Moral Code: "Designer Babies"

            In the Upfront Magazine, “Designer Babies,” the author Patricia Smith talks about how scientists are learning how to genetically engineer babies’ traits and genes for both medical and social reasons. I think that medically this will be good for society because it will help prevent certain diseases that result from genetic defects. However, changing and determining babies’ more physical and personal traits (such as height, eye color, IQ, etc.) challenges my moral code, and I believe that it is unethical.

            The first reason that I think that this is unethical is because it would not be good for society. Eventually, if choosing babies’ traits became normal, there would not be any individuality anymore in society, and more and more people will feel that they have to look a certain way in order to be accepted. There would be no more flaws, or talent, or distinctive personalities. I think that, even though we may not love them, our flaws help to make up who we are. And even sometimes, we, ourselves, are the only ones that see certain flaws in ourselves. People determining what they think is “perfect,” and putting it into another human being is very wrong.

            The second reason that I disagree with this is because I believe that there is no “right” way for a person to look. It’s just a matter of people’s opinions. Social media portrays that the celebrities and models that you see in magazines are perfect; perfect hair, perfect personality, perfect look, and the perfect body. It tricks society into feeling that in order to be beautiful, we need to look a certain way. However, I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that no one look is perfect. In addition, I think that fate should decide what a person ends up looking like, and not us.

            In conclusion, genetically engineering a baby in order to give it desired physical or personal traits, goes against what I believe in. I think that people should be born naturally and that everyone has flaws. Even in a picture perfect world, there will still be flaws. I believe that as we grow up, we learn to embrace our flaws, and by changing them, society would be ruined.

            

Banning A Hated Word Response

In the article, “Should a Hated Word Be Banned?” Rabbi Dov Lipman says that “every country has to establish certain value-based limits” in her speech. My opinion on this controversy is that I do not agree.

            If every country were to establish value-based limits, it would take away freedom of speech. No matter how hated a word might be; banning it wouldn’t be a solution to the issue. For example, in the article it says, “The First Amendment protects freedom of expression even if the views expressed are extremely offensive to most people.” I believe that the First Amendment is correct and that freedom of speech should not be overlooked.

            Another reason I do not agree with Lipman’s statement is because everyone has different values/beliefs. For example, in the text Fuchs states, “You measure the freedom of speech in a democratic country in the freedom to say these disturbing and annoying things, not in what is nice and pleasant to hear.” Whether you believe that a certain belief, opinion, or a certain word that someone says is adequate or inadequate, it should be respected.

            In conclusion, I disagree with Lipman’s statement. A country should not be in charge of what people are allowed to say or believe in because of freedom of speech. In addition, different people have different values and insights towards certain things, and whether agreeable or non agreeable, you have to respect their opinions. 

A Mid-Summer's Day (Sonnet Poem)

Shall I compare thee to a sunset on a mid-summer’s day?

Beautiful as a rose

With sunlight, shining through the bay

You are the one I chose.

You shine through the cracks,

Never letting darkness take over who you are

Light materializing from the dark shack,

You will always be my star.

When the sun sets in my direction

The day will end

But even though you are filled with imperfections,

You will never be penned. 

Day will change to night,

But you will always be bright