"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is the perfect way to begin closing out our semester. I think it really brings together a lot of the ideas and discussions we've generated about the authority of the medical and scientific community over people deemed to be less than. While reading the book, I couldn't help but keep thinking about the word "immortality." It's always been an interesting concept to me, the idea of being able to live forever. Even though the HeLa cells are immortal, we are still a very, very long way (I think, anyway) from developing a way for humans to live forever. But I'm not sure whether or not getting there is actually a good thing. Obviously, it would be great if we could discover more cures for diseases and cancers through the HeLa cells and help save even more lives in the future. But do we really want to live forever? Sure, we'd get to experience an infinite number of historical events, political, economical, and social revolutions, and the development of the entire world. However, what if our family and our loved ones weren't able to live forever with us, or what if immortality was only possible for some people? I feel like we would get really lonely after a while and get tired of living while lots of other people are dying. I also think that, like so many other medical advancements, if the key to immortality were discovered, it could be used for awful things if put into the hands of the wrong people. So, while the idea of it seems kind of cool at first, I honestly hope we don't ever discover the secret to immortality, and if we do, that it's kept hidden from most people.
Sarah Bradley
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