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One of my favorite publications is taking a shot at international adoption this week. “The Onion” ran an article poking a satirical finger at clueless parents. It’s a merciless jab,
taking on just about every thoughtless comment, insensitive reaction, misinformed concept and ignorant posturing that can present when international adoption is on the table.
From cultural stereotyping to ethnocentric pretentiousness , from assumed sainthood to name changing, this lampoon of an adoptive mother’s musings hits just about every hot-button there is, and highlights flash points that get flame-throwers locked and loaded.
Everyone who’s been around the international adoption world for any time at all has heard cringe-inducing statements spouted, sometimes as proudly as obliviously. Usually, these come from people new to the idea, or family members that have yet to learn the ins and outs of acceptable terminology.
Then, of course, there’s always tabloid-talk feeding the fires, putting collective pretty feet past too-white, very straight teeth and halfway to uvula land whenever some celeb is simple enough to give fodder.
From the Hollywood Reporter:
… Ashton Kutcher, who … denies resurgent reports that wife Demi Moore is pregnant …. “(A baby) could be in the plans. Everybody’s adopting babies now, that’s the new thing. I feel like just having one would be weird. It’s unconventional to have a baby just now. You’ve got to adopt one from Cambodia or something.”
It takes a while to learn the lingo and to spot the eggshells that litter each and every path leading from the beginning of the process through to finalization. Eggshells? What am I saying? It’s a minefield, so not only is tippy-toeing a must, a misplaced digit can get your head blown off.
So, if you don’t want the world to think you’re a real version of the “Onion” mother … or Ashton Kutcher … if you’d rather keep your feet well away from your mouth and not sound like an idiot …
Two words: Educate Yourself!
Please tell me that the article from “The Onion” is not real!! Can this adoption be stopped??? How do these people get through the social workers and agencies?
This makes me nauseous.
OK, now I got it…sigh….