Controversy Over Human Cloning

Re “Clinton Urges Quick Ban on Human Cloning,” Jan. 11:

“If God had meant us to fly, he would have given us wings.” How often has this simple argument been used to hold humanity down? Of course the argument is flawed in its reasoning, and a better statement would be, “If God had meant us to remain ignorant, he wouldn’t have given us minds.”

All throughout history, religious and static thinkers have condemned advances in human knowledge through science as evil and immoral. However, once the new knowledge is studied, often in secrecy due to threats of persecution, and understood, it becomes accepted and even praised as it inevitably betters the human condition and leads to many unintended benefits.

Physicist Richard Seed should be applauded and encouraged as he plans to go forward with human cloning. We must study and learn in order to grow in human knowledge. After all, this is why God gave us minds.

MATTHEW WELKLEY

Los Angeles

* Morality issues aside, cloning humans is an irresponsible idea for one very significant reason: The planet we live on is already grossly overpopulated. Millions of people are starving in India, Africa and other nations, while homeless people abound all over the world.

If we begin cloning humans, where are we going to put them and how are we going to support them?

Perhaps scientists like Seed should heed the warning of science fiction and read Philip K. Dick’s opus, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (better known on film as “Blade Runner”). Dick’s futuristic vision of a world in which humans replicate themselves in the form of androids is a nightmare of epic proportions indeed.

VALERIE E. WEICH

Pasadena

* The Rev. Robert Schuller sends a mixed message. As his Jan. 11 commentary sets out in opposition toward scientists who “set up shop” for cloning, this reader expected a warning that the clone would not have a soul. Soon reassurance came--to the relief of all, I’m sure--that “you cannot inseminate . . . the ‘soul.’ ” So, if cloning will only produce the less-important body, does that mean cloning is OK, since the cloned body will have an uncloned soul, and thus possess what really matters?

JIM HOOD

Camarillo