Soccer Dad

The njdc's big tent

When checking out what the NJDC blog yesterday, I noticed an item about embryonic stem cell funding.

I left a comment.

But apparently the NJDC won't brook any dissent.

I made two points. Politely. And the comments are nowhere to be seen.

So for those who wish to see dissent to the leftist views of the NJDC here are my points.

1) As yet, embryonic stem cell research has not resulted in any successful therapies. All stem cell research that has produced therapies has been from adult stem cells. So to argue that the lack of federal funding for extending embryonic stem lines will hinder research into finding cures for diabetes and other diseases is, at this point, hyperbole. In fact recent advances in the treatment of diabetes used stem cells from umbilical and adult stem cells.

2) The NJDC after raising the alarm about the lack of federal funding for embryonic stem cells research cites 3 Jewish organizations that support the increase in such funding. One of those organization is the Orthodox Union. However, unlike the NJDC, the OU has written about respecting the religious beliefs of those who disagree on this issue. Joseph Loconte wrote at the National Review

Nevertheless, the statement by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations opposing Bush’s veto is a model of sober and civic discourse in a debate saturated with vitriol. “We recognize that those who oppose this research and this legislation do so upon the basis of deeply and sincerely held moral beliefs,” writes the UOJCA. “We appreciate the President's position on this matter which allows this research to proceed when privately funded and his principled reservations against allowing taxpayer funds to support it.” The organization goes on to “respectfully disagree” with the president's position.

Notice what is missing: No conspiracy theories about a theocratic takeover. No chatter about the eclipse of Enlightenment reason. No specter of religious extremism haunting the political landscape. No contest between scientific progress and medieval superstition.

This is not the tone of the NJDC, and to use the OU as support for its own position strikes me as rather cynical.

These posts are also a little longer (and more detailed) than my comments were. Also the NJDC has disable trackbacks, so if someone dissents, no links will appear at the NJDC blog informing readers of the dissent.

(I realize this latter issue could be the result of fighting spam. But regardless, the deletion of a critical comment shows an unwillingness to engage in debate.)

UPDATE: In fairness to the NJDC, commenter Sabba Hillel points out that they did eventually show my comments and even inserted the trackback. I still think something's fishy, as I've had comments disappear there before and the trackback was almost certainly generated manually.

njdc, stem cell research.