Comments on: People With One Watch, Part III http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/ Exposing the ugly truths about the Bush Administration. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:01:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: The Mahablog » The Wisdom of Doubt, Part II http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-243771 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:18:57 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-243771 [...] [...] […] […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » The Wisdom of Doubt, Part II http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-243758 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:12:42 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-243758 [...] There is something self-evidently screwy about “ethics” that value frozen blastocysts above children and adults suffering and dying from terrible disease. But “moral clarity” on the stem cell issue — born of a stubborn refusal to look at all facets of the issue honestly — results in myriad unfortunate side effects. As explained here, for example, thanks to morally clear policies doctors performing in vitro fertilization cannot research ways to reduce multiple births. And multiple births increase the risks for both babies and mothers. [...] […] There is something self-evidently screwy about “ethics” that value frozen blastocysts above children and adults suffering and dying from terrible disease. But “moral clarity” on the stem cell issue — born of a stubborn refusal to look at all facets of the issue honestly — results in myriad unfortunate side effects. As explained here, for example, thanks to morally clear policies doctors performing in vitro fertilization cannot research ways to reduce multiple births. And multiple births increase the risks for both babies and mothers. […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Respecting Life http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-47677 Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:03:12 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-47677 [...] I’ve gone on and on about life and the moral argument for embryonic stem cell research already, and I don’t want to repeat all that now. Let’s explode everyone’s head today and look at some undiluted Zen. Living beings are the result of many factors and conditions. Some of these are the presence of sperm, an egg, the condition of fertility, and the presence of a being desiring a form. Once living beings are created, there are other conditions necessary for their survival, such as sunshine, warmth, air (or the absence of these) as well as water and food. Many of the things that make up our world were once alive and depended on these same conditions, like wood, paper, cotton, wool, and oil products. Even stones and diamonds, and the planet itself, are the result of many related factors. All causes and conditions are interrelated. Yet, because of our conditioning and our delusions, we are easily confused and distracted from seeing our true relationship to all things. I think the nature of delusion is that it makes us feel separate, giving the illusion of duality. [...] […] I’ve gone on and on about life and the moral argument for embryonic stem cell research already, and I don’t want to repeat all that now. Let’s explode everyone’s head today and look at some undiluted Zen. Living beings are the result of many factors and conditions. Some of these are the presence of sperm, an egg, the condition of fertility, and the presence of a being desiring a form. Once living beings are created, there are other conditions necessary for their survival, such as sunshine, warmth, air (or the absence of these) as well as water and food. Many of the things that make up our world were once alive and depended on these same conditions, like wood, paper, cotton, wool, and oil products. Even stones and diamonds, and the planet itself, are the result of many related factors. All causes and conditions are interrelated. Yet, because of our conditioning and our delusions, we are easily confused and distracted from seeing our true relationship to all things. I think the nature of delusion is that it makes us feel separate, giving the illusion of duality. […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Shameless http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-39186 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 23:35:16 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-39186 [...] The Anchoress claims Fox is fighting for “bad science.” I’ve already explained here and here that it’s righties like the Anchoress who lie through their teeth about the science. Sister Toldjah, no lightweight in the idiot department, compares the ad to race baiting. (Go ahead and pause to ponder that one, if you need to.) [...] […] The Anchoress claims Fox is fighting for “bad science.” I’ve already explained here and here that it’s righties like the Anchoress who lie through their teeth about the science. Sister Toldjah, no lightweight in the idiot department, compares the ad to race baiting. (Go ahead and pause to ponder that one, if you need to.) […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Being Good http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-38932 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:02:50 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-38932 [...] Last July I wrote a three-part series explaining why the purists are wrong on the embryonic stem cell question; here is Part I, Part II, and Part III. Parts II and III in particular focus on the disinformation about stem cell research being spread by the purists to defend their “logical” opinion. I wrote, The fact is, opponents of stem cell research routinely lie — to themselves, to each other, to anyone who will listen — in order to defend their belief that embryonic stem cell research is immoral. This suggests to me that the real reasons people object to stem cell research have less to do with moral principle than with some deeply submerged but potent fear. And this takes us back to elective ignorance. Something about flushing all those blastocysts makes the Fetus People uncomfortable in a way that condemning Henry Strongin to death does not. The arguments they make against stem cell research, which are mostly a pile of lies and distortions, are not the reasons they are opposed to stem cell research. They are the rationalizations created to justify their opposition. [...] […] Last July I wrote a three-part series explaining why the purists are wrong on the embryonic stem cell question; here is Part I, Part II, and Part III. Parts II and III in particular focus on the disinformation about stem cell research being spread by the purists to defend their “logical” opinion. I wrote, The fact is, opponents of stem cell research routinely lie — to themselves, to each other, to anyone who will listen — in order to defend their belief that embryonic stem cell research is immoral. This suggests to me that the real reasons people object to stem cell research have less to do with moral principle than with some deeply submerged but potent fear. And this takes us back to elective ignorance. Something about flushing all those blastocysts makes the Fetus People uncomfortable in a way that condemning Henry Strongin to death does not. The arguments they make against stem cell research, which are mostly a pile of lies and distortions, are not the reasons they are opposed to stem cell research. They are the rationalizations created to justify their opposition. […]

