Stacy Ann Welch

Eng. 101

Dr. Vasileiou

Essay #1

Blog#4

Date 10/10/2012

 

         After reading “Annas”, “The Man on the Moon” and watching the movie “Gattaca”. I believe that they portray a dystopian world characterized by discrimination, oppression and anti-utopian elements. Even though, authorities no longer discriminate against gender or religion but on ones genes. Eradicating terminal illness will lead to over population which can cause a lock of resources and environment pollution. Genetic engineering is direct manipulation and interfering into people’s personal life.

        In the movie “Gattaca” a perfect world is described as being free of diseases, free of discriminating against gender, sex, and religion. Genetic engineering is introduced into this world and it promises to make mankind live this perfect life. In “Gattaca” authorities used illegal genetic testing in job interviews and they use blood and urine sample testing to identify you. The main character Vincent Freeman was born without genetic manipulation in a world where they use DNA samples testing to identify people and  he was discovered to be suffering from a heart conditions and is, due to die at age 30. Vincent’s dream is to be an Astronaut but it is very difficult to fulfill because of the society he live in. Vincent’s parents wanted to have another baby using genetic engineering which they did and they had a normal baby. The fact that his parents made sure his brother would be perfect was very difficult for Vincent’s .Vincent’s brother was taller and better at anything he did.

    All humans have dignity and are entitled to equal rights .The movie “Gattaca” portrays a dystopian world because people were not exactly equal. In the world of “Gattaca” they discriminated against people base on their genes. If you were born with any kind of conditions, you would be categorized as an invalid, whereas those who were born perfect are categorize as valid, which I think is absolutely absurd because in a perfect world everyone should be equal .According to Annas,”The universal declaration of human rights, the recognition that human rights are founded on human dignity is shared by all members of the human race without distinctions based on race, religion, or national origin” (230). This quote clearly stated that regardless of any kind of discrimination such as race, color, sex, language, religion, national origin or any other status you are entitle to equal rights. However, what “Gattaca” portrays is a world that is totally the opposite.

       Genetic engineering is direct manipulation of an organism genome using biotechnology. Genetic engineering is designed to create a perfect society. Not everyone is perfect so there will be negative consequences. There is a risk that it may disrupt the functions of other genes.  With genetic engineering appearing it would diminish and destroy the human’s dignity and equal rights. It is insane that you could make a perfect baby just by using genetic engineering. I think God is in control not science. Having a completely perfect child, how can you be so sure that the child is going to be better? According to Annas, “this is because of the inherent physical and psychological danger to children (and the overall danger they pose to children of treating them as manufactured products), and because there are existing alternative, less dangerous educational, exercise-based, medical, and surgical ways to achieve these goals. Parents should simply not be able to dominate their children in this fashion” (239).This quotes states that genetic engineering is buying children to put them on special missions, and because they are already perfect and know everyone there will be nothing a parent can do to help their children during childhood. It would be hard for a parent to cope with the fact that their kids don’t need them.

    Eradicating illnesses will lead to over population. The increase of the population will cause economic difficulties. There will not be enough resources such as food, water and energy to provide for people. Also, over population can lead to an unhealthy environment because it increases pollution. In “Gattaca” the environment is clean but eradicating illnesses it will cause a disaster. According to a scene in the movie “Gattaca” there was a doctor who also had a son who was genetically inferior but hoped to be an astronaut. He stated “Unfortunately, my son not all that they had promised. But then who knows what he could do”. This to me shows dystopia in the society and that many people in the society have accepted being discriminated against their genes because there is nothing really they could do about it. This shows that human rights are being violated.