Frankenstein

“Scientists who wish to create stem cells by cloning might have a new source of succor: the U.S. Constitution.” Brian Alexander displayed plenty of evidence that this may be true in his article, “Free to Clone”, but can that really be possible? Does the United States Constitution really protect the right to research and experiment things such as cloning and unusual technology? Whether these brilliant people can prove it or not, cloning is tinkering with nature and can only lead to trouble, as we all learned from Victor in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

The First Amendment discusses religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. There is not even a hint of the exact words research, experimentation, or science. People in Alexander’s article obviously dug deeper, but to the average eye there is no sign of protection. Haven’t these people ever heard of Victor Frankenstein? Hasn’t his story (whether it is fiction or not) made them think twice about cloning, let alone fighting the Constitution for it? “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Shelley). There is no better advice to these scientists than that other than predicting the future itself. However, according to Alexander, cloning is not a danger to public health or security, so there is nothing to worry about. Nothing to worry about? Frankenstein’s creature directly and indirectly killed everyone that mattered to Victor, and even an innocent little girl. The creature ends up becoming smarter than Victor in a way; outsmarting his creator with strategies to make him miserable. Yes, this is a fictional story, but don’t you think Shelley’s purpose was to give a warning as to what could happen when people are too curious? Even movies today give warnings. The recent “I Am Legend” is about how a so-called cure for cancer ends up creating a new disease and wiping out almost the entire population of the world. And as crazy as it sounds, even Star Wars warns us that clones may not be the best idea out there. Maybe the world just is not ready for some things yet.

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