]]> by: pro-woman http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-37739 Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:56:48 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-37739 Whether Blake missed your Part II or not is irrelevant. Yes, embryonic stem cells have a different "property & potential", and that's just the point...after 20 years of research all that potential has resulted in ZERO cures, but lots of tumors and abnormalities. (Check out www.cbc-network.org search site for stem cell research). Regarding your constant accusations of anyone who disagrees with you as being "moral", the opposite would be "immoral"...hmmm. I think, rather, the issue is being upset that people aren't permissive, aren't trapped by the notion of moral relativism, whereby "what I think is good is good, what you think is good is good, and let's all just leave each other alone in our own version of good-ness". This alludes to the notion that truth is relative, which it is not. Just because you may believe that a pen is really a car doesn't make it so; it's still a pen. So it is with your beliefs on life and death; at death there sure is something lost for those who refuse Eternal Life with God in Heaven, instead they suffer eternally in hell...but you probably don't believe in hell, and as I said before, not believing in a reality doesn't make it any less a reality. And I would think twice about believing that desperately trying to save the life of a sick person, while in the process failing miserably and taking the lives of others, is moral. No one in their right mind would agree that if I suddenly couldn't breathe while standing in line at a grocery store, it would be moral & right to grab the oxygen tank from a nearby person suffering from the affects of a life of smoking, who's life depends on the oxygen & dies while I attempt to save my own life. How is that any different? I think you'd enjoy reading G.K. Chesterton's latest writings...or maybe they'd strike a nerve. Whether Blake missed your Part II or not is irrelevant. Yes, embryonic stem cells have a different “property & potential”, and that’s just the point…after 20 years of research all that potential has resulted in ZERO cures, but lots of tumors and abnormalities. (Check out www.cbc-network.org search site for stem cell research). Regarding your constant accusations of anyone who disagrees with you as being “moral”, the opposite would be “immoral”…hmmm. I think, rather, the issue is being upset that people aren’t permissive, aren’t trapped by the notion of moral relativism, whereby “what I think is good is good, what you think is good is good, and let’s all just leave each other alone in our own version of good-ness”. This alludes to the notion that truth is relative, which it is not. Just because you may believe that a pen is really a car doesn’t make it so; it’s still a pen. So it is with your beliefs on life and death; at death there sure is something lost for those who refuse Eternal Life with God in Heaven, instead they suffer eternally in hell…but you probably don’t believe in hell, and as I said before, not believing in a reality doesn’t make it any less a reality. And I would think twice about believing that desperately trying to save the life of a sick person, while in the process failing miserably and taking the lives of others, is moral. No one in their right mind would agree that if I suddenly couldn’t breathe while standing in line at a grocery store, it would be moral & right to grab the oxygen tank from a nearby person suffering from the affects of a life of smoking, who’s life depends on the oxygen & dies while I attempt to save my own life. How is that any different? I think you’d enjoy reading G.K. Chesterton’s latest writings…or maybe they’d strike a nerve.

]]> by: maha http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-32150 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:29:39 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-32150 Blake -- You must have missed <a href="http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/21/people-with-one-watch-part-ii/" rel="nofollow">Part II</a>, in which I explained the difference between adult and embryonic stem cells and why they have different properties and potential. Although they may both have theraputic uses, they are not the same uses. Adult stem cells don't do the things that embryonic stems cells do. I'm sorry you are an ignorant fool, but ignorant fools like you are standing in the way of potentially life-saving therapies and the alleviation of much suffering. I realize you think you are being "moral," but your version of morality is a sick travesty of morality, not true morality. Blake — You must have missed Part II, in which I explained the difference between adult and embryonic stem cells and why they have different properties and potential. Although they may both have theraputic uses, they are not the same uses. Adult stem cells don’t do the things that embryonic stems cells do.

I’m sorry you are an ignorant fool, but ignorant fools like you are standing in the way of potentially life-saving therapies and the alleviation of much suffering. I realize you think you are being “moral,” but your version of morality is a sick travesty of morality, not true morality.

]]> by: Blake Runnoe http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-32147 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 01:58:16 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-32147 I think you people have all managed to completly miss the point. here's an article from wikipedia "To date, no approved medical treatments have been derived from embryonic stem cell research" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell_research . adult stem cells, which don't require the destroying of embryonic life (which has SOME potential to become a new human) have treated 58 diseases. this article pretty much makes my point clear as day. http://www.mafamily.org/StemCellResearchTheFacts.pdf#search='cured%20by%20adult%20stem%20cell%20research' try spending your money on something that has pontential, not this embryonic garbage. I think you people have all managed to completly miss the point. here’s an article from wikipedia “To date, no approved medical treatments have been derived from embryonic stem cell research” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell_research . adult stem cells, which don’t require the destroying of embryonic life (which has SOME potential to become a new human) have treated 58 diseases. this article pretty much makes my point clear as day. http://www.mafamily.org/StemCellResearchTheFacts.pdf#search=’cured%20by%20adult%20stem%20cell%20research’
try spending your money on something that has pontential, not this embryonic garbage.

