Comments for this woman's work

Comment on And done! by Mia

Mia — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:31:33 +0000

I put in on hold at the library, I think it will tie in well with my summer class and next year’s field placement

Comment on Adoption Constellation, are you subscribed yet? by Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:11:28 +0000

I am very sorry that I’m going to have to close comments on this because I’m studying for a midterm and don’t have time to keep an eye on ‘em. I think that what is here represents the gamut of opinions but I encourage you NOT to take my opinion or any other commenters opinion for your own and instead head to their site and check it out for yourself. It may not be your cup of tea or you may think, as I do, that it’s absolutely fantastic.

Comment on Adoption Constellation, are you subscribed yet? by Jess

Jess — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:53:59 +0000

So true. Blogging gives people the impression that their words are always print-worthy. Big fallacy. Thanks for pointing that out.

Comment on Adoption Constellation, are you subscribed yet? by Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:39:04 +0000

I know that the original post asking people to come here and comment was from someone who is very angry with ME in particular. I understand if you feel that an organization that offers post-adoption support is one that you cannot get behind.

I think their inclusion of Dr. John Raible in the first issue is pretty powerful considering what he wrote, in part, is this:

“While I support the notion of bringing the adoption community closer together in principle, I think it is quite difficult to do this at the present time, at least, in any meaningful way. I have written elsewhere about what needs to happen if we are serious about fixing what many of us view as the broken system of adoption. … Because adults typically do not view the young as having any sense of autonomy or agency, younger voices were silenced and children became commoditized. Infantilization of adoptees continues, as if we are never allowed to grow up and speak for ourselves. … The people with the most power will be forced to share. The loudest voices will have to pause long enough to listen to the voices that we have not heard from so much until recently.”

Isn’t that part of what you’re speaking to? Isn’t that part of what you’re critical about regarding the magazine? And the magazine gives VOICE to that. I think that’s powerful. I think that will effect change. (Read Dr. Raible’s piece in the magazine and I hope you will agree that getting his words in front of adoptive parent eyes is important.)

I believe that there are many many kinds of activism that MUST exist to create real change. I do not ask you to stop your activism because it does not jive with mine but support you in speaking out. I believe that this magazine will make a difference in a way that more extreme forms of activism cannot. Just as more extreme activism can make a difference in a way that this magazine cannot. I know you can appreciate that many adoptive parents/birth parents/adoption professionals will dismiss you outright for being too “fringe” but they may pick up this magazine and they may read Dr. Raible’s piece or another piece and their minds may be open. In fact, their minds may become open enough that they say, “Maybe it’s wrong to dismiss ‘angry adoptees’ as fringe. Maybe I need to listen more. Maybe I need to rethink this adoption thing.”

That’s some pretty powerful activism right there.

Comment on Adoption Constellation, are you subscribed yet? by Daniel Ibn Zayd

Daniel Ibn Zayd — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:21:22 +0000

Who is bashing you? We are bashing an offensive practice that you happen to approve of. Nothing in your reply (willfully misunderstanding what I said) and nothing in the magazine issue you post counter-argue any of my points. The magazine is offensive because it takes adoption as the given starting point for a so-called discussion. I don’t care if the entire thing is staffed by adoptees; there were also many slaves who yearned to stay on the plantation. This didn’t make slavery any less a noisome practice; any less a question of human and civil rights. What is missing is the voice of those who call adoption itself into question. Not as just another “side of the truth”, but as a revelation of the truth itself; of justice itself. Here is the difference. Here are the voices missing from this enterprise.