With the recent announcement of successful human embryo cloning, many ethical questions have arisen. Yet somehow our society seems to hold an alarming double standard when it comes to the so-called sanctity of human life. How can we claim to uphold the intrinsic value of the life of a few undifferentiated cells when it has become more than apparent that we have absolutely no problem with bombing and slaughtering fully developed human beings overseas?
According to U.S. government public statements, they have been dropping bombs on Afghanistan (and unleashing the war criminals known as the Northern Alliance) in order to rid the world of terrorism. Similarly, some human embryos are sacrificed to rid ourselves of disease. The message in both cases? Some human lives can be sacrificed for the sake of more valuable, more important human lives. It can be argued that in times of crisis the true values of individuals shine through. It is easy to be polite, democratic and peaceful when everything is going your way. But to uphold these values in the face of challenge is the true test of adherence to higher principles. Unfortunately, when push came to shove in North American society, democratic and intellectual foundations were dropped like a hot potato. In everything from Bill C-36 to the “my way or the highway” diplomacy of George Bush, we seem to have abandoned due process and our respected national and international institutions of justice in favour of the good old adage “an eye for an eye.”
It is an argument that goes like this. Sure, understanding of the historical and socio-economic backgrounds of conflict is important during peacetime (perhaps for a Master’s thesis) but during war there is no time for such highbrow frivolity. Scholars are relegated to the debate room while military strategists make the real decisions. The fact is, no matter how you try and spin it with fancy euphemisms and idealistic jargon, the U.S. response to the 9/11 tragedy is a violent, simplistic and therefore inadequate solution to an extremely complex problem. So why bother with elaborate consideration of ethical issues when it comes to cloning human embryos for research? We should just call them “casualties of science.”
Our society has already set a precedent with Afghanistan. Judging by the actions of those in power today, human life is cheap.
