the Great Lakes states got kicked out of the 'Heartland' some years ago.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. The Missouri Legislature must all be suffering

from the early stages of Alzheimers.

[TomClash]

4. I think that's where Htuttle's cloned sheep went nt

[fearnobush]

5. Kansas - the FSM is going to make you an example of his love:

OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.

Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence. What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.

I’m sure you now realize how important it is that your students are taught this alternate theory. It is absolutely imperative that they realize that observable evidence is at the discretion of a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full pirate regalia. I cannot stress the importance of this, and unfortunately cannot describe in detail why this must be done as I fear this letter is already becoming too long. The concise explanation is that He becomes angry if we don’t.

You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.

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In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.

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Sincerely Yours,

Bobby Henderson, concerned citizen.

P.S. I have included an artistic drawing of Him creating a mountain, trees, and a midget. Remember, we are all His creatures.



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<http://www.venganza.org/>

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[BrendaStarr]

8. I'm waiting for Sumerian week in Intelligent Design study

When all the young girls and boys can go around in pleated and feathered skirts (and nothing on top except maybe a headdress).

Mr. and Mrs. Right wing Mommy and Daddy will be so pleased to know what their little buddlings are doing to celebrate Intelligent Design!

Oh where's that pic now? Here it is. Below are the Sumerican Gods who according to their creed help create man as he is today (or was at the time of the Sumerians who were, after all, the first civilization.



Really we can't have a serious Intelligent design without these guys and gals.

[bread_and_roses]

17. "His noodly appendage"...OMFGROFLMAO (n/t)

[daleo]

6. Research on the true cross, Noah's ark, the grail, etc. can take the place

Of this heathen medical research. Imagine the miraculous cures that will be discovered once the Holy Grail has been found. :sarcasm:

[BrendaStarr]

7. Breaking! Another sick right winger suddenly decides stem cell research

is just dandy!

Well, sorry buddy, it's too late. Should have supported stem cell research in 2001 when Bush first refused to offer government subsidies because people like you felt icky about it.

And then you could have written your Congressional representatives about it and they could have seen that there was support for expanded stem cell research (backed by the US government).

There might have been some way to cure you today if you had.

Research moves quickly when the US government gives it a push.

[RamboLiberal]

9. I don't want to see any of these fundies use stem cells

when they find out they or their loved ones can be cured of a disease whose cure has come through stem cell research. You reap what you sow. Be a good culling of the gene pool.

[Voltaire99]

12. Well said! (nt)

[yorkiemommie1]

13. johnny wendell on AAR

said they should have a sticker on their driver's licenses refusing to have any treatments that derive from stem cell research. the clause should be on their medical records too, as far as i'm concerned.

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. How about the coasts just cut off those bastards and force them

to fend for themselves? The red states basically operate as a socialist state except when it comes to electing shit for brains rw bastards that the rest of us have to suffer with.

[Auntie Bush]

11. Bet not one of those stupid Fundies will object to any new

immoral cures that are discovered. I don't see how they can be soooo STUPID. :shrug:

[DanCa]

14. The heart land should use their heart and I challenge any one of them

To spend one week with me.

[Heddi]

15. So Dad in the HEartland would refuse ESC tx if it would save his life?

or better yet:

Dad who is opposed to embryonic stem cell therapy has a daughte with an illness that would certainly be deadly, but with ESC treatment, her life could be extended for 10 years.

You're telling me that man would not JUMP on that shit right away? If he didn't, and was willing to sacrifice his child's life for such reasons then he really has no heart, imo.

I have a feeling these people are all talk about 'opposition' but would be the first in line if it cured a terminal disease they or a loved one had.

[DS1]

16. I know a bunch of people that refuse to recognize MO as a state.

Yes, just like Grampa Simpson.

Farmers ain't gotta be smart nohow, sheeit, they should be out in the fields in the early morn after eating some chicken-based stemcells by way of them omelete thangies

[Dulcinea]

18. The mouth-breathers are at it again.

What's immoral about helping the living? It's immoral NOT to!

[katsy]

19. Okay heartlanders...

it's time for a HEFTY embryonic stem cell adoption TAX for you.

SAVE THEM SAVE THEM SAVE THEM SAVE THEM!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Lost4words]

20. Why is it called Heartland? It should be Ignorant-Land!

Lets just remove the benefits of science that is keeping most of these people alive today. Why dont they just go all the way and become christan scientists.

I dont know how I grew up in the MidWest and got out with a functioning brain.