mamagotcha (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mamagotcha) wrote2006-10-28 03:41 am
mamagotcha) wrote2006-10-28 03:41 am
Sometimes I REALLY hate living in Kansas City
So Missouri is due to vote on Amendment 2, which would support stem cell research in Missouri. A lot of good people are behind it.
And a lot of well-meaning but misinformed, or just plain stupid, folks are against it.
And those folks, who think that an amendment whose definition goes like this: "No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being" means that all scientists are trying to clone humans in their labs, have been holding rallies and prayer vigils and protests outside the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The place my husband works. The place that is trying to solve biological mysteries that will eventually allow a better understanding of where and why cancer strikes. The place where NO CLONING ever has happened, is happening now, or ever will happen.
We drive by and holler things like "Save the tumors!" and "Every sperm is sacred!" but it doesn't matter. These idiots are blind. They follow where their pastor tells them to go. They cannot think for themselves... they are told that stem cell research is equal to murdering pretty little babies in their cribs, and they believe it with all their hearts.
This state is chock-full of people like this. Our only hope seems to be the fact that Rush Limbaugh really IS a big, fat idiot. His gaffe seems to have pushed the Dem candidate, Claire McCaskill, in the polls, perhaps just far enough to tip the scales in her favor.
But after driving across Missouri, I'm not sure that even Rush's goof will do the trick. Bush's pet, Jim Talent, still has a LOT of support across the state.
And that's not all... this will be the ninth time a light rail intitiative has made the ballot. It will be the ninth time this city turns down the opportunity to begin creating a usable mass transit system.
It's certainly not a given that this state will raise minimum wage to $6.50 from $5.15.
There are a few people here I truly have enjoyed meeting. There are a few places here I'm honestly glad to have spent time in. But I cannot wait to get the hell out of this town. This is not a healthy place to be.
I'm getting more and more excited every time I think that, by this time next year, I could be in a new house, in a new city, back on the west coast, where intelligence and integrity reign over religious zealotry and mute devotion.
But I don't know how I'm going to get through the next two weeks.
And a lot of well-meaning but misinformed, or just plain stupid, folks are against it.
And those folks, who think that an amendment whose definition goes like this: "No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being" means that all scientists are trying to clone humans in their labs, have been holding rallies and prayer vigils and protests outside the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The place my husband works. The place that is trying to solve biological mysteries that will eventually allow a better understanding of where and why cancer strikes. The place where NO CLONING ever has happened, is happening now, or ever will happen.
We drive by and holler things like "Save the tumors!" and "Every sperm is sacred!" but it doesn't matter. These idiots are blind. They follow where their pastor tells them to go. They cannot think for themselves... they are told that stem cell research is equal to murdering pretty little babies in their cribs, and they believe it with all their hearts.
This state is chock-full of people like this. Our only hope seems to be the fact that Rush Limbaugh really IS a big, fat idiot. His gaffe seems to have pushed the Dem candidate, Claire McCaskill, in the polls, perhaps just far enough to tip the scales in her favor.
But after driving across Missouri, I'm not sure that even Rush's goof will do the trick. Bush's pet, Jim Talent, still has a LOT of support across the state.
And that's not all... this will be the ninth time a light rail intitiative has made the ballot. It will be the ninth time this city turns down the opportunity to begin creating a usable mass transit system.
It's certainly not a given that this state will raise minimum wage to $6.50 from $5.15.
There are a few people here I truly have enjoyed meeting. There are a few places here I'm honestly glad to have spent time in. But I cannot wait to get the hell out of this town. This is not a healthy place to be.
I'm getting more and more excited every time I think that, by this time next year, I could be in a new house, in a new city, back on the west coast, where intelligence and integrity reign over religious zealotry and mute devotion.
But I don't know how I'm going to get through the next two weeks.
no subject
At least you can look forward to escaping... So soon? I thought we would have you for another year!
no subject
...I guess that´s the bright side of it. =)
no subject
Seriously, next year? That is great news.
Yeah...the next two weeks is not when any useful dialogue could possibly happen between the two sides. Good luck keeping your fingers in your ears.