Monday, June 10, 2002 - The Michigan Daily - 5 VIEWPOINT Did Sharon have it right? Slashing divides into the bioethics debate ZAC PESKOWITZ TiH LOWER FRE)QNCIES In th largest years, n been ra negotiat human ri issues of cussed in esting to the medi been lar that has a detailt cesses an of Opera discussic warrante siderabl Israel fac commun effort an tion nect why the sive Shi addresse will lead conclude we do n Sharon N are used nate, the warmon can't ad Sharon's months, tional lot tions, ha both mili fronm operatin fled site arrest hu also dest terrorist seizing While Is out that I inate all moation complex ment of mention t Operatio ago the well as s has decr siice the ago. It al 277 attei Israel su third of March. A considere Defensiv Many analysis, tion suff the milit future te persuasiv the situ largely in cesses g campaig high leve fature. A cess Israi politica adopted toward te Operation Defensive Shield. For the BY DAviD Livsiz first time, moderate Arab states have stopped inciting violence. In fact, in he aftermath of Israel's the past month the government military operation in 20 sponsored newspapers of both Egypt umerous questions have and Saudi Arabia (which until ited. As expected future recently raised money for families ions, peace conferences, of suicide bombers) that have edito- ights, as well as many other rialized about the teed to immedi- importance have been dis- ately stop Palestinian terrorism - n the media. What is inter- something that would have been note is what has escaped unthinkable before the operation. a's radar and has therefore Without incitement from the Arab gely overlooked. A topic world, it is unlikely that Palestinians been especially neglected is will remain committed to the path of ed analysis of Israeli suc- terror as they have heen in the past. nd failures in the aftermath Arother example if political tion Defensive Shield. This success obtained by Israel as a result an would seem especially of the operation is that there is final- d in light of hoth the con-tly a chance for democratic reform in e adount of criticism that the Palestinian Authority - some- icd from the international thing that until recently was consid- d as well as the amomit of ered impossible. Israel's military d resources that the opera- success seems to have convinced ritated. A possihle reason ordinary Palestinians of the futility results of Operation Dfen- of armed resistance and the need for eld have not heis widely negotiations, an assertion that is most reasonahle people to siupported by recent polls produced sten that as a society by Palestitian researchers. Closely 'something thatdmit: Aiey related to the rapidly decreasing tot wagt.tA admit: Ariel support for terrorism are the ever- ad it right. As a society we inresig emnands for deirtocrati- to viewing Sharon as obsti- iscreasig d "barrier to peace," and a zation and reform inside the PA. rger t- maybe we simply These calls for reform have resulted mnit the simple fact that in a reshuffling of the Palestinian policies over the past two cabinet, as well as new elections while defying both conven- that will likely be held within the gic and reasonable expecta- ext six months. Moreover, now that ve proven to be a success both the United States and Europe tarily and politically. understand that a fundamental the military standpoint, the reform itt the IA is necessaty for nproved to he ati unqtiali- future negotiatitons to succeed, it is ccxx. Not only did Israel unlikely that Arafat will be able to indreds of terrorists, but it postpone elections indefinitely. rayed the infrastructure that Since it is likely that new elections groups need to thrive, while will produce a more moderate Pales- large quantities of arms. tinian leadership, it is likely that raes critics correctly point they will result it less terrorism and srael's actions did not elim- more compromise making peace acts of terrorism, this infor- more likely. is only a part of a more Let me be clear d I do not always story. This crude assess. support Israel s mlitary iitiatives . Israeli actions neglects to Sometimes they are reactionary and that since the conclusion of counterproductive. But the operation n Defensive Shield a month was not one of these. This operation numbers of attempted (as had clear strategic goals designed to uccessful) terrorist attacks reduce the level of violence and cre- 'eased to its lowest point ate a climate suitable for negotia- Intifada began 21 months tions, Both of which it achieved. As so fails to mention that the German Foreign Minister ixoschka tipted terrorist attacks that Fischer recently noted: By substan- ffered in May are not even a tial reducing terrorism, Operation what it faced as recently as Defensive Shield created an oppor- hnd when these factors are tunity for a negotiated settlement to ed, the success