Frozen embryos could benefit the rest of us

I understand that some people have an ethical problem with embryonic stem cell research. It's a right-to-life issue. We shouldn't destroy frozen embryos for research purposes, even if it might save or improve lives. I don't subscribe to it, but I understand it.

Many "right to lifers" don't have a problem asking young adults to sacrifice their lives in war. In a just war, I agree, but not a war like Iraq.

There are also people who donate their bodies to scientific research rather than bury or cremate them. Yet, for a long time many believed that our bodies needed to be buried intact so that they would be whole in the after-life.

Given all that, I've been thinking about the Bush veto of the recent bill to fund embryonic stem cell research. The idea is to use frozen embryos, for research, that would otherwise be destroyed because they aren't going to be used to produce a child. Some believe that's the death of a human being. I wonder, simply because no human being I know of can be frozen and brought back to life.

What if the embryos were used for stem cell research? Would they be any more destroyed? But, like the soldier or the dead body, they offer great benefit to the rest of us.

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint