Adoption reform is about civil rights - Dr. King's words certainly can apply!

[blessed3times]

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King said:

 "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people. We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy, and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity."

In extrapolating his words, I see the correlation to the problems within the adoption industry:

"The vitriolic words and actions of the bad people...."   (Coercive tactics of adoption agencies.)

"...the appalling silence of the good people."   (The apathy of the general public because they've been taught in one way or another that adoption is a "win-win" situation.)

"...human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability."   (Things will not improve for expectant women and their children unless action is taken.  After all, adoption is a BILLION dollar industry.  It is a big "machine" that profits off ALL members involved with adoption.  It is NOT inevitable that progress or improvement will come about while we sit idly by.)

"It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work...and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation."    (The longer nothing is done, the worse things will become in the adoption industry.  Coercive and manipulative tactics on expectant women - exhorbitant fees charged to prospective adoptive parents.)

Only one word needs to be changed in his last sentence to apply here:

"Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of SOCIAL injustice to the solid rock of human dignity."

Because if not now - when?

 

 

[onethentwins]

Sep. 1, 2008 at 3:30 PM

Are you running for office?

[Southernroots]

Sep. 1, 2008 at 5:01 PM

If she is, I'm going to vote for her.  A brillant correlation.....I totally agree!

[casjoh]

Sep. 1, 2008 at 11:29 PM

You have my vote.

I was thinking of Martin Luther King when McCain announced his candidate for VP on Friday.  No matter what side of the political fence one sits on, we will see history made with this election.  For the first time barriers will be broken and the fights of those from long ago will shine in today's world.

I think of that now, with adoption reform, as we fight against something so many others don't want to hear or acknowledge.  I think of those like Martin Luther King and the others who came before us, who stood up and spoke out against the abuses brought against others.  Then, as now, society was not quick to see a need for change and was eager to stomp on those who fought for it.  But they never quit.  They never gave in and because of this, today we see history being made.

This is where adoption reform now sits.  It's the fight for the start of change.  The battle we are willing to continue no matter what the cost.  And I, for one, will look to the strength of Dr. King and others to remind me why it must go on regardless of the struggle because it is too important to let slide away and will someday bring about more historic change to reflect todays.

Great!  Great!  Great Post!

[PortAngeles1969]

Sep. 2, 2008 at 1:24 PM

I love ya man (er, um...I mean woman)!

When all members of the triad are willing to stand up and find solidarity in the need for reform, we find that we are a much more powerful voice.  It is harder for the status quo to hang on to their rosey view of adoption when those of us who are shouting the loudest for reform are not the horror stories but are the "happy ending" stories that the general public wants to highlight.

You go girl!  We're right here with you - maybe some solid candidates for VP and cabinet positions (hee hee).