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From: pell@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Anthony Pelletier)
Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.bio
Subject: Re: animal research
Message-ID: <6424@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 7 Feb 89 01:00:58 GMT
References: <614@orbit.UUCP> <6409@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU
Reply-To: pell@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Anthony Pelletier)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Lines: 41

>
In article <6409@boulder.Colorado.EDU>  I wrote:

>Just a silly anectdote.
and then...
>
>But, if they (animal-rights activists) had won a while back, it would
>be the parents of children who died of small pox and polio now sitting in
>judgement. 

I should have checked my facts.  I am informed by Sean Eddy that the smallpox
vaccine was developed without animal research (unless you count a small child
as an animal).  Leave it to me to pick the one disease for which the researcher
did not use animal research.

I think this whole thing boils down to differences in ethical/moral priorities.
I consider my position well thought-out.  All living things depend on death
in some way to survive.  The mystic in me finds that appealing.  All animal
kill other things (plants or animals--why are plants always considered inferior
life forms?  Don't give me the "they-don't-feel-pain" argument.  Neither could
Karren-Anne Quinlin but I doubt you would want to have chowed down on her).
All living things have intrinsic value that extends beyond inteligence or
even a complex nerve network; but all animals must kill something to live.
Also, all animals will take advantage of other animals to improve their own
lot in life simply because they can.
Humans play unwilling prey for a number of viruses and bacteria that survive
at the expense of human life.  We fight to prevent the deaths, but we don't feel
especially picked-on because of it--all things are prey to something.  

Killing for food is different from killing for medical research, you say?
Why?   Both attempt to extend your own life.  This is nit-picking.
It is either okay to kill for your own benefit or it is not.  If it is not
okay for you, you will die really soon.

This is my response to the extremists who want all research involving animals
stopped.  Of course, it will not convince any of them.
For those who recognize the complexity of this issue and would like to minimize
pain and suffering, let's continue to talk about regualtion and checks.
There is alot of grey area that needs to be considered thoughtfully.

-tony