re: Christopher Reeve/science/stem cells

[eileen from OH]

Don't know if this is the proper forum, if not, please move.

The thing about stem cell research is that you cannot legislate against science. Oh, you CAN, but it won't do any good. Science proceeds whether or not it's supported, or endorsed, or even funded, and it knows no borders. It marches on as long as there are men and women who seek further knowledge. Name one example whereby an outcry or condemnation actually stopped scientific exploration. If your country/government prohibits it, another will go forward.

I won't say if this is good or bad - certainly there have been scientific achievements that I wish had not occurred. My point is that you CAN'T stop it. What you CAN do is be at the forefront of it so if there are forces (such as the H and nuclear bombs) you at least KNOW what you're dealing with.

By ignoring or forbidding, or discouraging stem cell research, you won't stop it. Somebody else WILL use the technology and do it. And by ignoring/forbidding/discouraging you lose valuable opportunities to discover the GOOD that may come from it.

My heart is broken for Christopher Reeve and his family. I don't know if he could have lived long enough to have seen a meaningful breakthrough in treating spinal cord injuries. We'll only learn down the road the role (if any) that stem cell research will play. But I DO know that saying that science should stop is not only impractical, it is impossible.

Rest in peace, Mr. Reeve, and may you soar with the flights of angels who take you to your rest.

eileen from OH

[Desertrose]

1. Amen to that eileen from OH

so sad...who knows what could have been done if things weren't slowed down & screwed up by politics

"Rest in peace, Mr. Reeve, and may you soar with the flights of angels who take you to your rest."

beautiful......I share those sentiments...
DR

[KharmaTrain]

2. Mixed Emotions

The tragedy I felt for Christopher Reeve was all those years of being a prisoner in his own body. His injuries were so severe, it was a miracle he lived as long as he did, and paid a price in pain and agony in doing so.

The blessing here is it appears he died peacefully of an infection that probably brought on pnuemonia and then coma. His agony is over and his immediate family can now regroup and move forward. Fortunately, we have his films to always enjoy and his story and words to remember his fight and cause.

On to the political side, I'm edgy here about using this to any political gain in the short term. I suspect the Kerry campaign had a head's up and why his name was mentioned in the Stem Cell discussion on Friday night. I'd strongly advise not to do anything more than an expression of sympathy to the family and let the press do all the tongue wagging.

While stem cell and other bio-tech research will eventually alter the human body to expect a cure to have magically happened in the 10 or so years this area of medicine has come into its own is stretching a bit. IMHO, the focus on stem cell should be that this is "advancing the ball" and someone will do it...might as well be the best and brightest we have.

[kokomo]

3. Right on! BushCo might "play" on such events. Let's be better than that

Chris Reeves gained our respect and we need now to respect his family. Let's not politicize his death and let's not let the right-wingers disrespect Reeves as they did Paul Wellstone. Let's not give the radical right any fuel to burn us with.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Remember St. Raygun, Too

All that overblown grieving (cough bullshit partisan bullshit cough) was a big turn off. The best words that were said on that death and I expect on this one will come from Ron Reagan. He's a surrogate/honest broker on this topic with credibility.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. I agree with all that you said. The idea that Reeve would ever have

benefited from stem cell research is wishful thinking. Embryonic stem cell research is being carried out in the UK and elsewhere but all the talk of cures is still just talk.

Bush* did not kill Christopher Reeve, nor did he keep him from walking again. We have lots of other reasons to oppose him so let's stick to them.