X-Message-Number: 7845 Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 22:52:55 -0800 (PST) From: John K Clark <> Subject: Cloning -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- 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 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.i iQCzAgUBMyeecX03wfSpid95AQF4TQTuK1Vfqo/8YXl/UqF2o6GdeJvtC2EYCnEM 3P5KfLrurDmVYnx7XCnL3KVEOgIO/Ig4Xvw2xWs67svcFM/H8y/DqbJGYCmI/WJk XLAmWy2w8sLnUoR8oDW2+IbYq5CnacdtMBmoqn11DroW8lkuT1Z0UkMBf67i7JO4 RWfWmHyGCBD2DjWQ6s7StJLgFdNH0Oc8xdbbKjpEIRXb8NUjYrw= =7A5C -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7845