Letters to the Editor

This is a brief response to the "Human Rights for All" advertisement published on Tuesday, which opposes embryonic stem cell research. There is nearly universal agreement among scientists that embryonic stem cell research holds promise for understanding and remedying, if not curing, such illnesses as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, MS, ALS, spinal cord injury, and some forms of cancer and heart disease. This research is ethical and merits our support.

Opponents of this research argue that "Human life begins at conception." Strictly speaking, they're right. A five-day old embryo is human (it belongs to the human species) and is alive, hence it is "human life." In fact, any cell in our bodies is "human life." It is appropriate, however, that we distinguish between human life, on the one hand, and personhood on the other.

A 5-day old embryo (which scientists call a "blastocyst"), invisible to the naked eye, is not a person, any more than an acorn is an oak tree. And it is to persons that we have ethical obligations and attribute a right to life. Let us note as well that, as a matter of natural course, something like half of fertilized eggs conceived in a woman's body do not implant in her uterus and die a natural death.

If we viewed all of these eggs as persons with a sacred right to life, we would be ethically obligated to do what we can to "rescue" them by ensuring that they do implant. And we find that pretty implausible.

Moreover, there exists a quite unobjectionable source of embryonic stem cells for research purposes. Several hundred thousand excess embryos are stored in our nation's IVF clinic freezers. Many of these embryos are of no use to the couples who own them, and are slated to be thrown away. A humane alternative is to use them to provide embryonic stem cells for biomedical inquiry.

Raymond Barglow

UC Berkeley alumnus

International World Does Not Respect Bush

I am not American, nor do I live in America. But having lived in America for 5 years, I know that it ought to be respected and appreciated in the world. Polls released last week couldn't be clearer. Even in ally countries Australia, Britain, Japan and South Korea, a majority share contempt for the Bush administration. More than 60 percent of British polled say they do not like Mr. Bush. In South Korea, where the U.S. fall in the hearts and minds started with George Bush's presidency, 72 percent have negative feelings towards Bush. Bush might be a great leader for Americans, but when it comes to dealing with the world, he is a disaster.

Of course, American elections should not be a popularity contest abroad. But when one of America's main problems, terrorism, comes from the outside world, it is irresponsible to stay blind to the world.

I understand that you don't want to be told by the world how to vote. Don't do it for us. Do it for you. You can not be safe if you only have enemies. There is a smarter way to be tough, resolved, and to protect your country. You deserve to be respected, appreciated and safe. It will never happen under George Bush.

Nicolas Sauveur

Liege, Belgium

Support Berkeley Libraries

The Berkeley Public Library is at a crossroads, and as a Berkeley voter, your vote on Measure L will determine what kind of library our community has.

Here's the background: The Berkeley Public Library is funded by a parcel tax established in 1980 after Berkeleyans experienced continuing and severe cuts to library services, then financed by the City's General Fund. Now, no part of the City's General Fund finances library services, and no part of the library tax can be used in the General Fund. Only the parcel tax pays for library services, a system allowing Berkeley's library to be directly responsive to community needs.

Since 1980, the library has delivered award-winning teen and children's programs; Internet access for all; online databases that allow library access from home; and a literacy program that's taught hundreds of adults to read. Berkeley residents use the Tool Lending Library-the first in the country-love the reading programs and events, make the most of CDs, videos, and new novels, and constantly access the new online resources. Homebound users-seniors, the disabled, and the infirm-have the library brought to them through Outreach Services.

Daily, over 4,000 Berkeley residents walk through the doors of Berkeley's five libraries and receive friendly, helpful service. In a city with few certified school librarians, it is the public library that introduces Berkeley children to the world of books and helps them develop skills necessary to bridge the digital divide.

Conditions outside the library's control have prevented the continuation of this level of library services without a modest increase in the parcel tax.

In 2004 the Library Board cut $1.2 million from the library operating budget: staff took a 3 percent salary deferral, positions were frozen as they became vacant, and library hours were drastically reduced. Finally, 25 percent of the book budget was eliminated.

Vote for Measure L, which proposes a modest increase in the parcel tax, an annual $41 increase for an average residence. It restores the library's operating budget, returns library hours to their previous full schedule, including Sunday operation, at the downtown library and re-establishes a 100 percent book budget.

Dion Aroner

former California assemblymember

Jeffrey Shattuck Leiter

former Berkeley mayor

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