Comments on: Re-evaluating Adoption: Validating the Local http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:40:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Daniel Drennan http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-21073 Daniel Drennan Sat, 24 May 2008 11:06:51 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-21073 I recommend the web site <a HREF="http://www.bastards.org/" rel="nofollow">Bastard Nation</A> which lists among other activist events the National Day of Adoptee Rights Protest at the end of July.... I recommend the web site Bastard Nation which lists among other activist events the National Day of Adoptee Rights Protest at the end of July….

]]> By: Marcy http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-18341 Marcy Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:15:54 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-18341 How can we join in on helping expose corrupt adoption agencies and prosecuting the people who take advantage of all parties involved in the adoption process. How can we join in on helping expose corrupt adoption agencies and prosecuting the people who take advantage of all parties involved in the adoption process.

]]> By: Seta http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14527 Seta Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:22:45 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14527 Thank you for your frank view of the Adoption Industry a $2.3 billion dollar industry in the USA and $6.5 billion worldwide. International Adoption is dealing with murkey grey areas. In 2007 we saw 5 Adoption Agencies closed down by the State Attorney's office: Reaching Arms International, Waiting Angels, Seattle International (Angelina Jolie's first adoption in Cambodia conducted from SI) Focus on Children (caught by Utah USCIS Adjudicators) Project Oz. These agencies were human trafficking and paying for referrals of children/infants that were not "relinquished orphans" Currently we have about 11 agencies under investigation for RICO laws, which is racketeering. Even with the Hague regulations constantly changing and adoption agencies having to be "Hague Regulated" it is still on a self-governing -honor system. A system that has LESS regulation than used car lots. The money that these agencies make (non-profit?) can been seen online for free their IRS 990 returns is in the $1.2 million. www.guidestar.com We now have a group called PEAR, Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform. It is a grassroots group that includes 8 people with law degrees. 1 law professor and 1 para-legal..--All have been deeply hurt by Adoption Agencies. Our hope is to suggest and re write legislation that gives more of a voice to the Birthmother (who currently has no rights) and the adoptive child. As it sits there is currently an uneven balance of power with the Adoption agency controlling the whole process. If there is a problem Agencies tend to blame the sending country or the USCIS, they will NEVER be accountable for wrongdoing. Bottom line Adoption agencies have created this unethical behavior by spreading the western dollar around these poor countries and creating a market for children. Sadly we live in a country that has over 113,000 children in our foster care system waiting for adoption. While we have Americans that go overseas to adopt from Ethiopia and Guatemala---while our American Hispanic and African American children sit waiting for a home for someone to call "family". 2/8/08 USA Today headlines show that International Adoptions is down by 30% with 3 years of decline. Domestic adoptions are up. The reason is because of the uncertainity and fraud that is so prominent. Thank you for your frank view of the Adoption Industry a $2.3 billion dollar industry in the USA and $6.5 billion worldwide. International Adoption is dealing with murkey grey areas. In 2007 we saw 5 Adoption Agencies closed down by the State Attorney’s office: Reaching Arms International, Waiting Angels, Seattle International (Angelina Jolie’s first adoption in Cambodia conducted from SI) Focus on Children (caught by Utah USCIS Adjudicators) Project Oz. These agencies were human trafficking and paying for referrals of children/infants that were not “relinquished orphans” Currently we have about 11 agencies under investigation for RICO laws, which is racketeering.
Even with the Hague regulations constantly changing and adoption agencies having to be “Hague Regulated” it is still on a self-governing -honor system. A system that has LESS regulation than used car lots.
The money that these agencies make (non-profit?) can been seen online for free their IRS 990 returns is in the $1.2 million. http://www.guidestar.com
We now have a group called PEAR, Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform. It is a grassroots group that includes 8 people with law degrees. 1 law professor and 1 para-legal..–All have been deeply hurt by Adoption Agencies. Our hope is to suggest and re write legislation that gives more of a voice to the Birthmother (who currently has no rights) and the adoptive child. As it sits there is currently an uneven balance of power with the Adoption agency controlling the whole process. If there is a problem Agencies tend to blame the sending country or the USCIS, they will NEVER be accountable for wrongdoing.
Bottom line Adoption agencies have created this unethical behavior by spreading the western dollar around these poor countries and creating a market for children.
Sadly we live in a country that has over 113,000 children in our foster care system waiting for adoption. While we have Americans that go overseas to adopt from Ethiopia and Guatemala—while our American Hispanic and African American children sit waiting for a home for someone to call “family”.
2/8/08 USA Today headlines show that International Adoptions is down by 30% with 3 years of decline. Domestic adoptions are up.
The reason is because of the uncertainity and fraud that is so prominent.

]]> By: Daniel Drennan http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14429 Daniel Drennan Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:10:42 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14429 Of course I'm more than willing to engage with any discussion concerning the article! I wouldn't consider the online realm valid as an outlet if I didn't think so. If you find another reading (or readings) in my article—which I have absolutely no problem with—then it would be interesting to hear that clearly stated, and not statements which the article—no matter how you read it—directly contradict; that's all. Thanks again. Of course I’m more than willing to engage with any discussion concerning the article! I wouldn’t consider the online realm valid as an outlet if I didn’t think so.

