While it is truly sad that more children will be left orphaned, perhaps this will push more American families to look into our American orphanages first. If we want to help spread good Christian conservative principles in the US then we need to start with our citizens at home first. At the end of the day this is more of a Russian issue. There are plenty of orphans from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and the Americas to satisfy the demand. Lets get some more American orphans homes.

Try asking an adoptive parent rather than jump to inappropriate conclusions. Both domestic and IA families can explain the issues, which are not cut and dry. But avoid nasty phrases such as “in vogue” because it is highly offensive to suggest that any of us form our families with an eye toward fashion statements.

I will try and bring the discussion up and out of the weeds. The lesson that is so clearly illustrated by Putin’s decision is not just about adoption, who has the right to do what, or what people from what countries should be allowed to adopt whom. It is, as it always is, about arbitrary and destructive decisions made by our less-than-perfect (AKA human) statist leaders. When we allow them to rule in with arbitrary abandon they will do so in ways that are petty and politically driven, and in no one’s interest but their own. Putin, Obama, King George III of England, fill in whatever name you want; their behavior is predictably consistent. Our founding fathers knew it. Why is it so hard for modern Americans to understand?

I can never understand how we get so misdirected…. Who cares about Russia? IF a family wants to adopt let them do it here. We are not in short supply….

We can’t even manage our on politics.

Thank you for your corrections, I will apply them. As for not needing correction, that is why we have editors. I may love to write, but I am not without mistake; part of the human condition ; )

As the subject of American adoption has come up a lot in the comments, I’d like to address the concern. To say that one shouldn’t adopt from another country because we have children here that need adoption is a matter of opinion. Adoption is a very complicated process and why parents choose to adopt from the country they do is no less complicated. It is the height of selfishness, and completely unChristian, to take the point of view that we should be looking out for our own first. To say this issue is a Russian issue and non of our concern is to say to thousands of our citizens that what they care about doesn’t matter. The fact is that thousands of Americans have hearts for the children of Russia. They are Americans and their hopes and dreams do not matter less than yours. There are many misconceptions surrounding the issue of adoption. Some of you would do well to do your research before you assume. I would also highly suggest talking to a family that has adopted, you may be surprised and humbled by what you learn.

I agree that whether adopting American or foreign children, it is the sole choice of the adoptive families and whether anyone else – or I – agree (I don’t), the decision is personal and theirs to make.

I concur with those who feel there are far too many American children in need to, in good conscience, seek an adoption outside the U.S.

And I REALLY don’t care if you flame me or disagree, but I also believe there are those, most particularly in the case of celebrities, who undeniably adopt outside their ethnicity or nationality, if you will, and race because it IS fashionable. While that is not to say the children they adopt are mistreated or that their immediate circumstances aren’t vastly improved, nothing that is ever done for selfish motives comes without a price. In this case as in most, it will be the children who end up paying because the distinct possibility exists that much like those tiny little purse-sized dogs purchased as nothing more than fashion accessories in Hollywood that were all the rage a while back, the keen interest in adopted children especially those of a different race than the parents, will eventually wear off. When the cuteness of infancy and childhood develops into teen angst and young adulthood with all that, that entails, these situations will be ripe for excruciating heartbreak, loneliness and resentment. Celebrities are in general, in practice and in reality a collective group of flakes with the attention span of gnats and a self-absorption that rivals that of any 6-month-old infant who just discovered they have fingers and toes.

So, there are comments to which I take issue, namely that Americans are denied the privilege of adoption due to age or race on a large scale. Those cases are somewhat rare and when they do occur, it’s for good reason.

True enough, there are those who go outside the U.S. because they no longer meet age requirements that are in truth, established in the best interests of the child. That is an understandable reason. And there are instances where those who have gained personal knowledge of the plight of a particular child want to help. But, Americans are NOT going outside the U.S. and adopting due to income. The costs of adopting outside the country are most often, if not always, far more expensive than a domestic adoption. Fees must be paid to a U.S. and foreign adoption agency, lawyers; there are immigration fees and travel expenses involved and is anyone so naive they don’t know about the government palms that must be greased before any foreign adoption can be finalized?

However, I agree with others who feel and rightly so, that politicizing adoption is, on any level, for any reason, simply wrong. But, the hypocrisy of those who are so deeply offended by a law banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families while still supporting and defending the slaughter of American babies through abortion is STUNNING!

“Suffer the little children, as long as they’re Americans.” http://bible.cc/matthew/19-14.htm

I hate to sound petty, but I really don’t care if lefty parents aren’t able to indoctrinate another kid. Pity if any conservative parents are affected.

This is typical of the USSR…I mean KGB…I mean Russia. Anyone remember 1984 when the USSR decided the Eastern Bloc should not participate in the Olympics in LA because, well, just because? The USA and a number of Western nations boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when USSR invaded Afghanistan, granted a political statement using the “non-political” Olympics as an example. But when the USSR said “no” to LA, it was because, well, why *did* they do that except to say nyeah-nyeah-nye-nyeah-nyeah like a two year old.
Granted these orphans are far more serious victims for governments to play with than Eastern Bloc athletes. The point is, why would we be surprised at such immature behavior from Mr. Putin? He’s a product of his environment — the KGB.

Fun fact: foreigners can and do adopt American children. And while there are many children abroad in need of homes, many countries do not consider the US a suitable country and will not allow their children to be adopted here.

5 (nt)

Breeanne, all I can say is AMEN! Thank you for this diary and this most recent response.

