Posted on 27-1-2002

Potatoe Heads
by Alan Marston

Platitude #1: Life is full of contradictions.

In relation to the sabotage of Lincoln's GE potatoe crop, on the one hand
all GE researchers are playing God with Nature's life-forms and so are
those who ripped up the crop and their supporters by taking it upon
themselves to decide what is and what is not `Natural'.

Platitude #2: Ethics, like everything in the known universe, are relative.

Those who support GE accuse the crop rippers of a lack of ethics, just as
those who ripped justify their actions as countering unethical behaviour by
scientists.

Platitude #3: No action is unaccompanied by a reaction.

For those who support the presence of GE life-forms in and on our earth to
be hurt and surprised by reaction against them is to demonstrate ignorance
unbecoming of any pretence to leadership, let alone God-like qualities.

Fatuous conclusion #1:

Unless and until people value human cooperation and communication over
dogma, platitudes and childishness will reign upon the face of the earth,
not Gods.