and of themselves, but with superior
genetic traits which would make them more apt to survive and pose a
threat to natural selection. One common example of this phenomena
occurs naturally. The flu virus mutates into different forms every
two years or so and different vaccines must be administered to
sensitize the body to the new flu bug that will not be destroyed by
already existing antibodies.
So we are left with an
interesting dilemma. Should ME be used to eradicate disease and
create stronger and healthier humans? Or should Natural Selection
be allowed to take its course? Should we no longer vaccinate our
children against disease or take them to the doctor? Rip the
insulin vials from the hands of diabetics? The only difference
between such trivial pursuits and ME is a matter of degree. It is
up to every person of good conscience to step up to the thin line
that separates the noble from the ignoble, but we must toe that
line.
Three years later it was still painful
for Ingrid to read the “dissenting” letter to the editor which had
been published three days after Robin’s editorial. It had been
written by the director of the Natural Christian’s Tampa chapter
and Ingrid had come within an ace of not even keeping it. But she
had convinced herself she had to be bigger than those who wished
only to tear her down.
To the editor,
I am disgusted that such an obviously well-learned
scientist as Ingrid Milner could even begin to consider unlocking
the secrets of creation. Tampering with human genetics is akin to
playing God. It’s all well and good to desire to rid the world of
plagues, scourges, and the common cold; to rid us of deformities,
disfigurements, and defects. But to do this is to create a perfect
race of beings. No sickness, no disease. People will live forever! When the
world becomes too crowded, how will we decide who must die? A lottery? My own modest proposal is
to allow the esteemed Ingrid Milner to make the decisions for
us.
Consider also this: if all
it takes is one amino acid out of sequence to create a monster or
killer plague, how do we guard against human error? God, after all,
did not make us perfect. (If left up to Ingrid Milner, we all would
be). The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Who is to decide what is a
favorable trait? Take a democratic vote? Or yet another lottery?
Will the famed Ingrid Milner, scientist, humanist, and philosopher,
decide? This woman does not want to make contributions. She wants
to be a virgin mother and give birth to the Messiah out of a test
tube in her laboratory.
The last point I intend to
make is a vital one: the power to create evil. I cannot believe it
has not entered Miss Milner’s mind that she is trying to own a
power which at this moment only God possesses. Only an evil, evil
woman, a spawn of the devil, would desire such power. Who among the
fleet of “researchers” can truthfully say they would not care to
have this power in their grasp? Who can say they would not want to
create zombies and the like to be bent to their will, be it what it
may?
The letter had been signed, but Ingrid had deliberately
omitted the woman’s name from her scrapbook. The temptation to look
her up and hack off her hands with a mattock and cut out her tongue
with a claw hammer would have been too great. She could almost
envisage the woman, filled with the Pentecostal fire, scribbling
frantically at her pad with Josh Hall clapping her on the back and
shouting “ More venom! More venom!”
Understandably upset, Ingrid had phoned
the paper and asked to speak to Robin.
She was told that Mr. Grant was no
longer an employee of the newspaper. During her meeting with Grant,
Ingrid had gotten his home phone number. She dialed it and Robin
had answered on the first ring,
“ How could you,” Ingrid had screamed, near
tears. “How could you let something like that be printed about me,
you lousy bastard?”
“ Now wait, Ingrid,” Robin said
desperately.
genetic traits which would make them more apt to survive and pose a
threat to natural selection. One common example of this phenomena
occurs naturally. The flu virus mutates into different forms every
two years or so and different vaccines must be administered to
sensitize the body to the new flu bug that will not be destroyed by
already existing antibodies.
So we are left with an
interesting dilemma. Should ME be used to eradicate disease and
create stronger and healthier humans? Or should Natural Selection
be allowed to take its course? Should we no longer vaccinate our
children against disease or take them to the doctor? Rip the
insulin vials from the hands of diabetics? The only difference
between such trivial pursuits and ME is a matter of degree. It is
up to every person of good conscience to step up to the thin line
that separates the noble from the ignoble, but we must toe that
line.
Three years later it was still painful
for Ingrid to read the “dissenting” letter to the editor which had
been published three days after Robin’s editorial. It had been
written by the director of the Natural Christian’s Tampa chapter
and Ingrid had come within an ace of not even keeping it. But she
had convinced herself she had to be bigger than those who wished
only to tear her down.
To the editor,
I am disgusted that such an obviously well-learned
scientist as Ingrid Milner could even begin to consider unlocking
the secrets of creation. Tampering with human genetics is akin to
playing God. It’s all well and good to desire to rid the world of
plagues, scourges, and the common cold; to rid us of deformities,
disfigurements, and defects. But to do this is to create a perfect
race of beings. No sickness, no disease. People will live forever! When the
world becomes too crowded, how will we decide who must die? A lottery? My own modest proposal is
to allow the esteemed Ingrid Milner to make the decisions for
us.
Consider also this: if all
it takes is one amino acid out of sequence to create a monster or
killer plague, how do we guard against human error? God, after all,
did not make us perfect. (If left up to Ingrid Milner, we all would
be). The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Who is to decide what is a
favorable trait? Take a democratic vote? Or yet another lottery?
Will the famed Ingrid Milner, scientist, humanist, and philosopher,
decide? This woman does not want to make contributions. She wants
to be a virgin mother and give birth to the Messiah out of a test
tube in her laboratory.
The last point I intend to
make is a vital one: the power to create evil. I cannot believe it
has not entered Miss Milner’s mind that she is trying to own a
power which at this moment only God possesses. Only an evil, evil
woman, a spawn of the devil, would desire such power. Who among the
fleet of “researchers” can truthfully say they would not care to
have this power in their grasp? Who can say they would not want to
create zombies and the like to be bent to their will, be it what it
may?
The letter had been signed, but Ingrid had deliberately
omitted the woman’s name from her scrapbook. The temptation to look
her up and hack off her hands with a mattock and cut out her tongue
with a claw hammer would have been too great. She could almost
envisage the woman, filled with the Pentecostal fire, scribbling
frantically at her pad with Josh Hall clapping her on the back and
shouting “ More venom! More venom!”
Understandably upset, Ingrid had phoned
the paper and asked to speak to Robin.
She was told that Mr. Grant was no
longer an employee of the newspaper. During her meeting with Grant,
Ingrid had gotten his home phone number. She dialed it and Robin
had answered on the first ring,
“ How could you,” Ingrid had screamed, near
tears. “How could you let something like that be printed about me,
you lousy bastard?”
“ Now wait, Ingrid,” Robin said
desperately.
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