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Online Edition:
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Editor in Chief:
Andrew Adams
Associate Editors:
Peter Hockaday
Jeremy Lang
Editorial
Cloning prohibition
shows respect for life
In a decision that dealt with med
ical, theological and ethical is
sues, the House of Representa
tives yesterday not only banned
research into human cloning but also
prohibited the use in this country of
any medical procedures developed
from cloning research.
With a vote of 265 to 162, it was a
clear and deliberate bipartisan move
that shows our representatives are not
about to tread into the troubled waters
of human cloning. It is a large and diffi
cult issue to deal with, and cloning can
be tackled only superficially here. But
it does not take much understanding to
realize that the replication of life in an
alien environment through inhuman
methods is wrong.
As one of the chief sponsors of the
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of
2001, Rep. Dave Weldon, a Florida Re
publican, accurately told The New
York Times: “It clearly sends a message
that there is a place we don’t want to
go, and that is the manufacture of sci
entific embryos for research.”
Fortunately, a majority of our elected
representatives feel the same way. One
hopes the Senate will also see the in
herent wrongs in treating human life as
a product to be mass produced.
This decision has further political im
plications, as it somewhat muddies the
waters in the discussion of stem-cell re
search. That issue, however, can be
viewed as distinct from cloning. The ban
put forth by the House may in fact give
some conservative leaders the means to
bend their stance on stem-cell research.
Supporting limits into scientific in
quiry is a troubling policy to say the
least. Some could argue that a ban here
could lead to other roadblocks in less
ethically troubling areas that are sub
ject to political agendas. But regarding
the issue of human cloning, one has to
argue that a line must be drawn. We
must continue to hold dear the thought
of academic freedom, but we cannot let
that freedom threaten the sanctity of
human life.
Supporters of the research claim that
human cloning will be beneficial to
those with serious and chronic dis
eases. One would be heartless to advo
cate a prohibition on cloning without
acknowledging that any loss in re
search toward curing such diseases
would be a sad loss indeed. But the
thought of what could in fact be real
ized through cloning is more frighten
ing by far than the slim chances of dis
ease-curing research. It is* a tough
choice to make, and no easier when
one takes into account that we are ar
guing over the very building blocks of
life, but we have to make the right
choice in this nation to protect that life.
There are areas in which only a thin
line based on the law of morality is left
to safeguard life, such as in work on
embryonic cells. And if not reigned in,
scientific progress will invariably cross
that line without slowing down or
looking back.
Amazon Pool is an old
fashioned summer success
In matters closer to home, it is with
sincere pleasure that one can see the
Amazon Pool has become a sure-fire
success.
Anyone living near the pool can at
test to the fact that from its early open
ing hours in the morning to when it
closes late in the evening, the pool is
packed with people of all ages swim
ming laps or doing flips from the high
dive. And if one happened to be driv
ing along Hilyard Street last Sunday
when it was pretty close to pouring, he
or she would have had the amusement
or astonishment of seeing both chil
dren and adults swimming in the rain.
From those lounging in the sun, lin
ing up at the snack bar or playing in the
water fountains, it is easy to see that
those in Eugene love their new public
pool.
At the risk of sounding a little sappy,
Eugene should be looking into more
community recreational areas that
everyone can enjoy. It keeps adoles
cents out of trouble and lets older chil
dren regain some of that young enthu
siasm that is so often branded as
“uncool.”
One can only hope that the pool’s
open hours will be extended into the
fall so that those who may not be able to
go swimming this summer can get the
chance later on in the year.
This editorial represents the views of the Emerald
editor in chief and does not necessarily represent
the views of the Oregon Daily Emerald.
o
SWINDLER HALL
GRAYSON HALL
Here's a host of toasts to summer
As I'm writing this, I have a tall glass of
lemonade in my hand, with the ice
cubes clinking together every time I
take a sip. Outside, the sky is electric
blue with a few wispy clouds here and there.
In a moment, I'm going to go out and enjoy
that sky. For now, though, I ask you to pour
your own glass of lemon
Peter
Hockaday
Tvvo minutes for
crosschecking
ade and join me in a toast
... to summer.
Here's to minor league
baseball. Here's to micro
brews at Civic Stadium,
and a team (the Emeralds)
that looks like the Yankees
sometimes, and the Paw
tucket MudSox the next in
ning. Here's to the crack of
the bat and Prince Puckler’s
ice cream and the kid sit
ting next to you wearing a
Giants hat, watching the
game with all the inno
cence in the world.
Here s to barbecues.
Here's to burnt burgers, three-foot racks of ribs
and "special" sauces. Here's to vodka-filled wa
termelons and getting drunk in less than two
seconds because of all the sun you’ve been get
ting. Here’s to small, organized fiestas, with
not a “party patrol” in sight.
