Israel and 'Genetic Cleansing'

From the poisoner of Palestinian wells to the drinker of Muslim blood very few anti-Israel libels shock me anymore. I thought I had heard versions of them all. But alas there is always someone more perverse with sicker crimes to attribute to the Jewish state.

This week British sociologist and bioethicist (whatever that may be), Dr Tom Shakespeare accused Israel of being at the forefront of ‘genetic cleansing’. Sounds horrible doesn’t it? It’s a term I am sure his literary namesake would have been proud of from a poetic perspective. But intellectually it is embarrassing.

Basically he is upset that Israeli doctors more than most intervene generically in trying to ensure that babies are born without defects. Now that actually doesn’t sounds so bad. Wouldn’t you prefer that your children are not born blind, deaf or dwarfed? I know I would. However, the good doctor in a twist postmodernist kind of way believes that this is the epitome of evil because it discriminates against (in fact worse ultimately exterminates) all genetically challenged people. For a leftist, there can be no worse crime than acknowledging that people are not all born equal. Thus Dr Shakespeare would rather perpetuate this equality myth than help improve the lives of the genetically less advantaged. This is relativism at its worst.

By the same distorted logic, we should not give the sick medicine; the illiterate education; or the poor work, lest we acknowledge that they are health-wise, academically or pecuniary inferior; or worse eradicate these categories of persons from the face of the earth. This absurd approach would result in total civilizational stagnation.

Genetic engineering does present difficult moral dilemmas. But not because it eliminates deformities. There are some human conditions that it is a blessing to annihilate. To use Dr Shakespearian speak I am all for geneocide. And proud of the work Israeli doctors have done in this field.

Comments

[Lisa]

I read this piece when it was published. Oddly enough, no where was it ever identified what excessive testing meant or if there was an increase in abortions (as the Dr. seemed to be claiming) what test results had led to those abortions. Furthermore, there was no mention of the genetic problems unfortunately all too common in certain Jewish groups.

Frankly, I think this is a case of excellent health care being mocked. If you have good health care in the U.S., you will have the ultrasounds, the genetic screening, quad test (testing for fetal anomolies)... all without an indication of a problem. If there is reason to be concerned, you will recieve more tests. But of course, that is only if you have good insurance in the U.S. Israelis all have good insurance.. why should they not have outstanding care?

[Steve]

Good point Lisa.

Furthermore, on the political "apartheid" side of things all Israelis have free Health Insurance - that's Arabs and Jews.

[Derikboy]

I can't believe that Jews hate blind, deaf and dwarfted children so much, that they are willing to ensure that they are never even born!

I get that kind of warped logic, it still is logical by all definitions :)