Letters to the Editor
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so it's better to let these kids languish?
While Ms. Na is entitled to her opinion, and she's got some valid points, I disagree that there's some larger evil here. Most birth mothers in foreign countries are in pretty dire straits, (and in the case of Africa, are quite often deceased) and it would take a massive feat of social engineering to fix that problem even on the most basic level. Find a home for the children that exist where you can, and work on providing access to birth control, education, jobs, etc otherwise. Otherwise, it's the same argument the wingnuts make that if they take away birth control and the right to abortion, people will all of a sudden stop fucking so damn much. Bull.
Besides, adoption in Korea has changed alot recently, as I'm very familiar with. (We're currently waiting to find out when my son will arrive home for the first time.) We've chosen an 'open adoption', which is a pretty new thing, internationally. If my son's birth mother ever wants to meet her child, or if he wants to meet her, the information exists. Small world, nowadays, dontchaknow. And the Korean government is trying to encourage more in-country adoption by placing all children who are relinquished by their parents 'on hold' for 6 months. As far as I know, it isn't working, at least for the boys. (Girls, as potential dress-up dolls or something, are apparently more desirable for adoption, from what I understand)
As far as the whole-why-don't-people-adopt-US-children routine,... While it's great that some people want to adopt troubled children, or at least those with troubled families still partially attached, it really isn't an option for everyone, and quite frankly, as a soon-to-be adoptive parent, I refused to be shamed into making that choice. I have enough drama in my life, thank you. I'd rather not jeopardize my health, my marriage, or my sanity by getting involved in a situation that I know is above my comfort level. More power to those who feel they can, but I'm not one of them. (And yes, the those issues could potentially exist with the situation we're in, too, I know.)