X-Message-Number: 7845
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 22:52:55 -0800 (PST)
From: John K Clark <>
Subject: Cloning

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The Senate hearing on cloning was on C-span today, with one exception 
everyone was screaming about how evil human cloning would be, even Ian Wilmut, 
the man who invented the technique. By far the most interesting remarks came 
from Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, he said he disagreed with the 
president's decree on this subject and he didn't think he had the 
constitutional authority to do it, then he said:

 "This has enormous potential for good, There should be no limits on human  
  knowledge, none whatever. To those like President Clinton who say we can't   
  play God, I say OK, fine, you can take your side alongside Pope Paul V who 
  in 1616 tried to stop Galileo, they accused Galileo of trying to play God 
  too. [...] I don't think cloning is demeaning to human nature, to attempt   
  to limit human knowledge is demeaning. It's not legitimate to try to stop  
  cloning. What nonsense, what utter, utter nonsense to think we can hold   
  up our hand and just say "stop". Cloning will continue, the human mind will  
  continue to inquire into it. Human cloning will take place and it will take 
  place in my lifetime, and I don't fear it at all. I want to be on the side  
  of the Galileos and those who say the human mind has no limits, rather than  
  trying to stop something that's going to happen anyway."

I has a strange feeling when I head him talk, it was like the words were 
coming out of my mouth, it made me think about how important genes are to 
personality, for although I have never said one word to the man and have  
never even seen him in person, Senator Harkin is my cousin.

My Mom always said Harkin's father was the stupidest man in the family and a 
total embarrassment. Surprisingly despite these excellent qualifications he 
did not go into politics, but his son did. That branch of the family still 
causes me embarrassment, I don't like being related to a politician, but I
must admit he made me proud today.           

                                           John K Clark       

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