Posted on 01/04/2005 4:19:21 PM PST by tbird5
Adoption groups are advising it is unlikely children orphaned by the Asian tsunami disaster would be repatriated to Australia.
Agencies including Centrelink and support groups in the ACT have received calls and emails from people wishing to adopt victims of the earthquake event.
Julia Rollings, from the Adoptive Families Association, says it is often inappropriate for children affected by war and natural disaster to be adopted overseas.
She says the inquiries are well-meaning but are often unrealistic, especially in the short-term.
"Inter-country adoption is only appropriate for children who can't be placed in a suitable family within the country of origin," she said.
"So there's a lot of steps that have to be taken first before they decide that inter-country adoption is appropriate for any of these orphans."
Unicef Australia chief executive Carolyn Hardy says her organisation will not support or encourage inter-country adoptions.
"We believe children are best left where they are in environments that are familiar to them, in a culture that's familiar to them, speaking a language that they know, and in the schools that they're already going to," she said.
"To uplift them out of their country to Australia or anywhere else would be an absolute last resort."
Are these people insane? I dont see how they think they are somehow morally superior or better people than Americans. Going to another country would be like winning the lottery for these kids and they think they are doing them a favor by stopping it?
Children sacrificed to the multicultural Gods.
By Unicef.
Two families from my church have decided they want to adopt tsunami orphans. I hope they are "allowed" to. . .
Unicef will get funds for the "orphanages" they will run for these children. You do the math... how much money will they rake in from the donations if these children are never allowed to be placed?
"I tried to see it their way once, but I couldn't get my head that far up my A...."
Ever notice how white couples who can't find a white baby seem to always choose Asian kids? Things that make you go "huummmmm..."
No, I never noticed that. Care to expand ?
Sorry, but it sounds to me like they want to adopt for the wrong reasons. There were plenty of needy orphans available for adoption from many countries prior to the tsunami, and those children are still languishing in lousy orphanages in countries not affected by the tsunami. Why do these families only want to adopt "tsunami orphans"?
The risk is that Muslim children will be raised as Christians or (gasp!), even Jews. A fate worse than death!!
My opinion differs from Ms. Hardy's.
First, we are talking about children who in many cases have gone through the greatest possible trauma -- urgently getting them into a loving family rather than packing them into a large group of equally traumatized children is far better for the child in my estimation.
Second, on her specific point about different languages and cultures, it is not hard for children to adopt new customs and new languages -- it's far easier to make this shift as a child than as an adult.
Let me be the first to admit that I know nothing about adoption -- perhaps there are deep concerns that a mere kibitzer such as myself is missing. But the most important thing is the welfare of the child, and quickly placing the child in a good adoptive family to me is clearly far superior to warehousing them until locals can be found. Anecdotally, I have known several people that have adopted from overseas, and from what I have seen, it has worked out well.
Perhaps their hearts were touched by the results of this disaster and believe the best thing they can do to help is raise a child who lost their parents. I think that is a good reason to choose a child orphaned because of the tsunami over a child from elsewhere. Are these children more worthy to have adoptive parents? No, I'm not saying that. I am saying that the motives of the prospective parents my be more than the usual ones.
Just my opinion, but possibly these people may think that the $30,000 (average) international adoption fees may be waived in a disaster situation. I don't think they are thinking of adoption for the wrong reasons, just unenlightened ones.
I was just discussing this with my friend today as an option. It's too bad...
I've heard all kinds of explanations that run the gamut. The most common one is that there's almost no chance of the birth parents showing up on the doorstep.
It is extremely difficult to get a child adopted from that part of the world to begin with.
Ever notice how white couples who can't find a white baby seem to always choose Asian kids?
There were a lot of unwanted girl babies in China at one time. Also, China allowed and still allows I believe older parents to adopt babies. Many countries won't allow over 40 year old mothers to adopt infants.
=== Sorry, but it sounds to me like they want to adopt for the wrong reasons. There were plenty of needy orphans available for adoption from many countries prior to the tsunami, and those children are still languishing in lousy orphanages in countries not affected by the tsunami. Why do these families only want to adopt "tsunami orphans"?
Hear hear.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.