Potential vs. Actual

Conservative Christian groups won a major victory Monday (Aug. 23) when a Washington judge halted federal funding of embryonic stem cell research to allow a suit challenging the practice as illegal to go forward.

The suit, by a group of doctors and Nightlight Christian Adoptions, says federal funding of embryonic stem cells limits the number of fertilized embryos the agency can make available to couples seeking to "adopt" them from fertility clinics.

This case was brought by an organization Nightlight Christian Adoptions, because research was competing with them for embryos. Now lets look at this Nighlight Christian Adoptions and their Snowflakes®. At the very least NCA is getting $8,000 per attempted snowflake adoption. Now obviously if they are suing because research is using all their embryos they must be placing a whole lot of them, right?

What is the success rate of pregnancies among Snowflakes families who have had embryo transfers?
To date, our families have completed 528 transfers resulting in a pregnancy success rate of 43%. So far, 225
children have been born and 25 more moms are due with 32 babies. There are always families with recent
transfers awaiting pregnancy test results and more families scheduling transfers.

By conservative estimates there are somewhere around 500,000 embryos out there.
So their placements account for what, 1% of the current embryo supply?

Maybe I should throw in a little primer here:
In Vitro Fertilization treatments consists of creating embryos outside of the body and implanting them into the uterus - in hopes of creating a successful pregnancy. Depending on the circumstances, MANY embryos are created for each potential pregnancy. Not all embryos will implant - or in some cases they do (Octomom). In either case, there is generally many embryos left over. Sometimes they are used for future pregnancies, sometimes they stay frozen for years and are finally destroyed, sometimes they are "adopted" and sometimes they are used for research. Snowflake adoptions occur when genetic parents relinquish rights to their embryos so that they can be implanted in another womb. That is the basis for this lawsuit.



Stem Cell Research has the potential to be lifesaving, life-improving and life affirming - all for the living, breathing, thinking humans that are already here. The anti-Stem Cell crowd is basically just the anti-choice crowd wearing a different t-shirt. "Destruction of human life"...blah, blah, blah...how many times do we hear this and allow them to dictate the debate? How many social programs do these pro-potential life folks support? How many are the same teabagging asshats that scream about welfare or medicaid? The fact is every year embryos are destroyed. If they truly were against the destruction of embryos they would say that IVF should be illegal - but THAT would be very unpopular, so like the fetus before - now it continues to the snowflakes.

Potential vs. Actual

Obama the Muslim? *Sigh*

A new national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that nearly one-in-five Americans (18%) now say Obama is a Muslim, up from 11% in March 2009. Only about one-third of adults (34%) say Obama is a Christian, down sharply from 48% in 2009. Fully 43% say they do not know what Obama’s religion is.

So let me interpret this for you. 1 in 5 people that answered this survey are morons. They believe Muslim = Bad Christian = Good
Obviously, Obama must be a Muslim because he feels that people of all faiths or no faith deserve respect and he doesn't believe that being a Muslim is the same as being a terrorist. This is yet another strategy to make an "Other" of the President. (See last blog about Rep. King's comments)

The last guy was someone everyone wanted to have a beer with - keep in mind where that got us.

Here's the truth:
1) Religious tests for elected office are UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
2) The correct answer to the question: What religion does Obama follow?
IT DOESN'T MATTER!
3) The people of this country should be ashamed of themselves.

We are becoming a nation of religious bigots. While there has been so much progress in the realm of race, gender and sexual orientation (although a lot of work remains in all of these areas) - we are becoming more entrenched in our attitudes about religion. How many of these same survey respondents think "terrorist" when the word Muslim is mentioned? I would bet a good number - they don't think neighbor, doctor, friend, family...they think enemy. How sad. How is it that a small number of radical adherents have defined a religion for us? Somewhere around 1.5 BILLION people on this rock are Muslims, yet so many people define them based on the actions of a relative few.

How would Christians like it if we decided all Christians are child molesters because of the actions of a few priests (okay maybe a lot of priests) and some breakaway Mormon sects?


Now repeat after me:
"The United States is a SECULAR nation! The United States is a SECULAR nation!"

Obama the Muslim? *Sigh*

American Experience....

King Panders To Town Hall Bigots: Obama’s ‘A Marxist’ Who ‘Doesn’t Have An AmericanExperience’

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

"However, when a nearby constituent called President Obama not just a “Marxist,” but a “Muslim Marxist,” King tacitly agreed. King went further, pandering to the town hall attendee and repeatedly saying that Obama “does not have an American experience”:

KING: I’ve just started to think about what we need to do and I have made this argument for a long time now that I am in the business of seeking to embarrass the administration into enforcing the law, particularly with regard to immigration.

BYSTANDING CONSTITUENT: He won’t do that. He’s a Marxist! He’s a Muslim Marxist.

KING: He’s at least a Marxist. And he surely understands the Muslim culture.

CONSTITUENT: He surely does. That’s where he grew up with, that’s his culture.

KING: He doesn’t have an American experience. He does not have an American experience.

CONSTITUENT: He didn’t grow up in America.

KING: Mmhmm."

The thing is...Barack Obama's experience IS uniquely American. Much more so than his rich, legacy predecessor. How many of us were products of "broken"***homes? How many of us were raised with the help of our grandparents? How many of us were exposed to different faith traditions on our paths to adulthood? The correct answer is more than most people know. Is it the fact that Obama lived overseas that makes his experience less American? If his step-father had been a Christian missionary - would it be okay with you Rep. King? (His step-dad worked as a government liaison for Mobil - by the way - good 'ol Oil...).

And for the record....I wish Obama was half the "Marxist" they claim he is. Oh and that he "understands Muslim culture" is a GOOD thing.