]]> by: Donna in WI http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-21211 Mon, 24 Jul 2006 07:20:00 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-21211 I just read the other two posts. I've been calling elective ignorance, willful ignorance. I think there have been several reasons why there is an upsurge in elective/willful ignorance in the US. Our education system is one, you don't question the teacher/textbook's authority, there is only one correct answer. Americans in recent times disdain shows of knowledge and intelligence. If you're smart, you're a nerd/geek. I remember my own parents as well as others making fun of me for my vocabulary. Because I was and still am a voracious reader sometimes more complicated words get stuck in my head and are easier to come to mind when I am speaking or writing. I seriously sometimes can't think of the more common word! It's also similar to fashion, what's old is new again. American culture swings back and forth between conservative and authoritarian towards liberal and less authoritarian every few decades. We're obviously in the conservative cultural aspect now and that means you do not question authority even if they are lying with every word they utter. Some people need a disaster before they will admit they are wrong and take in new information. We are at disaster stage now which is why many are waking up and smelling the coffee. Those who tend to vote Republican are losing jobs, health insurance, unable to keep up with the bills even if they do have a job and health insurance, (just like the rest of us). This is why you hear more and more of them turning on Bush and Republicans in congress. It doesn't matter about the disaster in the Middle East to many of them (unless they are there or have loved ones there) but their own personal disasters will have them rethinking their beliefs. Watch Bush's poll numbers continue to sink when the housing market drops out and gas prices go over $4 a gallon. Some people simply have closed minds on one or two issues and as long as they have someone on their side with those issues they will back them. It doesn't really matter if that someone is wrong about everything else and their opponent is right about everything else. That's why Republicans campaign on bigotry. I just read the other two posts. I’ve been calling elective ignorance, willful ignorance. I think there have been several reasons why there is an upsurge in elective/willful ignorance in the US. Our education system is one, you don’t question the teacher/textbook’s authority, there is only one correct answer. Americans in recent times disdain shows of knowledge and intelligence. If you’re smart, you’re a nerd/geek. I remember my own parents as well as others making fun of me for my vocabulary. Because I was and still am a voracious reader sometimes more complicated words get stuck in my head and are easier to come to mind when I am speaking or writing. I seriously sometimes can’t think of the more common word!

It’s also similar to fashion, what’s old is new again. American culture swings back and forth between conservative and authoritarian towards liberal and less authoritarian every few decades. We’re obviously in the conservative cultural aspect now and that means you do not question authority even if they are lying with every word they utter.

Some people need a disaster before they will admit they are wrong and take in new information. We are at disaster stage now which is why many are waking up and smelling the coffee. Those who tend to vote Republican are losing jobs, health insurance, unable to keep up with the bills even if they do have a job and health insurance, (just like the rest of us). This is why you hear more and more of them turning on Bush and Republicans in congress. It doesn’t matter about the disaster in the Middle East to many of them (unless they are there or have loved ones there) but their own personal disasters will have them rethinking their beliefs. Watch Bush’s poll numbers continue to sink when the housing market drops out and gas prices go over $4 a gallon.

Some people simply have closed minds on one or two issues and as long as they have someone on their side with those issues they will back them. It doesn’t really matter if that someone is wrong about everything else and their opponent is right about everything else. That’s why Republicans campaign on bigotry.

]]> by: Donna in WI http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-21206 Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:30:19 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/22/people-with-one-watch-part-iii/#comment-21206 Avedon, I was an "accident" so it is possible that if my mother wasn't Catholic I would have been aborted. My answer to the fetus people is...so what? I wouldn't know the difference. A collection of cells has no awareness. I also ask them if they think that God is all powerful, if he/she is, and God wanted me to be born then I would be. I may be born to my mother at a later date when I am planned or I may be born to another woman, but either way God would make sure I get here. Maha, have you ever heard the Native American saying, "We are all related"? It's very similar to your Buddhist teachings. Although if you visit a reservation the joke is that we are literally all related. Every time I told my mother which boy I liked, she would tell me, "You can't date him because he's your cousin." So we really are all related on the rez. LOL Avedon, I was an “accident” so it is possible that if my mother wasn’t Catholic I would have been aborted. My answer to the fetus people is…so what? I wouldn’t know the difference. A collection of cells has no awareness. I also ask them if they think that God is all powerful, if he/she is, and God wanted me to be born then I would be. I may be born to my mother at a later date when I am planned or I may be born to another woman, but either way God would make sure I get here.

Maha, have you ever heard the Native American saying, “We are all related”? It’s very similar to your Buddhist teachings. Although if you visit a reservation the joke is that we are literally all related. Every time I told my mother which boy I liked, she would tell me, “You can’t date him because he’s your cousin.” So we really are all related on the rez. LOL

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