Last December, the world's first "test-tube" baby gave birth to her first child, and it barely rated a mention. Stark contrast to when she herself was born.
Church groups were outraged. "It's the Devil's work!" they cried. The Pope disapproved, saying it was interfering in God's creation. Moralists denounced the process as "men trying to be God". Experts started popping up like mushrooms on TV news and talk shows, each with their own idea, and agenda. And the medical team who were responsibile for the whole thing were confronted by jostling, screaming, rampaging hordes (A.K.A. the media).
Much the same is going on now, with the cloning of stem cells. All the naysayers are pronouncing the beginning of our slide into condemnation. The church groups are as loud as ever. All focusing on the negative aspects, overshadowing the positive.
Sure, the potential is there for the procedure to be abused, but that's true of everything. Millions of people drive cars, and there will always be drivers who do the wrong thing and end up destroying lives. That's why we have laws to prevent these things, and to deal with the offenders if it happens. As long as we remain aware of this potential, there will be those who will continue to keep close scrutiny in order to prevent it.
Today, there are tens of thousands of test-tube babies living ordinary lives. We, as a society, have accepted them as part of the pardigm. Now, more than fifty percent of American couples would be willing to use the IVF program if they weren't able to conceive naturally. Yes, there have been some unlawful practises, but the appropriate checks and balances are in place.
And, on a personal note, I'd like to think that all those babies have been raised in a loving, nuturing home; simply by the fact their parents went to so much trouble to have them.
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