The vast majority of adoptions are not made by celebrities. Though I don’t have the figures, I would bet that the majority of adoptions are made by conservatives. Of course that is just going on adoptive families that I know.

No, it’s about regulations and oversight. Adoption is regulated almost entirely at the state level, with actual control at the county level. This results in a mishmash of wildly varying regulations, standards, and practices that foreign governments can’t really deal with, and sometimes there is no followup on the child at all. The US is a signatory to the Hague convention on international adoption which was supposed to help but most countries do not believe this fixed what they consider fundamental flaws in our system. And before you point out that other countries have no right to judge our laws (and they don’t), I don’t know any adoptive parents who don’t agree that our system is messed up.

I have no greater respect for those who adopt and foster unwanted children, children who have been abused, born addicted, or left orphaned as it takes a great person with a huge heart to do so. I also deplore the cost and red tape associated with adoptions and fostering even though I understand that these were born out of concern the child does not go from one bad situation into another or even a worse one. That being said….

Not sure why so many are angry at Russia. Regardless of why he enacted the ban, it is his country to govern and if the people of Russia are unhappy with his ban, they need to do something about it. I have no problem with someone adopting a child or children from wherever they chose to, but Russia is sovereign and if they do not wish to have their citizens sent out of country for adoption even if for some stupid reason, it is theirs to decide.

I am also dumbfounded as to why people would think asking Obama to do anything would work. All he could possibly do is mess it up and find a way to make a tax out of the whole thing.

I would think the best way to reopen the adoption gates would be to work and support those in Russia working to change the law and simply bypass our government. But until they do change or lift the ban, they are their own nation and have the right to run it as they please without interference from us or Obama.

My wife and I adopted two girls from China about a decade ago. There were many reasons why we chose China. The main reason is that my wife is Chinese and I speak Mandarin at the near-native level of fluency. I also lived in Asia for 20 years, the last 8 years in Taiwan. Our daughters now speak English, Mandarin, and Spanish, and they’re doing great in school.

The other reason we chose China is because we personally know three couples that adopted children here in America, and they have experienced great distress at the hands of the biological parent(s) and the U.S. legal system.

The worst case is that of a couple that fostered two boys that had grown up confined to their darkened bedroom. They had never left their cribs from the time they came home from the hospital until they were removed by Social Services at the ages of 4 and 6. Neither of them was able to walk. They were nearly feral due to neglect by the mother, who was a crack whore who didn’t want her johns to be bothered by the kids. She had kept the bedroom door locked and had spray painted the window so no one would see them from the outside.

The sad thing is that a judge, knowing all the above, granted the biological mother the right to visit her children on their birthdays and holidays, even after the adoption was finalized. Those boys were so traumatized by that woman that they would start wetting their beds two weeks ahead of the anticipated visits by their “mom.” The judge didn’t see this as an issue, yet these two boys suffered the most miserable of birthdays and holidays. Happy birthday? Not.

The two other families we know had unexpected visits by the biological mothers and one of the fathers. The one father attempted to get the court to give him back the child he said never knew he had. It was a power play to force the woman to take him back. The court entertained his petition, but found him unsuitable in the end, but not before the child had been placed in a foster home until the case worked its way through the system.

Domestic law concerning adoption and the rights of the biological parents is so unjust that my wife and I knew we would not adopt an American child. No way, no how, not ever. We wanted to be our own family, not some bizarro-family that had to deal with the freak show of courts and petitions and whacko parents from another planet, or worse, a court-order adoption reversal due to biological parent(s) changing their minds.

I have no credentials; only children, support groups, and experience. I suppose I could also accuse you of not being an adoptive parent, but I won’t because I really have no idea why someone would do that. I have also heard horror stories about Russian adoptions, though I don’t know anyone who adopted from there. But it’s good to know that at least someone out there likes our system. You’re the first I’ve heard of.

I was adopted from a German orphanage by an American couple and applaud the ban
prohibiting Americans from adopting Russian children. In this television interview,
I describe international adoption from a unique perspective–that of a foreign
orphan adopted to the United States.

Peter Dodds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kEbQ-5p5g

In the midst of the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression overburdened
American tax payers should not be required to subsidize parents who make a choice to adopt a child from outside the US and bypass 100,000 domestic foster care children available for adoption. Now is the time to end the tax credit for international adoptions.

http://www.slideshare.net/peterdodds566/international-adoption-tax-credit-15116145

Nice plug for your book. But poor you. You were taken out of an orphanage where you parents left you, cared for by a family who opened their home, hearts, and wallet for you, provided you with a top education, and now you bitch about it and twist so called facts from questionable studies to show it is soooo evil to adopt outside of your own country. Surprising you made it through Ranger training as they used to kick out crybabies, wimps, and ingrates.

I could care less whether or not a country stop international adoptions of their citizens as it is their right to do so. But you are an ingrate, a liar, a deceiver, and your adoptive parents should sue you for every dime they spent on you.

PS We too hope the “fatherland” grants you citizenship as you are an embarrassment to this country. Head over there as soon as possible. Just make sure you pay back the evil Americans for the cost of your military training, all school grants, and any other funds you have enjoyed during your stay here.

I can always trust you to say more implicitly what I said in abbreviated form ) But really, what an evil man. That youtube video was flat out creepy — like Obama propaganda. The left never stops pushing their agendas and they are always dripping with lies and aggression.

Yeah, the video with the “debate” with the old woman is what I’m talking about (it’s the only one I risked looking at.) It was evil…made my skin crawl he was so aggressive and full of himself.