Here’s to summer movies. A toast to plunk
ing down a five-dollar bill in exchange for two
hours of apes, lizards and aliens. Here’s to the
“summer blockbuster,” and the fact that the
movie-going public always manages to turn it
on its ear. Here’s to “Shrek” beating out “Pearl
Harbor,” and “Something About Mary” top
ping “Armageddon.”
Here’s to the outdoors. Here’s to teeming
bike paths and rafts cluttering the Willamette.
A toast to hiking, biking, running and swim
ming. Here’s to the Amazon Pool, which re
mains filled with children even in a torrential
downpour.
Here’s to rain, our old friend, coming back
every so often to remind us that we live in Eu
gene, not San Diego.
Here’s to fantastic holidays: Memorial Day,
Independence Day and Labor Day. A toast to
the American flag on every porch, and fire
works.
A quick toast is in order, to golf. Here’s to
duffing, slicing, sanding and chunking. Here’s
to that one shot, that 4-iron from 150 yards that
sticks two feet from the pin, that makes you
come back the next day.
Here’s to “The Simpsons” and “Friends” re
runs on television. I’ll trade in one new
episode for three old ones any day.
A toast to T-shirts and shorts, tank tops and
skirts. Here’s to riding your bike to school
every day, just like you did when you were a
kid.
Here’s to summer school, which no longer
sounds like “detention” to your ears. Here’s to
four-week classes and midterms on the second
Thursday of class.
Here’s to ice cream. I’d like to raise a glass of
lemonade to the kid who drops his double
scoop, double-chocolate sugar-waffle cone all
over himself. Hey kid, go inside and get anoth
er one. Why not?
Raise your glass to slip n' slides, sand volley
ball and the sounds of kids at the pool. Toast
convertibles, sunglasses and sandals. Here's to
the sun going down at 9:30 every night.
Here's to summer. May you never end.
Cheers!
Peter Hockaday is an associate editor for the Oregon Daily
Emerald. He can be reached at phockaday@dailyemerald.com.
Violence engenders more violence
Steve Baggs for the Emerald
Guest Commentary
MichaelJ
Kleckner
Here's another viewpoint on the
ELF's tactics, which I preface by
saying that I do not endorse nor
commit violence. First, the media's
use of the word 'violence' without a discus
sion of what it means in an intelligent dis
course is disingenous at least and manipula
tive at worst. Do we mean only direct
physical harm, or something broader?
It seems the Emerald uses 'violence' for
any action that directly or indirectly causes
physical, emotional or financial harm;
hence, damaging property is 'violence.' If
this is the case, then many actions of SUV
makers, timber harvesters and the govern
ment that privileges their behaviors are cer
tainly violent. Violence is committed on the
working poor and the environment every
day, and yet the media won’t call it terror
ism. In responding to this terrorism, the ELF
is no more the "extreme edge," as you say,
than any others throughout history who
have said, “You have committed enough vio
lence against us — we will respond with vio
lence until you stop.”
Which brings me to my second issue. Your
statement, "History shows that most political
change came through nonviolent means," is
demonstrably false. Pre-civilization nomads
fought over territory and resources. Fiefdoms
were overthrown through violent means. Ac
tually, beyond Gandhi and Dr. King, I can't
think of many examples of peaceful political
change. When people remain peaceful, those
in power squeeze harder. Most political
change has happened because oppressors
kept upping the ante of oppression — al
though no one would call it oppression —
until people said, “Enough.”
Particularly disturbing in this situation is
that the media won't admit that the way cor
porations behave today is violently oppres
sive to most of humanity. As long as thought
ful discourse refuses to discuss this, people
will turn to “violence” out of desperation for
a better solution. When the powers-that-be
refuse to talk about the reality of their ac
tions, “violence” occurs, as we saw with the
Boston Tea Party.
Revolution is coming slowly this time be
cause corporations, in collusion with the
government, have persuaded the masses that
owning a car and a TV and being able to buy
an unwholesome burger for 99 cents equals
freedom. Well, it doesn't. It's still slavery, and
people are catching on. And please don’t say
that Americans should effect change through
politics, because only the rich can buy politi
cal speech in this country; after all, the
Supreme Court decreed that money is
speech. Politics doesn't work for the poor in
today's world.
Again, I do not endorse violence as a means
of achieving social change. History has shown
that violent change simply results in new op
pressors. This doesn't achieve anything real. I
certainly wish that everyone would stop the vi
olence so social change could occur without
damaging anyone's property or environment or
livelihood or life. But violence flows freely in
America, from the government to businesses to
workers to consumers to activists to action he
roes to school kids, and there seems to be no
end in sight.
As long as violence is held supreme in this
country — and is used by businesses and ac
tivists alike to get their way — then I have to
disagree with your central point. The ELF's 'vi
olence' is an effective approach; it has proven
so in the past, and sadly, it appears that it will
continue to be in the future.
Michael J. Kleckner is a summer intern at The Oregonian in
Portland. He will be managing editor of the Emerald in the fall.