I'm probably as fickle as your average teenage girl. I change my mind about as often as I change my clothes (that being about 4 times a day). That's why it's truly remarkable that I have been steadfastly pro-life since I was thirteen. Myriad times I have found myself the sole female voicing opposition to the almighty right_to_choose. It's doubtful I will ever support abortion. Abortion is murder.

Surprise, therefore, is reasonable when I proclaim my complete support for federally funded stem cell research.

Yeah, yeah. It's the overdebated issue of the month. You've probably heard the various pros and cons multiple times over; I have no intention of repeating them. In fact, I've managed to (over)simplify the debate to one basic issue because, quite frankly, I don't have the mental capacity to deal with a multi-faceted argument.

So here's the thing: the stem cell research issue is practically independent of the whole when-does-life-begin debate because funding it would not require us to kill something that would otherwise live. One of the most promising sources of stem cells is the invetro fertilization industry-one that throws away a significant portion of the life it creates.

I should clarify. I certainly don't support farming cells-humans-for research, no matter how many lives it could save, lengthen, improve, whatever. On the contrary, if we're just rinsing them down the drain anyway, why not instead use them for something that could potentially save, lengthen, or improve lives of those already living.

Or if I want to be trite, stem cell research is the silver lining of an immoral practice. Life that would otherwise be disposed could contribute to the ***greater good***.

It's so simple.