Tell legislators you oppose more stem-cell harvests

To the editor:

Because President Bush tried to straddle the fence and please everyone, especially in the scientific community, when he allowed some human embryonic stem-cell lines to be used for research, he now has to contend with 11 members of his own party pressuring him to change this policy.

Eleven Republicans in Congress recently sent a letter to the White House asking the president to review the current restrictions to determine whether or not there are enough stem-cell lines available for research.

It was on Aug. 9, 2001, when the president told the nation he would allow research on the stem cells already harvested prior to the speech. Notice I said "harvest," because that is exactly what it is.

If our nation changes this policy, it will open the door to embryo farming ;as a scientific cottage industry. Licenses and patents would be issued. Scientists would become famous and rich while even more of our babies disappear before they ever have a chance to live and fulfill their destiny.

Please make sure your federal legislators know how you feel about this issue. More than 42 million of our young people have disappeared already. Let's stop the carnage. Let the president know how you feel about this matter also.

JULIA B. BUEHRLE

Cape Girardeau