If you find another reading (or readings) in my article—which I have absolutely no problem with—then it would be interesting to hear that clearly stated, and not statements which the article—no matter how you read it—directly contradict; that’s all. Thanks again.

]]> By: David A. Smith http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14353 David A. Smith Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:35:02 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14353 Amy - I don't know anything about you, but I'll assume you're a sincere and nice person. But don't go through life thinking you are entitled to anything or you will be severely disappointed. As for your history and mine - if you think that genetics is the basis of your history, have at it. If you go far enough back with that argument you'll find we all come from the same place. Daniel - Yes, I did read your article. Perhaps a little more deeply than you are aware. Just because you are the author, does not mean you are the sole authority of it's meaning. Consider that maybe a reader can "read" something in your writing that you might not be aware is there. Amy - I don’t know anything about you, but I’ll assume you’re a sincere and nice person. But don’t go through life thinking you are entitled to anything or you will be severely disappointed. As for your history and mine - if you think that genetics is the basis of your history, have at it. If you go far enough back with that argument you’ll find we all come from the same place.

Daniel - Yes, I did read your article. Perhaps a little more deeply than you are aware. Just because you are the author, does not mean you are the sole authority of it’s meaning. Consider that maybe a reader can “read” something in your writing that you might not be aware is there.

]]> By: Rania Masri http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14351 Rania Masri Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:25:58 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14351 Dear Daniel, Thank you. Thank you for the clarity of your words, for your honesty, and for your insight. -Rania Dear Daniel,

Thank you.
Thank you for the clarity of your words, for your honesty, and for your insight.

-Rania

]]> By: rosemarie jackowski http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14310 rosemarie jackowski Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:56:47 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14310 I have been an advocate of children since the 1970s. My position has always been that it is wrong to separate children from their parents unless there is some compelling reason -such as abuse. It happens in this country and also on an international level. Only in the rare case (when a parent showed up drunk to pick up the child) did I ever advise the custodial parent that the visitation be denied and the Court order be disobeyed. Adoptions by US parents of children from more needy countries often seem to be self-gratifying. Why didn't Madonna allow the child to stay with his family??? She could have helped them financially and left the family intact. There are many children who need help and many ways of helping them. Separating them from those who love them the most is not the way to do it. Off topic...I also believe that children born of sperm donors have the moral right to all information about their biological fathers. I have been an advocate of children since the 1970s. My position has always been that it is wrong to separate children from their parents unless there is some compelling reason -such as abuse. It happens in this country and also on an international level.
Only in the rare case (when a parent showed up drunk to pick up the child) did I ever advise the custodial parent that the visitation be denied and the Court order be disobeyed.
Adoptions by US parents of children from more needy countries often seem to be self-gratifying. Why didn’t Madonna allow the child to stay with his family??? She could have helped them financially and left the family intact.
There are many children who need help and many ways of helping them. Separating them from those who love them the most is not the way to do it.
Off topic…I also believe that children born of sperm donors have the moral right to all information about their biological fathers.

]]> By: Daniel Drennan http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14308 Daniel Drennan Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:34:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14308 Um, did you even <I>read</I> the article other than the last line? The very last thing I am concerned about, as stated in the article, is a "long lost relative". And the very last thing I am doing is romanticizing this world. But thanks for your comment. Um, did you even read the article other than the last line? The very last thing I am concerned about, as stated in the article, is a “long lost relative”. And the very last thing I am doing is romanticizing this world. But thanks for your comment.

]]> By: AmyAdoptee http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14301 AmyAdoptee Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:13:59 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14301 I have to wonder if the previous commenter is an adopter. Its not our sense of entitlement that we adoptees answer to. Its the adopters sense of entitlement that we are stuck living the rest of our lives with. Your history is not mine. As an adoptee, I am most definitely entitled to my culture and my history. I have to wonder if the previous commenter is an adopter. Its not our sense of entitlement that we adoptees answer to. Its the adopters sense of entitlement that we are stuck living the rest of our lives with. Your history is not mine. As an adoptee, I am most definitely entitled to my culture and my history.

]]> By: David A. Smith http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14296 David A. Smith Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:35:12 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/02/re-evaluating-adoption-validating-the-local/#comment-14296 "only then will adoption no longer be tainted with the lingering remnants of an unjustly divided world." Wake up! remnants of an unjustly divided world? How naive can you be. I'm sorry if you feel like you've been lied to, but that happens in "non-international" adoptions as well. Home countries? Don't make me laugh. Look around you. We don't live in the same world that you are romanticizing. "Countries" matter little. We're rapidly approaching 7 Billion people and counting. The next few decades will see suffering on a scale never seen before. And you're concerned because maybe, somewhere, there's a long lost relative who could have supported you and your naive sense of entitlement. “only then will adoption no longer be tainted with the lingering remnants of an unjustly divided world.”

Wake up! remnants of an unjustly divided world? How naive can you be.

I’m sorry if you feel like you’ve been lied to, but that happens in “non-international” adoptions as well.

Home countries? Don’t make me laugh. Look around you. We don’t live in the same world that you are romanticizing. “Countries” matter little. We’re rapidly approaching 7 Billion people and counting. The next few decades will see suffering on a scale never seen before. And you’re concerned because maybe, somewhere, there’s a long lost relative who could have supported you and your naive sense of entitlement.

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