| Now that human cloning is close to being a reality, I think it is time we consider the possible impact that human cloning might have on society. Although we know that the Government has been involved in clowning research for decades, cloning is another matter. It is unlikely that the Government would have any serious interest in large scale cloning. However, considering the present political climate, it might be argued that cloning holds the only hope for the future of the Democratic Party.
Recently, President Clinton stated that he considered human cloning "immoral." While the President admitted that he didn't know much about cloning, it can be argued that the average politician doesn't know much about morality either. Of course lack of understanding of a subject has never prevented a politician from making moral judgments, and it is rather hard to consider someone who has turned the White House into a high priced "Motel 6" much of an authority on ethics. Perhaps Mr. Clinton should rethink his position. Having a clone would be a definite advantage to a politician who needs to cover his tracks. However, I do not consider it advisable to consider cloning Hillary.
Being a woman, I find the possibilities of cloning intriguing. Working mothers who cloned themselves would no longer be caught between the demands of family and career. We could truly "have it all," without the resulting stress. Just think of the fun we would have while keeping our family and friends in a constant state of confusion. "Oh, that wasn't me. That was
my clone."
There will of course need to be adequate safeguards. For this reason I believe that cloning technology should be regulated exclusively by women. The cloning of politicians, lawyers, and similar social undesirables would be prohibited, as would be the cloning of married men, especially Rush Limbaugh or Jesse Helms. It is bad enough that we have to put up with even one man who spends most of his time in uncivilized behavior such as watching football, refusing to help with the housework, or leaving the toilet seat up. The cloning of children, especially teenagers probably wouldn't generate much interest for reasons that should be obvious.
Very possibly there will be men who will object to placing the control of cloning into the hands of women. Yet I believe this is absolutely essential in order to establish and maintain a rational society. It doesn't take too much imagination to figure out what type of woman that most men would choose to replicate. For the sake of women everywhere we must take steps to insure the development of a truly egalitarian society, where women make up at least 75% of the population.
Some people believe that cloning will create a danger far worse than any Frankenstein's monster. Yet in the hands of women, cloning will usher in a glorious new age for humanity, we might even realize the age old dream of harnessing the male ego for peaceful purposes. |
