On Stem Cells Obama, Like George W. Bush, Speaks Subtly to Values Voters.
Obama acknowledges the moral dimension to the stem cell debate head-on and attempts to change the traditional frame-between science and moral values-as designed by conservative Christians. He argues that we can empower the former without sacrificing the latter.
As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering.
Obama reasserts his own well-established religiosity and uses it to lay the groundwork for his own thinking on the stem cell issue.
I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research – and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.
Obama implies that the “capacity and will” to pursue embryonic stem cell research were granted to man, presumably from God (who else could the giver be?), and that such freedom is balanced by responsibility. Sounds like a theological meditation.
It is a difficult and delicate balance. Many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research. I understand their concerns, and we must respect their point of view.
Meditations from a Muslim to Black Liberation Theology convert? Or politician straddling the divide? For a cause celebre to capture a prized section in the history books?
Gary Varvel. Nailed it.
“[Barack Obama.] This order will take the politics out of embryonic stem cell research. [A higher calling] Another issue above your pay grade”
Image courtesy of Gary Varvel March 11, 2009 via http://blogs.indystar.com/varvelblog/index.html.
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