I came across this article and I thought it was interesting. It’s asking the question, why are prospective parents turning to overseas adoption instead of looking right here in the United States. I understood the purpose of the article, but I found some of the language to be offensive. Perhaps, I’m being too sensitive.

Link: U.S. adoption agencies ask, "Why don't they look here?"

One key factor in rising international adoptions is that the supply of healthy U.S. infants has been dwindling for decades. Birth control and legal abortions have reduced the number of unwanted births. And our values have changed: The stigma attached to unwed mothers has been greatly reduced, so more mothers are keeping their babies.

Well, it was interesting seeing adoption being viewed in macroeconomic terms – supply vs. demand. I understand where they were headed with the passage, but I never like hearing people talk about children as commodities. It’s written with the same kind of language that someone might talk about apples or bananas.

And the majority of families considering adoption want infants; it's the closest thing to having one's own baby, to make an imprint from the start of life.

What does the writer mean when she says “one’s own baby” in this sentence? Once again, it shows that there is a group of people out there who really believe that adoption is a second choice. It implies that an adopted baby isn’t your own.

She says people often come to her agency after frustrating experiences trying to adopt domestically, often when birth parents have changed their minds.

Now, this one is tough. Domestic adoption crossed my mind when we decided we were ready to be parents. Though I really had my heart set on adopting from Korea, I kept other options open for a short period of time. Knowing that I might hold a child in my arms for days or even months and then have that baby taken from me made me give up the idea completely. I am aware that the Korean parents can change their minds about the adoption right up until the baby boards the airplane. I would have been very upset if that had happened because I became quite attached to my son through his picture, but I can’t even describe what I would have felt if someone came and took him a month after he had been with us. It would have been devastating.

Anyhow, read the whole article and create your own opinion. If you would like to comment, but not on this site, please e-mail me at adoptkoreablog@adoptionmail.com.