To the editor:

The stem cell debate is alive once again and the advocates of taking human life (in the form of an embryo) in order to save lives are loudly voicing their opinions.

The success of adult stem cells (from umbilical cord or bone marrow transplants), which does not take human life, is rock solid. There is, however, zero success in humans thus far with embryonic stem cells. None! So this time around, the debate is focused on debunking the successes of the use of adult stem cells rather than pointing out the failure of embryonic stem cells.

In the July 20 Lawrence Journal-World article titled, “President vetoes stem cell bill,” Sen. Edward Kennedy was quoted as saying, “we will continue this battle” for embryonic stem cell research. It has become painfully clear that the stem cell issue is not about doing the right thing, which is evident for any rational human being; it is about the conscious decision to destroy unique individual human life.

Defending a tiny human embryo is an almost impossible task, in a world that allows the wholesale slaughter, in the womb, of a human being that has been so cleverly labeled a fetus.

Yet no one will deny that Sen. Kennedy is only able to fight his “battle” to allow the destruction of human embryos because he was not terminated in the embryonic stage. I was able to write this letter, as you are able to read it, for the very same reason.

Jeanine Blanck,

Perry