of Operation the conflict, something that was oth- e Shield becomes clear. erwise unlikely. y might challenge this Considering the fact that terror- arguing that the hunilia- ism is down, the Arab world is final- ered by Palestinians during ly taking action to eliminate the ary action in April makes terror incitement that it produces rrorist acts likely. While and European diplomats are praising ve at first, this analysis of Israeli actions as those that bring the ation is incomplete and two sides closer to peace, it seems ncorrect. The political suc- obvious that Operation Defensive ained by Israel during the Shield was a success. And if it is, n reduce the likelihood of then we should admit something that Is of terrorist activity in the we should have admitted long ago: good example of the suc- This time Ariel Sharon had it right. ith one bill currently before the Senate and another that is nearly finished being drafted, many Americans may think that the problems of human cloning and ' bioengineering are enduring careful scrutiny from the Bill. The two bills, Brownback-Landrieu and Feinstein-Kennedy, would both ban human oning, but Feinstein-Kennedy would per- mit therapeutic cloning research to contin- ue. While the bills only tackle a very specific concern, it is clear that the passage of either bill will satisfy few and continue the expansion of the burgeoning rift on all issues related to bioethics. The stringent debate on this issue illus- trates that the forthcoming developments in genetics will only generate more con- tention and misunderstandings. While many caricaturize the opponents of cloning and genetic engineering as inhumane reac- tionaries, many of the arguments that undergird their position reflect a respect for the uniqueness of humanity and the sovereignty of the individual. Simultane- ously, humans are faced with another threat to their humanity: The suppression of the creative instinct. It is clear that there are two ways that humans can irreparably lose their humanity through either permit- ting or restricting genetic engineering: Changing ourselves through objectifica- tion and shying away from scientific dis- covery. Although the possibility of human cloning is almost universally unpalatable and creates visceral opposition across the political spectrum, genetic enhancement does not generate similar revulsion. Instead, many believe that. increasing human mental capacities, physical abilities and extending the human life span will be only a boon for humaity. However, genet- ic enhancement does not exist to heal the ill, a trait indicative of human compassion, but exists to improve our species. Unlike compassion, the desire to improve and per- fect future generations is misplaced. The desire to enhance human traits turns offspring into a product to improve society. The specifically produced skills and abilities of the genetically enhanced child will become the sole values through which they are judged. The child would exist not for itself, but in servitude to both parental and societal goals. I fear that as this technology become feasible and peo- ple begin to accept it, these concerns will varnish. U.S. society's adherence to utilitar- ianism will make these concerns appear inconsequential when confronted with the possibility of human "progress." Another cause for concern is that parents will select the traits for their children that are culturally acceptable. As political econo- m1ist Francis Fukuyama argues, very few if any parents would choose homosexual children or children with aggressive behavior. The elimination of these and other traits would create a stagnant society unable to dynamically respond to its chal- lenges and will limit creativity. While these are a few of the corn- pelling arguments against genetic enhance- msent, there are reasons to reject this rea- soning. Isn't the reorganization and ultimate perfection of humanity the ulti- mate end of our species? Shouldn't humans continue to persist in their efforts to break the bonds of mortality? No matter how an individual judges these concerns, government cannot simply stifle this influ- ence and hope it will vanish. The scientific pursuit is what has defined our species. If legislation is passed in this nation to prevent cloning or genetic enhancement, research will inevitably move to another country. The insuppresability of human curiosity assures this. While legislation may delay the development of these tech- nologies, society will eventually confront the awesome brunt of these possibilities. As a society, we need to collectively assess these values and broaden this novel debate. It will require a vigorous assess- ment of our present values, the goals of society and the uniqueness of the human organism. This is a debate that cannot be pigeonholed into the stale and increas- ingly