The definition of genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. There are currently two kinds of genocide in the world. First, there is the genocide that occurs in war, it is illegal, prohibited by law, and prohibited by the United Nations. It occurs against the conscience of the world. Then, there is genocide that occurs in peace, it is legal in most countries, and is encouraged by the UN. This type of genocide is abortion.
Since its arrival to our country in 1973, abortion is responsible for the deaths of 49,551,703 babies. All major American War’s from The American Revolution to the War in Iraq have accounted for 1.3 million deaths. Let’s do the math. The total number of aborted babies (in a span of 36 years) is 37.8 times more than the total number of deaths in every American war since 1775 (234 years).
The targets of American genocide are disproportionately found among children from poor families, handicap children, and African American children. In fact, ninety percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. The ability to decide the fate of someone in the womb based of real or perceived life challenges or parental preferences is a scary thought. In China, this has lead to gender selective abortions that are at epidemic proportions. In black communities: for every baby born three are aborted, that is over double the abortion rates of white babies. “The abortion industry plants their [abortion clinics] in minority neighborhoods and prey upon women who think they have no hope. The greatest irony is that abortion has done what the Klan only dreamed of.” Alveda King (Niece of Rev. Martin Luther King)
The scourge of abortion is caused from a lack of love and hope. The lack of love is the selfless love exhibited by Jesus Christ on the cross. This love, which calls us to sacrifice our self, our time, and our money, is the only antidote to abortion that will win in the long run. Not until we value people regardless of what their health prospects are, their poverty level, or above our own convenience, will we be able to overcome this American Genocide. As Mother Theresa said: “It is poverty to DECIDE that a child must die so that you can live as you wish”.
Finally, we must be vigilant against the “Culture of Death” identified by Pope John Paul II. This Culture of Death is a political, social, and economic thought process that wants to control our culture by maintaining access to abortion, supporting Euthanasia, and preventing mentally, physically, or economically challenged babies from seeing the light of day. We must protest against this stain on America’s culture and PRAY to end abortion!

–Michael Costello

There are 100,000,000 Americans suffering with diseases that could possibly be cured with stem cells.  It is the fault of closed minded, ill-informed Americans that President Obama is not getting full support on the issue of governmental funding for this invaluable research about embryonic stem cells and their uses.  Don’t let yourselves be one of those individuals standing directly in the path of cures to diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and paralyzation.  The possibilities of cures to the diseases that plague society today using stem cells are enumerable, and everyone should support President Obama in his decision to initiate governmental funding of stem cell research.

What are stem cells?  Well, stem cells are a base cell of sorts, that have the possibility to grow and develop into almost any type of cell in the human body; even the cells we as humans can’t grow back naturally.  Stem cells can be collected from bone marrow, embryos, and umbilical cord blood.  How is this helpful?  Well, say you were in a bad car accident, and now you are a paraplegic; you can’t move your legs.  Using stem cell therapy, there is a possibility that your damaged nerve cells can be replenished, gaining back your full mobility and use of your once marred legs.

Many people are ill informed when it comes to embryonic stem cells.  Some people are misled to believe that aborted fetuses are used for this research, but this is not the case.  Scientists use egg cells donated by willing women and then fertilize them in the lab.  Once the artificial embryo is about a week old, scientists do research on these newly formed cells.  The fact is that these cells have no brain, no organ systems, and are laboratory generated.  How is that morally wrong?

You may be wondering, “If stem cells are so useful, why are people opposed to the funding of such research?”  The controversy is whether or not it’s morally correct to use embryonic stem cells, or cells from embryos.  Many staunch pro-life advocates say that using these seven-day-old embryos is wrong and degrades the value of life, but think about this:  Would you find it morally wrong to test on a week old cluster of cells to help save say a 40 year old woman dying of breast cancer?  Or how about to help an old sick grandfather with Parkinson’s disease who can’t stop shaking?   These are all things to consider before you yourself come up with your stance on stem cell research.

In summation, the benefits of stem cell research go beyond anything that we can imagine.   There is a possibility that the deadly diseases we face today will be obsolete to the new generation.  All we can do is support these scientists who are working tirelessly to find the cure to the afflictions that affect our loved ones everyday.

–Anonymous