***Broken homes...I really HATE that expression. For many of us - the best thing our parents ever did - was separate.

American Experience....

Empire Ave

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Empire Ave

The Hypocrisy of Sarah

So, let me get this straight...

Sarah "Fear the Death Panels" Palin's own grandson uses *gasp* socialized medicine.

And guess what - Sarah's entire family (minus herself) would qualify for it. You see, Todd Palin comes from Native Alaskan stock, meaning that up to a certain point his progeny are entitled to health benefits provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Now, let me be absolutely clear - I do not begrudge the Palin children their entitlement - I do however have serious problems with a woman that will bad mouth the Government teat, while her grandson is feeding on it.

Our health care system is an unequal, unfair mess...people like Sarah Palin do not help this. Like many other decisions Queen Sarah has made, she doesn't want to grant the peasants the same opportunity. Sarah never has to worry about money for medication for Willow or occupational therapy for Trig, partially because of her mega-book deal and her shady dealings as an elected official, but also because her children were born into a system with a safety net - we all should be so lucky.

The Hypocrisy of Sarah

The Trouble with Tebow

The Super Bowl is a time for cheesy, silly often stupid commercials interrupted by generally a marginal football game. Don't get me wrong - anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a huge football fan. Usually the Super Bowl is a let down - that's just the way it works out.

Unfortunately, it seems the conservative evangelical group Focus on the Family feels the need to interrupt a mindless day of sports and junk food consumption with an ad about Tim Tebow and his family.

Here's the story in a nutshell - Tim Tebow's family were missionaries in the Philippines, Mrs. Tebow got very ill and even slipped into a coma. The medications that were administered caused pregnancy complications and could have caused fetal defects. According to Mrs. Tebow - she was told that an abortion might be the best way to proceed. Because of her faith, abortion was not an option for her - she "chose" life. That's where it gets sticky - the truth is abortion is, was and has been illegal for a VERY long time in the Philippines, just suggesting one put the doctor at risk. He could have been imprisoned for actually administering a therapeutic abortion. Whether or not the details of the Tebow story are made to seem more "pro-life" than they really are - is up for the reader to decide.

My "right to life" supersedes anything that might reside in my body, until I DECIDE IT DOESN'T. If I decide to risk my life to continue a pregnancy that is my decision - however, to make that decision in an environment where abortion is illegal or within a religious community that condemns abortion as evil - really makes it a false choice. The truth is from Mrs. Tebow's mindset - she had no true choice at all.

The Trouble with Tebow

My Weekend of Activism

As those of you that read this blog are aware, an assassination took place in my community a week ago today.  Like many I have sat on the sidelines and watched as our rights have been eroded.  Bill after bill has been passed restricting abortion.  Pharmacists refused to fill valid prescriptions.  Clinic after clinic has closed.  Doctor after doctor has been vilified and harassed.  Our lone clinic in this area is now closed because a zealot decided to execute Dr. George Tiller.  Let me be clear for my readers that might not get it.  I see no difference in what Scott Roeder allegedly did and what the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah or Hamas do.  There is NO moral justification for this crime.  This type of fanaticism is unacceptable no matter which religion’s brand is on it. 

In a statement to the Associated Press today, alleged assassin Scott Roeder claimed "I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal," Roeder said. He would not elaborate.”  That is terrorism my friends.

On Friday, the Kansas chapter of the National Organization for Women organized Speak Out: a Community Discussion on Choice.  State board members from Kansas NOW, Attorney Pedro Irigonegaray and Attorney Gloria Allred participated.

Ms. Allred felt the need to be here in Wichita after hearing of the “horrific assassination of Dr. Tiller”.  Having been forced to endure a pre-Roe illegal abortion – and almost dying from it.   Ms. Allred is acutely aware of what is at stake.  She was very nice, by the way (I even got my picture taken with her). Many there  just wanted to know – what do we do now?  And many of us are still trying to figure that out.

Saturday was Dr. Tiller’s funeral – I arrived at the church at 8:30 a.m. thinking that a hour and a half before would be enough – but the parking lot was already nearly full.  Members of the American Legion Riders (many of whom are also part of the Patriot Guard) were already there with their motorcycles and their American Flags.  When word spread that Fred Phelps and his band of morons would be making an appearance and out of fear that other groups might choose to disrupt the service – KS NOW organized a “Martyr Guard” to protect the friends and family of Dr. Tiller.  Nearly 100 of us stood at the curb attempting to shield them as much as we could from those driving by with a bible out the window, the press and protesters.  ******EDIT:  I should say that people came from Iowa, Colorado and New York to take part in the forum, as well as stand in the Martyr Guard with us.

Luckily, the service was not disrupted, the press while pushy was not particularly bad – and Phelps cult was relegated to a corner about a block or so away.  I have only seen that many security personnel in one place before and that was the Democratic convention in 2004 – they were everywhere.  And it’s sad that they had to be.

I guess what I take from this weekend is that those of us that value our reproductive rights have a responsibility to step up and fight for them. 

Here are some statistics that I bet you didn’t know: (emphasis added – info is global in nature not just U.S.)

World Health Organization research shows that abortion rates are consistent regardless of prohibitive law, and demonstrates that where the procedure is illegal, women turn to unsafe means. Women in lower income brackets, who cannot afford the high prices of underground providers, or the travel costs to countries where abortion is legal, are especially vulnerable.

Complications due to these unsafe methods - for example inserting coat hangers into the uterus or drinking turpentine - cause upwards of 67,000 deaths and 5 million hospitalizations, and orphan a quarter-million children, every year. These statistics suggest that the global abortion debate is not about whether or not abortions happen; it is about whether or not they happen safely.

My Weekend of Activism