This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I am a retired Brigham Young University professor of zoology. I read "'Personhood' resolution looks to define when life starts" (Tribune, Feb. 2) with surprise, dismay, then sadness and, finally, embarrassment — to think we have paid public servants dabbling with an issue that hundreds of years of science and medicine have not settled.
I have spent 50 years sitting in on discussions of the unsolvable issue of fetal life. Shame on the people, apparently of the Utah Eagle Forum, who think legislation and a constitutional amendment will settle the issue. It is the height of naivety and arrogance to think such an issue is legislative, akin to foolishly legislating how tall a person may grow.
This is similar to having artists legislate how far the sun is from Earth. It is the obligation of paid elected public servants to wisely spend time and money on issues that help the citizens of the state.
The agenda of the Eagle Forum is an embarrassment to responsible Utahns; it is a misguided effort. If such an issue is thought worthy of legislation, I beg our legislators to at least convene a panel of people qualified to give "opinion" on such an issue.
Clayton M. White
Orem