EMBRYO: Life is worth defending

On Aug. 19, Cecil Kelly concluded that, because a gestating human embryo may share certain physical characteristics with animals, it is a “potential” or “future” human. Following his train of thought to its ultimate conclusion leads to an illogical result: Because a newborn’s knee joints are similar to a chimp’s, is he still a “potential” human, thus not a life a civilized society should protect?

Since the brain of a person under 22 years old is still not fully developed, does she remain a “future” human, whose right to live has not yet matured? Mr. Kelly, please state when a woman gave birth to a toad, a kangaroo or a dolphin.

Women bear human babies. At the earliest stages of development, these babies rely on persons other than themselves for safety, food and shelter and later, love and care. Indeed, as we all develop, we rely on others’ care and support to become fully mature, fully alive and the best versions of ourselves.

None of us has the moral right, regardless of the state of the law, to deny another human’s basic right to live. Denying that a human embryo is human makes it easy to see it as an inconvenience to be removed. This reduces our own humanity and allows lies to prevail over truth. Life, all life, is precious. Recognizing our own humanity, and our interdependence, should compel us to defend and nurture every human life.

SHAWN GLEN

Hayden