"S. Lerner" wrote:
>
> Of possible interest to FWers....
>
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Subject: (Fwd) Techno-Eugenics Email List newsletter #3
> >Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 07:39:05 -0800
> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >X-Loop: 700000438
> >
> >Hi - thought this might be of interest to you. to subscribe send a
> >message to marcy (bottom of newsletter).
> >
> >mike
[snip]
> > "We cannot find our humanity in our genes. But because
> > of the increasing progress in genetic diagnostics and
> > manipulation, we will increasingly confront genetic
> > questions and problems that *challenge* our humanity."
[snip]
No doubt it is true that genetic engineering -- especially
under conditions of late-capitalism, will create
many not just problems, but straightforward
injury and harm. But I fail to see where
the pre- diagnosed/manipulated genes that cause
hemophilia, various cancers, cystic fibrosis [what's
the point: there are so *many* of them!!!] *enhance*
anybody's humanity, except on the
"conservative" only-torture-builds-
strong-characters-12-ways-and/or-enables-you-to-
go-to-heaven-or-at-least-be-certified-by-your-
society-of-origin-as-a-hero ideology.
I think we
need to keep always in mind that, as Stephen Jay Gould said:
Nature is in love with the *idea* of the individual,
*not* with particular individuals. *You* are the
indifference -- except insofar as you pass your genes on
to the next round of indifferences (and Nature doesn't
even care about that, really, since it is not
intentional being and so doesn't care, *period*).
Only persons (and
perhaps higher animals, ETs, etc.) can *care* about
anything, although, of course, much human activity
it hurtful to people (the kind of care a stalker has for
his victim, e.g., is still *care* of *a* sort...).
Perhaps one day we will be able to find humanity in our
genes: when children are born who will discover that
all the impediments to their possibility for fullest
elaboration of their potential have been engineered
out of their genome by not just affectively, but
also *effectively* loving parents.
We cannot find humanity in our genes because
we did not create them....
Etc.
\brad mccormick
--
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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