Sometimes the pros and cons of an issue depend on where you sit. People who suffer from a condition that might be cured by stem cell research tend to favor going ahead as fast as possible.

If you are paralyzed and you are convinced that such research could lead to a cure, you are likely to favor it.

But if you are healthy, and don't really believe you will ever have one of the conditions that might be corrected by the research, you might oppose it.

Yes, I know it sounds selfish, but we all are selfish to some extent. It's OK to look out for others, but it's also OK to look out for old number one.

From a personal standpoint, I don't let my diabetes influence my feelings on the subject because I know research will never move fast enough to benefit someone my age. But I have to consider that my children and grandchildren are more at risk because I have it.

The debate on this subject has become something of a political football. Experience tells me that politics often clouds the real issue, and may prevent a sound decision. There is not much we can do about that.
Howard