Science is not an American endeavor, it is a human endeavor. Nationalist tunnel vision only holds us back. All threats to scientific progress are problematic, not just domestic ones.

FWIW, in the US, very few religious people oppose stem cell research as such. The opposition is to using stem cells derived from aborted embryos. The pro-life movement is largely in favor of research on embryonic stem cells obtained in other ways (like from umbilical cord blood.)

Why do people call the 'pro life' movement the pro life movement? They're clearly not pro life, they use that self chosen label as a misdirection. There must be a better way to describe them.

Because it is a good way of referring to the group that believes the issue is fundamentally about human life, as opposed to the group that believes the issue is fundamentally about a woman's choice.

I happen to agree with the pro-life side, but both terms are intended to highlight what the respective sides view as the most important aspect of abortion.

This leads to such elegant conflicts as: what if abortion is going to save the life of the mother?

Let's make this clear: if you want to call yourself 'pro life' then you have to be pro life across the board. What I notice is that those that call themselves 'pro life' will usually use the abortion issue as a way of forcing their way of life on others, regardless of what happens to unborn children. They're just a convenience to use in order to restrict the lives of others, they're not a goal per se.

'pro lifers' appear to have no compunction when it comes to bombing abortion clinics and assassinating doctors.

If you're pro-life then I assume that you have transferred 90% of your savings to help out kids in countries where food is scarce?

That would be a lot more effective then getting on the anti-abortion bandwagon.

I do donate significant portions of my income to providing food for the hungry, safe housing for single mothers, etc. I also campaign against war and the death penalty, for immigrant rights, etc. This is not about partisan politics for me (and many others).

"'pro lifers' appear to have no compunction when it comes to bombing abortion clinics and assassinating doctors."

That's about as sensible as saying that "Islam" has no compunction when it comes to bombing civilian targets. Or that "atheists" have no compunction about executing people because they're religious. You're painting a very broad group with the actions of a small handful.

Regardless, this conversation has strayed very far from the small factual correction I intended to make.