It's not the Raël thing

If you were given the opportunity to clone yourself or someone you know, would you?\nClonaid is a company looking to give you that opportunity. The company even claims they will one day be able to clone relatives and pets post-mortem. I guess it's time to dig up old Fido from the backyard and scrape some rotten flesh off his bones. Two words: "Pet Cemetery." I don't know about you, but if Fido was dumb enough to try and cross the interstate during rush hour, the world is better off without a flock of Fidos trying to do the same thing.\nClonaid, which recently announced they had successfully cloned a person, was founded by Raël, leader of a cult that says it believes mankind is the result of alien genetic engineering. Whether or not this group was successful in cloning a human is beside the point. They aren't alone. Several groups are currently trying to accomplish what Clonaid and the "Raelians" purportedly already have. \nI remember seeing Jurassic Park for the first time and immediately jumping on the cloning bandwagon. I wanted a pet Tyrannosaurus rex to play hide and go seek with me and my friends. Looking back I realize how stupid I was.\nClonaid's goal is not to bring back dinosaurs, but to eventually give humans eternal life. It sure isn't going to be cheap to live forever, but then again, you'd have your whole life (and then some) to pay off a long-term loan.\nThe issue of cloning brings up the question, "If we have the means to clone life, should we do it?" We have the technology to create nuclear bombs, but do we have to use them? Some might say that man was destined to discover the key to cloning life. There is no doubt in my mind that cloning is already possible or will be soon, but it is a power that should be wielded with the utmost responsibility. \nMany have discussed the possibility of bringing back loved ones through cloning technology. This could bring about a slew of new psychological disorders. What if the clone of Aunt Ethel is even weirder than her original? What if she's not what you expected? Will you dress Aunt Ethel up to look like she used to? What if she doesn't like blue hair dye? What if Ethel 2.0 doesn't like floral print dresses or going to bingo night? How do you think the clones would feel if they found out they were a copy of somebody who kicked the can? In grade school we're taught that everybody is special, but how special would you feel if you found out you were a clone and that your parents wish that you'd act more like your original did?\nWhat we consider the "grieving process" has been with us since the beginning of mankind. A person believing they can somehow skip this by bringing back their loved ones is terrible, not to mention selfish. The loss of a loved one is oftentimes unbearable, but it's natural to be sad. Nobody ever said you couldn't cry or mourn their loss. Bringing them back may curb your grief, but it is a luxury that unfortunately should not be afforded to anyone.\nDeath is the price on the bill at the end of your life, and everybody pays.