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I was reading a short article about the orphaned Haitian children being brought to the USA for care and possibly being adopted by American families when I became shockingly aware of the controversy surrounding this ordeal.
I was completely floored when reading the comments to the article. Many apparently feel that Americans need to only take care of American orphans. "Take care of your own" as one lovely commenter put it. Our own? What does this mean? Does that mean as a white family my family should only ever foster or adopt white children? Does it mean we should only take in children from Arkansas? From our city? "Our own.." something about this just makes me ill. We are all God's children and therefore we are all responcible for each other.
One thing that people don't often realize is there is a huge difference in the way orphans are treated here in the states verses third world countries. (not that things are perfect here.. perfect would be no such thing as an orphan b/c so many families are trying to help them.) Much less when that country is rocked to shambles and there is no food, water, or shelter. Bring those babies here!
I do understand the general idea of what they are saying, though. I've heard many people wonder why people choose to adopt internationally when there are so many children here in need of homes. My best answer, though never having walked in those shoes, would be b/c of what I mentioned above. They probably learn about the horrid conditions of the orphanages in other places and feel God telling them to act. To help.
I just find it a little bit appalling that anyone would have a problem with children being helped by Americans. This may be a great way to spread God's word to children that possibly would not have heard it otherwise. This could start a great movement of love. Who knows what God is using this for, and using America for in this eve of such destruction.
Am I blinded by ideology? Should we only be focused on the children without homes in America?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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4 comments:
While I do understand what most people probably mean by saying "take care of our own", I definitely agree with you. I remember hearing Newsong talk about the time they went to visit an orphanage in China and there were 80 BABIES and only 1 caretaker. And the saddest part was the fact that they were all silent. Was it naptime when Newsong visited? No, they were told that the poor babies figured out no one was coming to comfort them so they stopped crying. That was chilling to me. I think it's definitely Biblical to care for orphans all over the world, not just in our own country. In Act 1:8 we are called to "be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." I think taking care of the world's orphans is a part of that.
Great post, Mandy!
I think one big reason people adopt internationally is that there is less chance of the birthmother trying to get the child back, though how easy this is varies by state.
oh, you're gonna get me fired up, girl! ;) I'll be on my soap box for days...
i'll try to save you the rant and just state my point: if every christian would quit wasting their time and energy getting their panties in a wad about how, who, and what should be done where, and put their actions where their mouth is (you know, walk the talk), then the world would be emptied of orphans. our country and others.
trying not to sound harsh, but you know this hits me personally. and i just think that many get excited, are quick to state their opinion, like we should "only take care of ours", yet the very person who commented likely hasn't opened their home to an orphan from America. And probably isn't supporting one in any other way, either. ugh.
You are EXACTLY right, Brandy. I highly doubt the majority of the commenters had ever fostered or are currently fostering children. I'm with you on that completely. Kind of like when people say "if you don't vote THEN DON'T COMPLAIN."
I also agree 100% - if as much energy was being used to help these (and all) kids as to TALK about IF help should be given out, we'd have nothing to get all upset about. They'd all be taken care of.
I wish everyone was as blessed as my family is to have such awesome role models for friends! You and Maury in particular were the ones to make foster care seem like not just something that we "might" do.. but something that we "should" do. You put a face to the faceless "foster care kids".. and knowing them personally changes my entire perspective on the horrible situation.
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