useless Left-Right paradigm. Lib- eral opponents of genetically modified food products and pro-lifers are often on the same side of the debate, while lais- sez-faire proponents of free markets and libertarians oppose them. The questions are too complex, too subtle and far too important to be represented by plodding and static ideology. Zac Peskow'itz can be reached at - apsk i'ife/msxnich.ea. The unpopular plght of the Lithuanian people L U K E S M I TH C ix i s I SN :m E V IF .y ..AN D risis in the plights of nations less savory in the broad- horrendous Lithuanian national team. Holy L and cast and print journalistic dust. My people are being discriminated heating up! That ends now. against by being marginalized in the texsxcns boil between The unfortunately ignored nation of FIFA rankings. Israel and Palestine! Lithuania - ty fatherland. sty home, my Further, does the world market hold uedlines like these saving grace has weighed on my- soul for somaxething against countries that start with have graced the U.S. almost two years now. Since my grandpar- the letter I as in the cases of Lithuania media for months eats on my mother's side came over fleeing and Lebanon? Am I going to be discrimi- ow, even longer on- te heartland our family, our clan has been ated against doubly in life because my and-off. But, ex yxst steeped in Lithuanian culture. The food of name starts with an ss Uh and I'm L.ithuan- 9/1 1- America has become decidedly Lithuania, I sosure tastes wonderful, it is ian? Questions like this have been racing more interested in all matters in the Middle like the mead and nectar of the gods Iam through m xmind as I've watched the East, wondering how much, if at all, the sure. My blood bleeds the colors of the unpopular plight of the Lithuanians be events in the Holy Land will reach their uIxithuanianf 1ag, whatever, in fact those col overlooked on a global scale. Even now, soil. And there is no doubt the mss media ors are, for I have not been privy to the for- the United States is contemplating ship- will be these to cover the events. And tune of gazing upon its tremendous visage ping '500 million to Africa to help them inevitably over-cover thei. in my 21 years. But I hope to go there, out with some stuff Why not ship some of The popularization of certain plights of when it is safe. For every terrible instant that fat cat of cash to Lithuania so they specific groups occurs as a direct result of and inoculation of horror that occurs in can buy themselves a soccer team and. media-related propaganda making larger Lithuania feels like one of my limbs is global respectability? news stories out of events than they truly being torn off and dragged behind a raging Palestine and Israel's plight may not are. In-depth coverage of certain events stallion. My Lithuanian colored blood be bringing them World Cup champi- inevitably excludes other notable events and stains the ground as my arm is towed by a onships or incredible ratings in the digital situations. The Coalition to Defend Affir- wild steed. Oh, the stains and horror. garming emporium, but it is bringing them mative Action and Fight for Equality By The crisis in Lithuania first came to ink and plenty oit. Any Means Necessary truly deserves no my attuned senses in the Fall of 2000, Now is the time to champion a new more press than anything else, yet through and the burden has been resting on my cause, the cause of the Lithuanians, the constant whining, complaining and heart heavily since then, squeezing at my cry of a nation whose FIFA team managed bemoaning, they find themselves being soul. While playing FIFA 2001 by EA a paltry 0-6-2 record in the World Cup written about often. Too often. Similarly, Sports, I naturally gravitated toward my qualifying season. Raise your arms and the level of crisis occurring in the Holy home people, the Lithuanian national praise the glorious colors of the Lithuan- Land leads to its own overexposure destroy- team, only to find that they (along with ian flag and feel the mercurial beating of ing the plights of other countries deemed Lebanon) were rated horribly. In fact, the heart of a nation and a plight less than not as important' by the powers that be. Lithuania and Lebanon were the two popular. And so the plight of the Palestinian people lowest ranking teams in FIFA 2001. Even Follow me, follow me to freedom! gets popularized, much like the beguiled after I had created Grandpa Rasikas to be moaning of BAMN locally and exposure the Lithuanian team's star mid-fielder, Lukeulih ccxx heruechedut increases to a frenzied pitch, leaving true there was still no hope for the dastardly lukems~um(riiich.edu. el was able to achieve in the I arena are the attitudes by various Arab states rrorism in the aftermath of I irvhiz is a fitiucersit ehaum u mdrnceen/ir Of'isxiran. Movuenment /ior-[vsxael.