California voters overwhelmingly approved the initiative that will set aside $3 billion to the stem cell research program. The sponsors of this initiative hope to be able to find a cure for certain illnesses that have plagued humanity for ages. The Federal government does not forbid this type of research, but it won't allow the use of Federal funds for the destruction of incipient human life for research purposes.

George Bush believes that human life is sacred, regardless of its size. He is convinced that human life starts at conception, and that the use of embryonic stem cells for research purposes requires the destruction of human beings, small in size, but still unique human beings. The majority of California voters think otherwise, and have approved the measure designed to help sufferers of certain diseases.

My question is: Why do we need to mess with human life, when there are other sources of stem cells? So far the research employing embryonic stem cells has yielded not a single cure for any illnesses, while the use of adult stem cells, which does not involve the destruction of human life has. Why waste our money on what has failed so far to offer any positive results, at the expense of our respect for human life, and at a time when the state is broke?

To access the "Texas Textbook Fight on Marriage" story, click on the link listed below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/05/opinion/05fri1.html?th